An Exposition of James 2: 1-10

     James is known for his succinct, relevant, and pointed teaching. James addresses only the very common and does so with great clarity and decisiveness. It was he who taught such truths as:

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (Jas. 1: 22); "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain" (1:26); "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not be faith only" (2: 24); "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be" (3: 10); "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (4: 17), and "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door" (5: 9).

     Regarding the style of the Epistle of James, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says:

"The sentence construction is simple and straightforward….There is usually no good reason for misunderstanding anything James says. He puts his truth plainly, and the words he uses have no hidden or mystical meanings. His thought is transparent as his life."

     The teaching resident in James 2: 1-10 is no exception to the rule. James began in verse one by challenging a too common inconsistent practice. He then provides an illustration to clearly set forth his meaning and then pronounces such a practice involving the rich and poor as sinful in no uncertain terms. The particular sin under consideration is the arbitrary exalting of the rich and degradation of the poor. James does not limit his cogent comments to the symptom, but he addresses the root cause: sinful judgement. I shall now present the text and then briefly comment on each verse.

"1: My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2: For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3: And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5: Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6: But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7: Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8: If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: 9: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10: For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

     The teaching of verse one. James introduces the new theme of chapter two by addressing his readers as "brethren." The "…faith of our Lord Jesus Christ" is not Jesus' personal faith (subjective), but the system of faith that Jesus presente