James 2
James starts off this chapter with a warning; don’t show partiality to anyone
James 2:1 (KJV), “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”
As it was originally commanded
Leviticus 19:15 (KJV), “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.”
The end result is
James 2:4 (KJV), “Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”
* Do not deny the fact that we all do this at some point
It is important to understand what James is referring to here when he says, ‘rich’
James 2:6 (KJV), “But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men [* the rich] oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?”
Strong’s Concordance (4145) – plousios: wealthy. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon – a. properly, wealthy, abounding in material resources. [There is no gender associated to this]
* Taken from the interlinear
The Perfect Law of Liberty
James 1:25 (KJV), “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
[1] “James here refers to the gospel, which, although it is called here a law, is not, strictly speaking, a law comprised of requirements and enforced by sanctions. Rather, it is a declaration of righteousness and salvation by Christ, an offer of peace and pardon by Him, and a free promise of eternal life through Him. The [2]juxtaposition of the two contradictory terms—“law” and “liberty”—made the point, especially to the Jews, that this was an entirely new way of thinking about both. Paul uses this same technique when he refers to the “law of faith””. (Gotquestions.com)
What is the law of liberty? | GotQuestions.org
Romans 3:27 (KJV), “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.”
The perfect liberty found in Christ fulfills the “perfect law” of the Old Testament because Christ was the only one who could. Those who come to Him in faith now have freedom from sin’s bondage and are able to obey God.
James 2:10 (KJV), “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
James 2:12-13 (KJV), “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”
Recognize what the root words really mean in the original context
James 2:5 (KJV), “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?”
Strong’s Concordance (4145) – plousios: wealthy. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon – b. metaphorically and universally, abounding, abundantly supplied: absolutely, abounding (rich) in Christian virtues and eternal possessions.
* Same root word (4145) altogether different meaning within its context.
Paul tells us that the church is comprised of one body
1 Corinthians 12:12 (KJV), “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”
One appendage of the BODY affects the entire BODY
James 2:15-17 (KJV), “15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
James 2:24 (KJV), “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
[2] he fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect. “the juxtaposition of these two images”
Grow in the Word of the Lord 