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James 2:1-13 KJV
James · chapter 2 · verses 1–13
1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2For 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; 3And 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: 4Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5Hearken, 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? 6But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.James 2:1-13 · King James Version
James 2:1-13 in context
1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2For 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;
3And 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:
4Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5Hearken, 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?
6But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Commentary
Cross references
- Proverbs 24:23
- James 2:9
- Deuteronomy 16:19
- Leviticus 19:15
- Deuteronomy 1:17
- Proverbs 28:21
- 2 Chronicles 19:7
- Matthew 22:16
- 2 Corinthians 8:9
- John 7:24
- Matthew 5:3
- Luke 6:20
Key words (Strong's)
- transgressorparabatēsa transgressor, a lawbreakerG3848 →
- yourselvesheautouhimself, herself, itself, themselvesG1438 →
- blasphemeblasphēmeōto speak reproachfully, rail at, revile, calumniate, blaspheme, to be evil spoken of…G987 →
- scripturegraphēa writing, thing written, the Scripture, used to denote either the book itself, or its…G1124 →
- neighbourplēsiona neighbour, a friend, any other person, and where two are concerned, the other…G4139 →
- convincedelegchōto convict, refute, confute, generally with a suggestion of shame of the person…G1651 →
- whosoeverhostiswhoever, whatever, whoG3748 →
- brethrenadelphosa brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother…G80 →
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The apostle is here reproving a very corrupt practice. He shows how much mischief there is in the sin of prosōpolēpsia - respect of persons, which seemed to be a very growing evil in the churches of Christ even in those early ages, and which, in these after-times, has sadly corrupted and divided Christian nations…
— Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on verses 1-7