Verses 1-8, Favoritism Forbidden
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
Commentary
Verses 1-4
James contends that his readers are guilty of several sins. They treated rich visitors with great respect while treating poor visitors with no respect at all.
Verses 5-7
James can not understand this because often it was the rich who persecuted them and ridiculed their Savior.
Verse 8
James gives the people an exhortation. He exhorts them to keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Verses 9-13, The Consequences of Favoritism
9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Commentary
Verses 9-12
To break the royal law is to break all laws.
Verse 13
To show no mercy is to receive no mercy.
Verses 14-18, Faith and Deeds
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
Commentary
James contrasts having only head faith with having head, heart, and hand faith.
Verses 14-18
James asks questions:
---1. "What good is it to claim to have faith but has no deeds?"
---2. "Can such faith save them?"
---3. "What good is it to tell someone without clothes and daily food to go in peace but words are not accompanied by action?
Then James concludes, "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds." Head faith by itself is empty faith and attempts to minister to the poor by pious words not accompanied by works.
Verses 19-20
19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
Commentary
Verses 19-20
James asks, "Do you still think it's enough just to believe that there is one God?" Then James answers in a rhetorically way, "Well, even the demons believe this and they tremble in terror!"
Verses 21-26
21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[e] and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Commentary
Verses 21-24
The first of two examples of having head, heart, and hand faith is recorded. Abraham proved his faith by his willingness to offer up his son Isaac.
Verses 25-26
The second of the two examples of having head, heart, and hand faith is recorded. Rehab proved her faith by protecting the two Israelite spies.
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