We have come to chapter two of the book of James. Just to recap, chapter one discussed the idea that various trials and temptations are common to all believers and that endurance in those trials lead to maturity in the Christian faith. Beginning with chapter two James will develop this idea in more detail by using a real-world situation of succumbing to the temptation of favoritism within the Church. He will argue that these kinds of actions should never be commonplace among believers.

(James 2:1-13)

My brothers, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 2 For example, a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor man dressed in dirty clothes also comes in. 3 If you look with favor on the man wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or, “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” 4 haven’t you discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He has promised to those who love Him? 6 Yet you dishonored that poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Don’t they blaspheme the noble name that was pronounced over you at your baptism? 8 Indeed, if you keep the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, ^r you are doing well. 9 But if you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.10 For whoever keeps the entire law, yet fails in one point, is guilty of breaking it all. 11 For He who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. ^w So if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you are a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of freedom. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who hasn’t shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. 

James immediately addressed a sin he had witnessed or heard about among these Christians. He said it was the sin of favoritism (v 1). What does that mean? Simply put it means favoring some people over others or paying special attention to certain people because of wealth, position, authority, popularity, or influence. Because Christians stand on equal ground before Christ, this shouldn't happen. No one is higher or more acceptable than anyone else. Jesus is the Lord who left the glory of heaven to come into this corruptible world to save all people. All believers are to do as the Lord of glory did and humble themselves.

To make his point even more clear he then uses the illustration of two people who have come to visit the local fellowship (v 2-3). One man is dressed to the hilt and the other is wearing torn and tattered clothes. The rich looking man is escorted to the best seat in the house but the other is told to either stand or be seated out of the way. This is really the extreme of both poverty and wealth. This is not of Christ.

He then lists five reasons why it is wrong to show favoritism (v 4-7). First, it sets you up as judge over other people (v 4) making the decision of who gets to worship God and who is acceptable to God. Secondly, it reveals evil thoughts (v 4) saying material things are more important than the person himself. Thirdly, favoritism discriminates against the poor and lowly, the very people who are loved by God (v 5). But be careful here, he is not saying that God does not love and care for the rich and prominent. He does. But He cares for the poor and lowly also (Psalm 140:12).

Next, he says partiality displays a disgraceful attitude (v 6). It clearly insults the poor and lowly. Believers are to never make others feel unwelcomed or of little value. Finally, favoritism displays foolish behavior (v 6-7). The rich usually oppress the poor taking what they want. They also blaspheme the name of Christ by denying, mocking, ignoring, and rejecting Christ as Savior of the world. Simply put the Church is to never discriminate and show favoritism to anyone.

Toward the end of this passage James gives three warnings against favoritism. First, it is sin because it violates the royal law of love (v 8-9). “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). Why is the law royal? Because it is the royal law of God’s kingdom. It was given by God and is reinforced by Christ. It sums up all the other laws (Galatians 5:14). It leads to eternal life (1 John 4:7-8). Secondly, it makes a person guilty of the whole law of God (v 10). Every law has been giving by God. It is a complete style of life. We cannot choose which laws to keep or build some merit system by being allowed to break a few of the laws. We can’t become more acceptable to God by keeping most of His laws, only breaking a few. Warning number three is that favoritism is just as serious of a sin as adultery or killing (v 11). It is a sin that specifically chooses one person over another. This stresses the seriousness of the sin of favoritism. This Scripture is crystal clear; believers are not to show favoritism to anyone.