James 2:1-7

1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.

² For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,

³ and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,”

⁴ have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

⁶ But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?

⁷ Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?

This passage flows directly from the last two verses of the previous chapter (James 1:26-27)

partiality (vs. 1, 4) = favoritism, a fault which gives respect based on outward circumstances and not to intrinsic merits, along with the occasions when this fault is demonstrated.

assembly (v.2) — the synagogue. Remember, James was writing to Jews.

Here we have the synagogue mentioned, sufficient evidence that these Jewish believers were still gathering together in the Jewish fashion, and were not an ecclesia, and assembly, gathered out. — Gaebelein, page 1129.

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The spirit of the world courts the rich and despises the poor; the Spirit of Christ honors both alike. Rich and poor are here views as classes and not as persons. It does not, therefore, mean that all poor men are Christians and all rich men are not. — Williams, pages 993-994.

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Are you not showing partiality, which is a sin against God? God is equally concerned about both souls. In essence, [James] says, isn’t it in keeping with your calling to be an imitator of God, who is not a respecter of persons? [He] makes an airtight case that they had become “judges of evil thoughts.” Clearly the motive behind showing partiality to the rich man was selfish gain. On the other hand, the poor man had noting to offer but a sincere heart and a desire to serve the Lord. — Sadler, page 62.

judges with evil thoughts (v.4) — making judgements based on wrong motives

James is not shutting the door on the rich — far from it. He is saying that the gospel of Christ is especially dear to the poor and that in it there is a welcome for those who have no one to welcome them, and that through it there is a value set on those whom the world regards a valueless. — Sadler, page 63.

dishonored (v.6) = treated shamefully, despised, insulted

oppress (v.6) = exercise harsh control over, use one’s power against

blaspheme (v.7) = speak evil of, slander

[James couldn’t understand] why there were those in the assembly who wanted to cater to the rich. It was the wealthy and powerful who were behind setting up false witnesses against Christ and Stephen. They were the ones who demanded the death of the Savior and committed the murder of Stephen. Why, then, would they want to appease those who persecuted them and were responsible for having some of their own hauled off to the judgment seat? … Like Judas, some of the rich undoubtedly surmised that the coming kingdom might profit them in more ways than one (John 12:4-6). Thus, they had an ulterior motive for their attendance — gain! — Sadler, page 64.