James’ Second Letter to the Church
In this chapter James discusses worship in the synagogue. Makes references to the treatment of the wealthy versus the poor. He teaches favoritism to the rich over the poor demonstrates a lack of faith. Following up on these ideas, James also teaches that “faith” which doesn’t result in good works is dead. What James is calling for is our Christian BEHAVIOR to match our Christian BELIEF.
Favoritism Condemned
James 2:1-4, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For 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; and 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: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”
The phrase “respect of persons” is addressed four times in the New Testament (Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25), each indicating that God does not show favoritism. When we sin by respecting only certain persons we imply that God did not make all men and women equal. Thus, anyone who shows favoritism is guilty of having “evil thoughts”.
Why evil thoughts? Because when a person shows favoritism based on appearance or wealth, their thoughts are driven by selfishness, personal gain, and misguided motives. Christians who show this kind of favoritism reveal their lack of faith. They fail to trust God’s equal love for all His children in Christ. Acting in prejudice show they don’t really believe that Christians who are poor in this life will be equal heirs to the riches of heaven. Instead, they’ve made themselves judges, distinguishing who is worthy of honor and who is not. Their discrimination reveals their evil, earthly way of thinking.
God does not show favoritism and neither should we.
James 2:5, “Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heir of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?
James is not saying that poverty is a virtue in and of itself. Neither is he saying that rich people cannot have faith. It is not that God favors the poor by making them rich in faith, but He knows that the riches of this world can become an obstacle to faith. The wealthy man too often will place his hope in his money and wealth to get him out of difficult circumstances, instead of relying on the Lord to provide what he needs.
A poor man living in needy circumstances, a destitute widow without hope in the world, or a penniless orphan, is much more likely to grasp hold of God’s great gift of salvation which is given freely to all. The poor are much more likely to put their faith in God for their needs.
The kingdom is promised to all that love God.
The Rich Exploiting Poorer Citizens
James 2:6-7, “But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
That worthy name refers to Jesus Christ. Any member of the church, rich or poor, represent the name of Jesus Christ.
James calls attention to the way in which rich members of the community were using the court to gain further advantages against the poorer members. By doing so, the rich insult Jesus’ name, when they speak against Christ directly or against the members of the church.
The Royal Law
James 2:8-9, “If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, ‘thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself’, ye do well: but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
James’ echo of Jesus’ teaching is evident again in the way he summarizes the royal law(Matthew 22:37-40). Attitudes among Christians should be based upon the royal law, which says, ‘love thy neighbor as thyself.’ Favoritism violates this command, thus convicting those guilty of its practice as transgressors of the law and committing sin.
The Whole Law
James 2:10-11, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For 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.
What James is confronting in this verse is the self-righteous attitude that we don’t depend as much on God’s grace as someone who has committed more obvious and heinous kinds of sin. This kind of thinking is self-deceiving and encourages complacency. A person who doesn’t murder or commit adultery but shows partiality to the rich should not feel self-righteous. He is a lawbreaker too. The function of the law is not to justify but to bring awareness of sin (Romans 4:14-16; 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 15:56). We should be humbled and conscience-stricken by the many sins we have committed, and not feel superior to those who sin in ways we have not.
Mercy, Judgment, Freedom
James 2:12-13, “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”
James reminds his readers to speak and act as people who will be judged under the law of freedom. Anyone who thinks they will not be judged for their actions and professes faith in Christ is deceiving themselves (Matthew 25:32; Acts 10:42; Romans 2:5; 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Those who are without mercy in judgment will not receive mercy themselves before God’s judgment (Matthew 5:7; 6:14-15). God’s law does not merely punish lawbreakers, but with mercy it provides paths of restitution and reconciliation so lawbreakers can be restored to communion with God and neighbor (Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13; 12:7).
Faith Without Works
In this section James continues with the theme of being “hearers” as well as “doers” of the word by focusing on the relationship between faith and works.
James 2:14, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can Faith save him?
James questions his readers about the profit of a faith that has no accompanying works. More pointedly, he asks whether such a “faith” can save anyone. The answer is no. Good works must accompany saving faith, because trusting the one, true God changes human motivations and practices, conforming believers to His image and wisdom.
James 2:15-16, “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food. 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?”
Similar to the apostle John’s teaching about showing love to others by deed and truth (1 John 3:17-18), James illustrates a kind of love without works. He describes a person who is approached by a brother or sister with insufficient clothing or food. James asks what good does it do to wish them well without giving them what is necessary for the body. This kind of speech is useless, just empty words. Just speaking those things did not warm nor feed them. So, what did it profit? Nothing.
James 2:17, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
Faith without works is dead. Faith alone is nothing. In order for faith to work, you have to put that faith in action. Giving a blessing to someone in need without offering tangible aid is useless. A living faith in Christ will always respond to the needs of others with action, not mere lip service. Saving faith manifests itself in good works and righteous living.
James 2:18, “Yea, a man may say, ‘thou hast faith, and I have works’: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
James answers a hypothetical question against his claim that faith without works is dead. You have faith, and I have works. This proposes a division of labor between those who show concern but do nothing, and those who act with compassion. James countered that works are evidence of genuine faith.
James 2:19-20, “Thou believest that there is one God, thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, oh vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
While James agrees that believing there is but one God is necessary, he also points out that the devils believe and tremble. This is an answer to the mistaken claim some make that belief in God by itself is sufficient for salvation. Devils believe, but it is impossible for them to be saved. Saving faith involves more than mere knowledge of God. It includes trust and obedience to God, for faith without works is dead.
James 2:21-24, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith make perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
The example of Abraham and his offer of Isaac as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-19) confirms James’s teachings about faith. Abraham believed God, and his trust in God was counted as righteousness (Genesis 15:6; Galatians 3:6). James focuses on the role good works play in proving faith genuine. Abraham’s faith was proven genuine by his obedience to God’s command. His faith made his good works possible.
James 2:25-26, “Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
James concludes this section with one more example. Rahab was also vindicated by deeds when she believed in the Israelites’ God who sent messengers to her in Jericho and demonstrated her faith in that God by aiding their mission (Joshua 2:1-15).
James concludes this section with a proverb that compares faith apart from works to a human body without a spirit or breath. Faith that does nothing is dead.
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