James 2:1-13

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Favouritism destroys love (James 2:1-13)

Standards of judgment in the church are not the same as those in the society round about. People ought not to be given important places in the church merely because they have important places in the society. Likewise poor people should not be ignored (James 2:1-4).

God welcomes people into his kingdom regardless of wealth or social position, and gives his riches to them equally. James notes how strange it is that the Christians should show special favour to the rich, because the rich are from the class that oppresses Christians most cruelly (James 2:5-7).

In their dealings with others, the rule for Christians is ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (James 2:8).

Those who show favouritism break that rule. They would, under Moses’ law (where the rule was first taught; Lev 19:18), be considered law-breakers, no matter what other good they may have done. For example, they may not commit adultery, but if they kill they are still law-breakers (James 2:9-11).

Christians are not in bondage to the law of Moses, but God’s ‘law of liberty’ within them should cause them to love others. If they show no mercy to the poor, God will show no mercy when he judges them. But if in mercy they refrain from harsh judgments, God will refrain from harsh judgment of them (James 2:12-13).