James / Impartiality and the Royal Law

Impartiality and the Royal Law

James 2:1-13

Chapter 2

¹ My brothers, do you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality? ² For if a man wearing a gold ring enters your synagogue in splendid clothing, and a poor man also enters in filthy clothing, ³ but you look upon the one wearing the bright clothing and say, "You sit here well," and to the poor you say, "Stand there, or sit under my footstool." ⁴ Have you not distinguished among yourselves and become judges with evil reasonings? ⁵ Listen, my beloved brothers. Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? ⁶ But you have dishonored the poor. Do not the rich oppress you, and do they drag you into judgment seats? ⁷ Do they not blaspheme the good name called upon you? ⁸ If, however, you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. ⁹ But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole Law but stumbles in one point has become guilty of all. ¹¹ For the one who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." But if you do not commit adultery but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the Law. ¹² In this way speak and in this way do, as those who are about to be judged through the law of freedom. ¹³ For judgment is merciless to the one not having done mercy; mercy boasts against judgment.