Commentary on James Chapter Two
When I was a young man, I was involved with street ministry. A very arrogant man led one of the ministry teams that I ministered with. This man was not in the ministry for the love of people, but for perceived power. He made comments about the poor neighborhoods and people that we ministered to. This man showed partiality to those whom he ministered to. There is no reward for those who minister to receive glory from man, and despise those, they feel are beneath them. James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote about having unconditional love, as well as mercy, for those who come into the assembly. If a poor man comes into your assembly in filthy clothes, and you seat him in the back of the room, and give the fine seats, up front, to the rich, you commit the sin of partiality.
If the love of God is perfected in your heart, you will not make a distinction between people, based on their attire, appearance, race, or economic status. Many Christians are guilty of judging people because a man may have long hair, or dress poorly, or a lady may not be able to afford a nice dress, or a family may drive an old car. Looking down upon people, for any reason, is not proper Christian behavior. I have attended churches where the elders, deacons, as well as those in other ministry positions, were placed in office because they were the biggest tithers. A church assembly should pray, fast, and seek God, to determine who should be placed in ministry positions. I have also visited churches, where the women all dressed similar, and wore their hair the same, and they looked down upon women who appeared differently. Many people have been driven away from the churches, because of holier than thou behavior. The churches are a hospital for the spiritually sick to recover. How will they recover, unless they see the love of Christ in action.
(James 2:1) 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?
8 If you really 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, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
If we have the love of Christ in our hearts, we will meet the needs of those who are destitute, or struggling. There have been times, when my family and I have gone through major economic hardships, and family and friends would offer their prayers, but do nothing to help us during our hour of need. I have also known of others, who have been neglected, by those who could help. James states that faith without works is dead. If you see your brother without food, or basic needs, and you neglect to help him, your faith is dead. James makes a good point by emphasizing that the demons believe in God and tremble. So claiming faith in God is meaningless, if you do not have good works present in your life. In verse 26, James states for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. In Revelation, chapters two and three, Christ tells the seven churches that they need to repent and have good works before God. On judgement day, as well as the bema seat judgement, every man will be judged according to their works. In (Matt 25:35-46), Christ taught that when you feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, cloth the naked, visit those sick, or in prison, you have done it unto him, and you shall enter eternal life. If you neglect the hungry, thirsty, sick, destitute, or those in prison, you shall enter everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. It is very important that we show the love of Christ to those who are perishing, because you may be their only spiritual lifeline. We must walk in the fear of the Lord, and rescue the prisoner of war. God Bless!
(James 2:14) What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.
24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
(Matt 25:35) for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'
37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;
43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'
44 Then they also will answer Him,saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'
45 Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'
46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
