A Few Thoughts on the Epistle of James--James 3:1-12

3. B3 Chapter 3 

C1 The Christian life—speech James 3:1-12 

D1 Believers Should Know That Teachers are Going to be Judged More Strictly James 3:1-2 

D2 Believers Should Know That Even If the Tongue Is Small What It Says Can be Troublesome James 3:3-6 

D3 Believers Should Know That Wild Animals Have Been Tamed But Not Speech James 3:7-8 

D4 Believers Should Know That Good and Bad Things Come From Our Speech, Which Is Wrong James 3:9-12 

James 3:1-12 WEL My brothers, not many of you should become teachers, because we know that we will receive the greater condemnation. 2 For all of us often trip up in many ways. If anyone doesn’t slip up in speech, he [is] a matured man also [able] to restrain whole body. 3 Observe, we put bits in the horse’s’ mouth, so they may obey us and turn around their whole body. 4 Also look at the ships, which though so huge and driven by fierce winds, yet are steered with a very small rudder, wherever the pilot wishes, 5 and so the tongue is a little thing, but brags about things. Behold, how great a forest fire a little fire kindles! 6 The tongue [is such] a fire, a world of evil, so the tongue is among the members of our body, in that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our existence. It is set on fire by Gehenna. 7 For every animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is tamed or has been tamed by mankind, 8 but the tongue can no one tame. [It is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless God, even the Father, and with the same we curse people, who are made according to God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things must not be so. 11 Does a spring bubble up at the same place sweet and bitter [water]? 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, bear olive berries or a vine, figs? So, no fountain can yield both salt and freshwater. 

Teachers= 

• Those who teach, impart knowledge, through words, visuals, action (what they do), interactions, writing, etc. 
• Here James includes himself, for note the word “we.” 
• Many might want to become a teacher, but a strict warning is given. It is this, a teacher is held to a higher standard and will be judge accordingly. 

• Some things we must be careful for 

• We need to know what we are talking about and not to be so cocksure of our interpretation. Note, the Law in this passage refers to Mosaic Law especially in religious rituals. 1 Timothy 1:7 ISV They want to be teachers of the Law, yet they do not understand either what they are talking about or the things about which they speak so confidently. 

• The teachers of the Law (Mosaic Law) were corrupted by philosophy, theology, man’s rules, etc. 
• The plain sense had been overruled by famous teachers (rabbis). 
• These teachers, then, did not understand the Law in its plain, normal sense, context, overall teaching of the Law and Prophets, but they sure were confidence that they did. One example: Matthew 23:23 CSB Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law -- justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. 

• The application would be such things are the same today including experiences, famous personalities, philosophy, theology, etc., which have corrupted us. There is nothing inherently wrong in philosophy or theology, but we must interpret the Bible correctly. A good source on proper interpretation. 
• Dr. Abrams (Biblical Principles For Interpreting God's Word) mentions 2 more problems with teachers: 

• Ignorance 
• Dishonest for personal gain 

• Dr. Abrams writing again on Bible interpretation: For God not to give us a way to interpret the Bible is to leave the interpretation of Scripture to human wisdom that is at best faulty. To have the interpretation of scripture rest on man's wisdom is to have “flesh” interpreting that which is spiritual. 

• They need to be careful. God does not lie, so we must attempt to take God at His word, that is, we are to read the Scriptures in their plain, normal sense. 

• Teachers 

• Need to know how to interpret 
• Need to know how to apply what they are teaching 
• Need to know the Gospel and why (to defend it) 

• Need to know the teachings of Christianity and why 
• Need to know the worldview and lifestyle of Christianity and why 
• Need to know how to communicate as clearly as they are able 
• Need to know they may need to be corrected 
• Need to know others in the congregation may know more than he/she does and the need to learn from them. 

• Need to know that teaching, in God’s view, is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Someone may be an awesome teacher without the Spirit, but if it is from the gift of the Holy Spirit, it will be effective as God intends it to be. 
• If the teacher is male, they need to know that God may have gifted a female to a greater extent. 
• Need to know the right question. 

• It IS, “What does this passage mean?” 
• It IS NOT, “What does this passage mean to me?” 

• Need to know to speak the truth, not what the group wants to hear. 
• Need to know that the teacher and the group are to view Bible study as worship to God. 
• Need to know that God is the main teacher, chief teacher, and to ask for wisdom in teaching. 

Condemnation= Judgment is coming 

• By God 

• On what we say 
• On our motivation and purpose 
• On our honoring or dishonoring His words (Bible). 

• On the teacher 

• If the teacher is a non-Christian, then the last judgment: Revelation 20:11-15 WEL Then, I saw a great white throne and the one who sat on it from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and there was no room found for them. 12 Next, I saw the dead, both small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened. Another book was also opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged from what was written in the books according to their works. 13 The sea handed over the dead, which were in it. Death and Hades also handed over the dead, who were in them, and each one was judged according to their works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. 15 Whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.  

• If the teacher is a Christian, then the Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema Seat) of which all Christians will experience:  

• 2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 
• This verse is mainly to all Christians but also a teacher is scrutinized: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 NIV For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved--even though only as one escaping through the flames. 

Speech=  

• What we say 

• How we say it 
• Includes body language 
• Includes tone of voice 
• Is impossible to be consistently Christian without the help of God—lots of grace. 
• Finis Dake writes: Twelve Things About The Tongue 

• Boasts great things (James 3:5) 
• Is a fire (James 3:6) 
• A world of iniquity (James 3:6) 
• It defiles the whole body (James 3:6) 
• Sets on fire the course of nature (James 3:6) 

• It is untameable (James 3:8) 
• An unruly evil (James 3:8) 
• Full of deadly poison (James 3:8) 
• Used to bless God and curse men (James 3:9) 
• Capable of good conversation (James 3:13) 

• Capable of bitter strife (James 3:14) 

• Listening to others is an important part of speech 
• We must speak the truth, but it is to be in love: Ephesians 4:15 NIV Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 

Questions 

• Why are teachers judged more strictly than others? 

• What must teachers do consistently? 
• What kind of speech is God pleased with? 
• How can we ensure our speech is pleasing to God? 
• Why is listening important?

A Few Thoughts on the Epistle of James—James 2:14-26

C2 The Christian life—the relationship of faith and works James 2:14-26 

D1 Believers Should Know That a Faith That Is Not Matched by Works is Fake James 2:14-17 

James 2:14-17 WEL What does it profit, my brothers, if a man says he has faith and not works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister becomes naked and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say to them, “Leave in peace, may you be warm and filled [with food],” yet you do not give them those things which they need for the body. What good [is it]? 17 So, if faith does not have works, it is dead in itself. 

Faith and not works=  

• Some teach faith alone in Jesus Christ alone saves. Others do not. What does this passage mean? 
• In this passage, works are not for saving faith but show what we really believe. 
• This epistle is written to those already saved. They already are believers. The works mentioned are not for salvation. It is a contrast between a phony faith and a genuine faith. James 1:1-2 WEL James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes, which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2 My brothers, consider it all joy when you find yourself surrounded by various trials. 

• We have been taught by our church leaders (or at least are supposed to be taught) the Gospel, Christian doctrine and why we believe this, the Christian life and why we are to live this. Note here, how Paul ministered to the Philippians. He taught; they learned. What he said, he did. His life and words matched whether in private or in public. Philippians 4:9 WEL Those things, which you have learned, received, heard, and seen in me, do, and the God of peace will be with you. 
• We all show what we really believe, by how we live. If we are really Christians, our lives will reveal it. 
• John Wesley comments on this verse:  

• From Jam 1:22, the apostle has been enforcing Christian practice. He now applies to those who neglect this, under the pretense of faith. St. Paul had taught that "a man is justified by faith without the works of the law." This some began already to wrest to their own destruction. Wherefore St. James, purposely repeating (Jam 2:21, Jam 2:23, Jam 2:25) the same phrases, testimonies, and examples, which St. Paul had used, Rom 4:3, Heb 11:17, Heb 11:31, refutes not the doctrine of St. Paul, but the error of those who abused it. There is, therefore, no contradiction between the apostles: they both delivered the truth of God, but in a different manner, as having to do with different kinds of men. On another occasion St. James himself pleaded the cause of faith, Act 15:13-21; and St. Paul himself strenuously pleads for works, particularly in his latter epistles. This verse is a summary of what follows. What profiteth it? is enlarged on, Jam 2:15-17; though a man say, Jam 2:18-19 can that faith save him? Jam 2:20. 
• It is not, though he have faith; but, though he say he have faith. Here, therefore, true, living faith is meant: but in other parts of the argument the apostle speaks of a dead, imaginary faith. He does not, therefore, teach that true faith can, but that it cannot, subsist without works: nor does he oppose faith to works; but that empty name of faith, to real faith working by love. Can that faith "which is without works" save him? No more than it can profit his neighbor. 

• Precept Austin has a comment on this verse:  James 2:14-20 Describes dead faith (including "demonic" faith). James 2:21-26 Describes dynamic, living, useful faith giving three illustrations. James' objective is to answer the question "What is genuine, saving faith?". This question makes James 2:14-26 one of the most vitally important sections of Scripture because the truth James explains deals directly with a person's eternal destiny. The most frightening deception in this life is to think that "I possess saving faith" when it fact in God's eyes it is not genuine saving faith.  

Good works= 

• Not necessarily the works of feeding and housing the poor though that might be, but a non-Christian can do as much and maybe better. 
• These would be Christian works as 

• Galatians 5:22-26 WEL But, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be longing for empty praise, irritating one another, and envying one another.  

• 1 Corinthians 13:4-8A WEL Love is very patient and kind; love is not envious; love doesn’t brag about itself, is not haughty, 5 Doesn’t behave improperly, is not self-seeking; love isn’t easily aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of wrongs, 6 Doesn’t rejoice in injustice, but rejoices in the truth, 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, calmly endures all things. 8 Love never ends, 

• We who have been born again are to do good deeds. 

• Titus 2:14 NASB Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. 
• Titus 3:14 NASB Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful. 
• 1 Peter 2:12 NASB Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. 

• Good deeds do not always mean to given money either. 

• One example given in our passage refers to meeting physical and material needs. 
• Luke 7:22 PickNT  

• So in answer Jesus said to them: "Go and report to John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind regain sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, dead are raised, the poor are evangelized.  
• Pickering comments on this verse: "The poor are evangelized"—what the poor (and everyone else) need most is salvation and a new life, not a free distribution of wealth. 

• The actions of these would be a reflection of 

• Mark 12:28-31 NLT One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these." 
• Note, that loving God is first, not loving the neighbor. Many, if not most Christian(?) leaders teach loving the neighbor and barely mention loving God. 
• Loving God is in obeying what Jesus has taught, not some voice or impression inside us. John 14:15 NLT If you love me, obey my commandments. 

Brother and/or sister= 

• There is an order of priorities in meeting needs: spouse, then children, then our congregational members, then the church elsewhere, and finally the non-believer. 
• Brother and sister here refer to those whom James wrote to in James 1:1-2. They are believers. 

 

D2 Believers Should Know Faith Alone With a Change of Life Seen Is Fake James 2:18-19 

James 2:18-19 WEL Someone may say, “You have faith, and I have works. You show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one? You do well; the devils also believe and shudder. 

Faith without works= A faith only in the mind, not in a changed heart. 

Faith with works= A faith in the heart and mind revealing itself in the good deeds that Jesus wants us to do.  

D3 Believers Should Know These Examples James 2:20-26 

James 2:20-26 WEL But will you understand, you senseless man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasn’t Abraham, our father, justified by works when he had offered Isaac, his son, on the altar?  22 See how faith worked together with his works, and [how] faith was made complete by works? 23 The Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness,” and he was called the Friend of God. 24 You see then how a person is justified by works and not by faith only. 25 In the same way, wasn’t Rahab, the harlot, justified by works when she had 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. 

• Two examples 

• Abraham James 2:20-24 
• Rahab James 2:25-26 

Questions on James 2:14-26 

• What is faith? 
• What are good works? 

• Why are Christians required to do good works? 
• Give some examples of good works Christians can do? 
• What is the relationship between faith and works? 

A Few Thoughts on the Epistle of James—James 2:12-13

D4 Believers Should Know We Are Under Freedom But Will Be Judged by the Judgment We Use on Others James 2:12-13

James 2:12-13 WEL So speak and act as those who will be judged under the law of liberty 13 For the judgment [is] without mercy to those who have shown no mercy, and [the law of liberty] exults mercy over judgment.

Law of Liberty=

• See James 1:25 WEL But whoever looks at the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, is not being a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work. This one will be blessed for what he does.
• This is not the law of death (the Old Testament law Romans 7:5, Romans 7:13, Romans 8:2, 1 Corinthians 15:56). It is the Law of Christ for Christians. The Lord Jesus perfectly fulfilled and was obedient to the Old Testament law. It is obsolete for Christians; we do not have to follow it anymore(Hebrews 8:13 NIV By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear).
• Matthew 11:29-30 NLT Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.
• There are over 1,000 rules in the New Testament for Christians. Here are a few: 1 Thessalonians 4. I do not know much about this site, but it does list the over 1,000 rules in the New Testament. Please remember that this is from Dake’s Bible and Finis Dake has some very problematic interpretations. So beware!

Judgment=

• The Greek word is κρίνω krínō. It means to decide and make a decision in various uses.
• So it is translated separate, prefer, opinion, determine, judge (pronounce judgment), etc.
• Here, what we say and do will be judged by the perfect Law of Liberty. All of God’s decisions are based on love and wisdom.

Without mercy=

• The Greek word is ἀνίλεως aníleōs. The Greek word for mercy is ἔλεος éleos.
• Mercy doesn’t mean to tolerate anything, no discipline, no rebuke, or to accept whatever a person does is to be tolerated and not judged. Consider,
  • We must forgive others (Matthew 6:15).
  • Yet, there may be punishment. See 1 Kings 2:36-46 concerning King Solomon and Shimei.
  • Showing the wrong kind of mercy, may lead to snares to sin and abandon God and His ways (Deuteronomy 7:16).
  • Some things deserve punishment. We must respect that (Deuteronomy 13:1-11).
  • 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 shows there is to be separation from evil.
  • Ephesians 5:1-7 shows not to be partners with those who refuse to repent.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:32-34 GW If I have fought with wild animals in Ephesus, what have I gained according to the way people look at things? If the dead are not raised, "Let's eat and drink because tomorrow we're going to die!"  33  Don't let anyone deceive you. Associating with bad people will ruin decent people.  34  Come back to the right point of view, and stop sinning. Some people don't know anything about God. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Mercy over judgment=

• Sometimes God shows no mercy: Psalms 59:5 GNB Rise, LORD God Almighty, and come to my aid; see for yourself, God of Israel! Wake up and punish the heathen; show no mercy to evil traitors!
• God gives mercy when the conditions are met: Ezekiel 3:19 NLT If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me.
• An Example of those who met God’s conditions and received mercy and those who refuse to repent: Matthew 12:41 NLT The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here--but you refuse to repent.

Summary= There is a Christian lifestyle and worldview. We are to live in God’s kingdom, so we must live and think that way. This includes what we say and what we do.

Questions

• What is the perfect Law of Liberty?
• When should we show mercy, and when should we not?
• What is God’s standard that He judges by?

A Few Thoughts on the Epistle of James—James 2:8-11

D3 Believers Should Know This Was Taught in the Old Testament James 2:8-11

James 2:8-11 WEL If, however, you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” You do well. 9 But if you are partial, you commit sin and are exposed by that law as being lawbreakers. 10 For whosoever will obey the whole law and yet fail in one [point] is guilty of all. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not kill.” Now if you do not commit adultery, yet you kill, you have become a violator of the law.

Fulfill=

• The Greek word for fulfill is τελέω teléō. It means
  • To bring to a close, to finish (Matthew 13:53)
  • To do in the sense that something was done and finished (Galatians 5:16)
  • To finish what we commanded or prophesied (Luke 18:31)
• In our passage, it refers to doing something that is now completed.
• If I love my neighbor as myself, then I have done what Scripture has commanded.

Royal law= This is “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” It is the King of Kings’ law.

Partiality=

• This the Greek word προσωποληπτέω prosōpolēptéō. It means to show favor to one person regardless of truth. Often you see this when a pastor or other respected leaders commit credible sin. Instead of believing and helping the victim, people will cover up the sin and then shame/abuse the victim. They treat the sinning leader and the victim differently.
• Bible verses and examples
  • Deuteronomy 1:16-17 NLT At that time I instructed the judges, 'You must hear the cases of your fellow Israelites and the foreigners living among you. Be perfectly fair in your decisions and impartial in your judgments. Hear the cases of those who are poor as well as those who are rich. Don't be afraid of anyone's anger, for the decision you make is God's decision. Bring me any cases that are too difficult for you, and I will handle them.' (See also 2 Chronicles 19:7, Proverbs 24:23-25).
  • Mark 15:15 NLT So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.
  • Exodus 23:1-3 GNB Do not spread false rumors, and do not help a guilty person by giving false testimony.  2  Do not follow the majority when they do wrong or when they give testimony that perverts justice.  3  Do not show partiality to a poor person at his trial.

Failure=

• The Greek word for fail, stumble, offend is πταίω ptaíō. It means here a mistake, a failure.
• Just one sin brought curse on the world (Genesis 3:12-19, Romans 5:12, 1 Corinthians 15:22).
• The solution is 2 Peter 1:10 CSB Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble.

Violator (guilty)=

• The Greek word is ἔνοχος énochos. It means doing something worthy of punishment.
• God’s requirement is absolute perfection to be holy as He is holy. Galatians 3:10 NLT But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God's Book of the Law.
• In Elliott’s commentary on Ezekiel 18:13, he writes: (13) Hath done all these abominations.—This expression is collective, while that in Ezekiel 18:10 is partitive. This is not because he who commits one sin is considered as having committed all, but because he who willingly commits any sin thereby puts himself into the class of sinners, of those who do not wish or intend to abide by the Divine will, but choose rather to do their own. Such a man places himself among the enemies of God. (Comp. James 2:10.)
• This includes both intentional and unintentional sins whether in thoughts, desires, words, or deeds.
  • Leviticus 4:13 NLT If the entire Israelite community sins by violating one of the LORD's commands, but the people don't realize it, they are still guilty.
  • Leviticus 6:2-5 NLT Suppose one of you sins against your associate and is unfaithful to the LORD. Suppose you cheat in a deal involving a security deposit, or you steal or commit fraud, or you find lost property and lie about it, or you lie while swearing to tell the truth, or you commit any other such sin. If you have sinned in any of these ways, you are guilty. You must give back whatever you stole, or the money you took by extortion, or the security deposit, or the lost property you found, or anything obtained by swearing falsely. You must make restitution by paying the full price plus an additional 20 percent to the person you have harmed. On the same day you must present a guilt offering.

Questions

• Think of some examples of loving your neighbor as yourself.
• How can you love your spouse, child, parents, co-workers, people who meet on the street, shoppers, bullies, etc.?
• Why does God hate partiality?
• If we love our spouse or children more than others, are we guilty of partiality? Explain.
• Why does committing just one sin condemn a person to God’s judgment?

A Few Thoughts on the Epistle of James—James 2:5-7

D2 Believers Should Know Why God Treats Equally James 2:5-7

James 2:5-7 WEL Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn’t God chosen the poor of this world [to be] rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you, you despise the poor. Don’t rich people oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Don’t they curse that beautiful name you are named after?

Rich in faith=

• Manser in his Dictionary of Bible Themes lists a number of spiritual riches.
• The greatest is God’s love through the Gospel.

Kingdom=

• The Kingdom of God (Kingdom of Heaven) is the place...
  • Where God reigns. In this world, it is the believer’s heart.
  • A coming kingdom is coming as prophesied in many places especially in Revelation.
  • This kingdom has rules. We might as well start obeying now. The Bible teaches that if we love God, we will keep (obey) His commandments.
    • He shows love to us when keeping His rules (Exodus 20:6, Psalm 25:10, Daniel 9:4).
    • We show love to Him by keeping (obeying) His rules (John 14:15, 1 John 5:3).
    • He knows we cannot do this perfectly, so we have an advocate (1 John 2:1).

Despise=

• Not just ignoring them but despising them.
• The Greek word is ἀτιμάζω atimázō. It means to dishonor, to insult, being rude.
• This can be in desires, words, thoughts, and deeds as any sin.
• Zechariah 7:9-10 NRSV Thus says the LORD of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another;  10  do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.

Rich people

• Money has an effect. It doesn’t make any difference whether Christian or not.
• Seems most people have been treated badly by many rich people.
• God, the richest, does not treat people rudely, so we must follow His ways.

Curse= a blasphemy of God’s character, words, actions, etc.

Beautiful name=

• The Greek word is καλός kalós. It means good in many senses. It has the sense of beautiful, honorable, noble, etc.
• Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
• Philippians 2:9-11 NIV Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
• We are Christians. Acts 11:26 NIV and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Questions

• Name some spiritual riches.
• Why should we be laboring for these riches? (Matthew 6:19-24)
• What are some dangers of earthly riches?
• How do we avoid despising our Christian brothers and sisters?

A Few Thoughts on the Epistle of James—James 2:1-4

B2 Chapter 2

C1 The Christian life—no socioeconomic prejudice James 2:1-13

D1 Believers Should Treat All Christians Equally James 2:1-4

James 2:1-4 WEL My brothers, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Glory [of God], with partiality. 2 For if a man with a gold ring and expensive clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor man with shabby clothes comes in also, 3 And you favor him who wears the impressive clothing and say to him, “Sit over in this place of honor,” but you say to the poor, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here under my feet.” 4 Are you not prejudiced in yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ= His Gospel, His Beliefs (doctrine), His life (worldview and lifestyle)

The Glory=

• Various interpretations as Lord of Glory, of the Glory (heaven or the only Glory), or the Glory (of God) as in the Shekinah Glory of God (See Robertson’s Word Pictures for example).
• Some verses
  • Luke 9:26 LITV For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that one when He comes in His glory, and that of the Father, and of the holy angels.
  • Luke 9:31-32 LITV Appearing in glory, they spoke of His exodus, which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.  32  But Peter and those with him were pressed down with sleep. But fully awakening, they saw His glory, and the two men standing with Him.
  • John 17:5 NASB Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
  • Jesus is THE Glory, the standard, the ultimate, so compare: 1 Corinthians 15:41 NLT The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory.

Partiality=

• The Greek word is προσωποληψία prosōpolēpsía. It means showing favoritism to one and disregarding the other.
• God has no partiality. He wants all to be saved and forgiven, not just a few that He elected before creation or, if you prefer, after Adam’s sin. 1 Timothy 2:4 NIV Who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
• This partiality is not treating our spouse better than other men or women, treating our children better than other children, treating a fellow Christian better than another.
• We are not to show partiality either, especially in the church (the people). Some brothers and sisters are rich and others are poor. We must treat and respect them equally.
• Reasons
  • God does not show favoritism or bias.
  • It will cause someone to sin. Perhaps, they will take advantage or ignore the needs of the poor and find excuse to do so. Proverbs 28:21 NIV To show partiality is not good--yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.
  • It causes divisions in the church. 1 Corinthians 3:3-4 NIV You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere human beings?
  • It might cause elders (pastors, ministers, overseers, bishops, etc.) to not be disciplined in the church. 1 Timothy 5:21 NIV I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
  • It is listed in the New Testament as sin that God will punish. James 2:9 NIV But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

Sit...stand=

• What we really believe is seen in our actions in private and public.
• Actions like partiality are due to pride.
• A decision has been rendered, not according to justice but evil thoughts.
• Decisions like this come from an evil heart. Mark 7:21-23 NLT For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.
• Vincent’s Word Studies comments: Their evil processes of thought lead to these unjust discriminations.
• Craig Keener comments on this passage (IVP Background Commentary): Roman laws explicitly favored the rich. Persons of lower class, who were thought to act from economic self-interest, could not bring accusations against persons of higher class, and the laws prescribed harsher penalties for lower-class persons convicted of offenses than for offenders from the higher class. Biblical law, most Jewish law and traditional Greek philosophers had always rejected such distinctions as immoral. In normal times, the public respected the rich as public benefactors, although the Zealots recognized in the Jerusalem aristocracy pro-Roman enemies. The Old Testament forbade partiality on the basis of economic status (Lev 19:15) and called judges among God’s people to judge impartially, as God did.

Questions

• Why is God so against this type of discrimination?
• How can we avoid this?