James 2:1-10

Today I'm just going to focus on part of chapter 2.

Favoritism Forbidden

 1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.


I really like the first few verses with the poor man and the rich man, because it is so true in our culture today.  I see examples of it all the time at school.  A new kid might come to school, and people will judge them just by their looks, even when they haven't met them yet.  I mean, who are we to judge?

And I LOVE verse 10.

 "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."

In my footnotes it says, one sin, small or great, makes a man a sinner and brings him under condemnation.  It is basically saying that all sins are equal, and it doesn't matter what sins you have committed, you are still a sinner either way. Plus sins are all equal in God's eyes.

It doesn't matter if you've stolen, lied, gossiped, murdered, cheated, swore, committed adultery or idolatry. . . . .

And even thinking about doing a sin is just like doing the real thing.


Well I will end with that.

- Mallory