James 2:5-13
Ps Paul Cheng
“… to show partiality to either if them is a sinful behaviour…”
~4 min read
Dear Bethelites,
As we consider this topic, “The sin of partiality,” in our previous pastoral, we have dealt with the principle and the illustration (c.f. James 2:1-4). Today, we will continue with the second part, which deals with the contradiction and transgression (James 2:5-13).
I. The Contradiction
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? (James 2:5-7)
James continued, Hearken, my beloved brethren. It was a loving and warm admonition. Though he knew that some people had done wrong, yet he appealed to them with a heart of affection. To show partiality to the rich and disregard the poor could not possibly be consistent with God’s character or His Word.
Firstly, partiality was inconsistent with God because He had divinely chosen the poor (just as He had divinely chosen the rich – c.f. Deuteronomy 7:7-8, Luke 4:18-19). Though the believers might be poor, yet God had chosen them to be rich in faith which means they had the necessary abundance of blessings to believe in the gospel, be saved and grow in their faith. They might be poor, but they had received the same eternal life, heavenly citizenship and perfect righteousness of Christ in the kingdom of God.
Secondly, the rich people whom they tended to esteem highly, were oftentimes the ones who oppressed them and brought them to court. And they were the ones who blasphemed the name of Jesus Christ. By showing favouritism to the rich, they were actually standing with the blasphemers.
James rebuked them for their contradictory behaviour, “But ye, were totally unlike the ways of God, for you had despised the poor whom He had specially chosen.” God had elected the rich as well as the poor to be Christians; therefore, to show personal partiality to either of them is a sinful behaviour contradictory to His sovereign plan.
II. The Transgression
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well (James 2:8).
The word royal carries the idea of supreme and sovereign, indicating the authority of the law. When a sovereign king gives a law, it is legal and binding on all his subjects. Here the royal law is the essence of God’s commandments as summarized in Matthew 22:37-40, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Love is the key; love the Lord thy God and love thy neighbour (c.f. Romans 13:10). When the believer loves God, he will not seek to break any of His commandments. When the believer loves his neighbour, he will not seek to violate him or her. To love thy neighbour as thyself, is to love others with the same degree of love and concern one will accord to himself. For example, one does not want to be killed, be cheated, lied to, and be impartially treated. Therefore, one should not do the same things to others.
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors (James 2:9).
Therefore, if one shows partiality, he has broken the commandments of God, and he is convicted by the law as transgressor. Some may think, “Well, showing partiality is no big deal, it is just a small matter, it is not a very serious sin.” James 2:10, For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Others may claim, “But I have kept most of the law, and I only break one commandment.” As an illustration, James quoted, For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law (James 2:11). The same God who gave us the command not to commit adultery, also gave us the command not to kill; one may not be an adulterer, but if he has committed murder, he has become a transgressor of the law.
Notice, James chose two of the most serious sins (adultery and murder), which in both instances, the breaking of either one, would demand the death penalty. Most likely, he chose these two horrendous sins to illustrate the seriousness of partiality. It was such a grave sin that James closed this section with an appeal for the believers to fully consider the danger of divine judgment. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty (James 2:12). The law of liberty is the gospel that saves us, frees us from the judgment of sin, and brings us to eternal freedom and glory. If one is truly converted, then he must speak and live like a true believer who has been saved by God’s grace, by not showing partiality.
Finally, For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment (James 2:13).
The one who has shown no mercy refers to the unbelievers because their lives are characterized by partiality, selfishness and a lack of concern for others. When a man lives his life without showing mercy to others, it only goes to show that he himself has never responded rightly to the mercy of God. Such a person will ultimately be judged by God.
Favouritism is happening everywhere, in the workplace, family, society and sadly, even in the church. Showing partiality is not a small thing; it will prevent people from coming to the church, it will take away the warmth of the church, and turn her into a cold and lifeless institution. Ultimately, it is a serious sin against the Almighty God! Instead of showing partiality, let us show love to one another!
With love in Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng
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