James 2

The Sin of Partiality

1 My brothers, 1 w show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, x the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," y while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become z judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, a has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be b rich in faith and heirs of c the kingdom, d which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you e have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who f drag you g into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable h name by which you were called?

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, i "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. 9 But if you j show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point k has become accountable for all of it. 11 For he who said, l "Do not commit adultery," also said, l "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under m the law of liberty. 13 For n judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith o but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 p If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 q and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good 2 is that? 17 So 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 r apart from your works, and I will show you my faith s by my works. 19 t You believe that God is one; you do well. Even u the demons believe - and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 v Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that w faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed x by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, y "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness" - and he was called a z friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also a Rahab the prostitute justified by works b when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

  1. Cross References
    James 2:9
    But if you show partiality, you are committing ...
    Leviticus 19:15
    You shall do no injustice in court. You shall n...
    Deuteronomy 1:17
    You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall...
    Deuteronomy 16:19
    You shall not pervert justice. You shall not sh...
    Proverbs 24:23
    These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality ...
    Romans 2:11
    For God shows no partiality.
    Ephesians 6:9
    Masters, do the same to them, and stop your thr...
  2. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 2:8
    None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
    Acts 7:2
    And Stephen said: "Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran.
  3. Cross References
    Proverbs 18:23
    The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly.
  4. Cross References
    John 7:24
    Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.
  5. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 1:27 - 28
    But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.
    Job 34:19
    Who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
  6. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 8:9
    For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
    Revelation 2:9
    'I know your tribulation and your poverty ( but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
    Luke 12:21
    So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
  7. Cross References
    Matthew 5:3
    Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
    Luke 6:20
    And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
    Luke 12:32
    Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
  8. Cross References
    James 1:12
    Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
  9. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 11:22
    What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
  10. Cross References
    Acts 16:19
    But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
  11. Cross References
    Acts 8:3
    But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
    Acts 17:6
    And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.
    Acts 18:12
    But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal.
    James 5:6
    You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.
  12. Cross References
    Isaiah 63:19
    We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name.
    Isaiah 65:1
    I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, "Here am I, here am I," to a nation that was not called by my name.
    Amos 9:12
    That they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name," declares the Lord who does this.
    Acts 15:17
    That the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things
  13. Cross References
    Leviticus 19:18
    You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
  14. Cross References
    Leviticus 19:18
    You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
  15. Cross References
    James 2:1
    My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
  16. Cross References
    Matthew 5:19
    Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
    Galatians 3:10
    For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.
  17. Cross References
    Exodus 20:14
    You shall not commit adultery.
    Exodus 20:13
    You shall not murder.
  18. Cross References
    Exodus 20:14
    You shall not commit adultery.
    Exodus 20:13
    You shall not murder.
  19. Cross References
    Exodus 20:14
    You shall not commit adultery.
  20. Cross References
    Exodus 20:13
    You shall not murder.
  21. Cross References
    James 1:25
    But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
  22. Cross References
    Job 22:6 - 11
    For you have exacted pledges of your brothers f...
    Psalms 18:25 - 26
    With the merciful you show yourself merciful; w...
    Proverbs 21:13
    Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor w...
    Ezekiel 25:11 - 14
    And I will execute judgments upon Moab. Then th...
    Matthew 6:15
    But if you do not forgive others their trespass...
    Matthew 18:32 - 35
    Then his master summoned him and said to him, '...
    Luke 6:38
    Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure...
  23. Cross References
    James 1:22
    But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
  24. Cross References
    Job 31:19 - 20
    If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering.
    Luke 3:11
    And he answered them, "Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.
  25. Cross References
    1 John 3:17 - 18
    But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?
  26. Cross References
    Romans 3:28
    For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
    Romans 4:6
    Just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
    Hebrews 11:33
    Who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
  27. Cross References
    Matthew 7:16 - 17
    You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
    Galatians 5:6
    For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
  28. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 6:4
    Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
    Romans 2:17 - 25
    But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
  29. Cross References
    Matthew 8:29
    And behold, they cried out, "What have you to d...
    Mark 1:24
    "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth...
    Mark 5:7
    And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "Wha...
    Luke 4:33 - 34
    And in the synagogue there was a man who had th...
    Acts 16:17
    She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These me...
    Acts 19:15
    But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I kno...
  30. Cross References
    Genesis 22:9
    When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
    Genesis 22:12
    He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.
    Genesis 22:16 - 18
    And said, "By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son.
  31. Cross References
    Hebrews 11:17
    By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son.
  32. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:3
    Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
  33. Cross References
    Romans 4:3
    For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.
    Galatians 3:6
    Just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"?
    Genesis 15:6
    And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
  34. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 20:7
    Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
    Isaiah 41:8
    But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend.
  35. Cross References
    Genesis 15:6
    And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
  36. Cross References
    Hebrews 11:31
    By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
  37. Cross References
    Joshua 2:1 - 22
    And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.
    Joshua 6:23
    So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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