James 2

The Sin of Partiality

1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, a the Lord of glory, with b partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in 1 fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in 2 filthy clothes, 3 and you 3 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 4 shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: c Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be d rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom e which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But f you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you g and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are h called?

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, i "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," 5 you do well; 9 but if you 6 show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as j transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet k stumble in one point, l he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, m "Do not commit adultery," 7 also said, n "Do not murder." 8 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 o the law of liberty. 13 For p judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown q no r mercy. s Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

14 t What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 u If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and v 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." w Show me your faith without 9 your works, x and I will show you my faith by 10 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 11 dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works y when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see z that faith was working together with his works, and by a works faith was made 12 perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, b "Abraham believed God, and it was 13 accounted to him for righteousness." 14 And he was called c the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, d 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.

  1. Cross References
    Acts 7:2
    And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran.
    1 Corinthians 2:8
    Which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
  2. Cross References
    Leviticus 19:15
    You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.
  3. Cross References
    Job 34:19
    Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands.
    John 7:48
    Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him?
    1 Corinthians 1:27
    But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.
  4. Cross References
    Luke 12:21
    "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
    1 Timothy 6:18
    Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share.
    Revelation 2:9
    I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
  5. Cross References
    Exodus 20:6
    But showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
  6. 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 shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
  7. Cross References
    Acts 13:50
    But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.
  8. Cross References
    Acts 11:26
    And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
    1 Peter 4:16
    Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
  9. Cross References
    Leviticus 19:18
    You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
  10. Cross References
    Leviticus 19:15
    You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.
    Deuteronomy 1:17
    'You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man's presence, for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.'
  11. Cross References
    Galatians 3:10
    For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.
  12. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 27:26
    'Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law.' "And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
  13. Cross References
    Exodus 20:14
    You shall not commit adultery.
    Deuteronomy 5:18
    You shall not commit adultery.
  14. Cross References
    Exodus 20:13
    You shall not murder.
    Deuteronomy 5:17
    You shall not murder.
  15. Cross References
    James 1:25
    But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
  16. Cross References
    Job 22:6
    For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason, And stripped the naked of their clothing.
  17. Cross References
    Proverbs 21:13
    Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.
    Matthew 18:32 - 35
    Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
    Luke 6:37
    Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
  18. Cross References
    Micah 7:18
    Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
    Matthew 5:7
    Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
  19. Cross References
    Romans 12:8
    He who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
  20. Cross References
    Matthew 7:21 - 23
    Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
    Matthew 7:26
    But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
    Matthew 21:28 - 32
    "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.'
  21. Cross References
    Matthew 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.
    Luke 3:11
    He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.
  22. Cross References
    1 John 3:17
    But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
    1 John 3:18
    My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
  23. Cross References
    Colossians 1:6
    Which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.
    1 Thessalonians 1:3
    Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.
    Hebrews 6:10
    For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
  24. Cross References
    Galatians 5:6
    For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
    James 3:13
    Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
  25. Cross References
    Genesis 22:9
    Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
    Genesis 22:10
    And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
    Genesis 22:12
    And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.
    Genesis 22:16 - 18
    And said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son -
  26. Cross References
    John 6:29
    Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.
    Hebrews 11:17
    By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.
  27. Cross References
    John 8:39
    They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.
  28. Cross References
    Genesis 15:6
    And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
    Romans 4:3
    For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
  29. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 20:7
    Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?
    Isaiah 41:8
    But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.
  30. Cross References
    Hebrews 11:31
    By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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