1.
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
Verse 1
Have not the faith, &c.; that is, in your religious observances and duties, do not make distinctions among your Christian brethren on account of differences of worldly station.
2.
For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
Verse 2
Your assembly; the assembly for public worship.
3.
And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4.
Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
Verse 4
Of evil thoughts; under the influence of evil thoughts.
5.
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?
Verse 5
Rich in faith; to make them rich in faith.
6.
But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7.
Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
Verse 7
That worthy name; the name of Christ.
8.
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
Verse 8
The royal law; the first and highest law.
9.
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
Verse 9
Convinced of the law; convicted by the law.
10.
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Verse 10
Offend in one point; that is, deliberately and habitually. By disobeying one command, he shows that he is not governed by the authority of God, and, of course, that whatever apparent obedience he may render to other commands, rests on other grounds than regard for the divine will. He cannot, therefore, be considered as really obeying at all.
11.
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.
12.
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
Verse 12
So speak; so teach.--The law of liberty; the gospel.
13.
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
Verse 13
This sentiment is very similar to one expressed by our Savior, Matthew 7:1,Matthew 7:2.--And mercy rejoiceth, &c., the merciful man rejoiceth. The meaning is, that he who has fulfilled the royal law, mentioned in James 2:8, is delivered from the fear of retribution. He may go to the judgment rejoicing in his assurance of pardon. In other words, he who is merciful to others shall in the end find mercy himself.
14.
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Verse 14
Faith; theoretical belief, a sort of belief which does not influence the conduct, as is shown in James 2:17. Paul, when speaking of the spiritual efficacy of faith, means, by the term, heartfelt trust and confidence in God, or in the Savior.
15.
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16.
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17.
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18.
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Verse 21
By works; that is, by a working faith,--works which were the fruits and the evidence of his faith. That this is the meaning is clear from the expressions in James 2:22,James 2:23.
22.
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Verse 22
Made perfect; shown to be perfect, that is, honest and sincere.
23.
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Verse 24
Faith only; mere inert and lifeless belief.
25.
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
Verse 25
Rahab the harlot. For the account of the circumstances here referred to, see Joshua 2:1-24: Her belief in Jehovah, as the true God, (Joshua 2:11,) led to correspondent action. It was therefore a faith showing itself in works.
26.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Verse 26
The spirit; the vital principle.--So faith without works is dead also. See (Romans 4:1-15:) The instructions of Paul and of James on the subject of faith and works are the two opposing walls which guard on each side the narrow way of salvation, and their antagonism has accordingly attracted great attention in every age. Paul, on the one hand, enjoins it upon men not to rely upon any duties which they may have performed in times past, to secure the favor of God. He points them to faith in his mercy. On the other hand, James shows them that it is vain to rely upon faith as a substitute for doing the will of God now. He points them to the path of obedience. In a word, Paul teaches men that they must rely upon faith, for the forgiveness of past sins; James warns them against making it the excuse for the neglect of present duty.