New Testament Commentary - James 2

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 2 God hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith—Salvation gained by keeping the whole law—Faith without works is dead.
1 MY brethren, ^ahave not the faith of our ^bLord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a ^apoor man in ^bvile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the ^agay 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 ^aAre ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the ^apoor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men ^aoppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy ^aname by the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt ^alove thy ^bneighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have ^arespect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the ^awhole law, and yet ^boffend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit ^aadultery, 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 ^aliberty. 13 For he shall have ^ajudgment without ^bmercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment^a.	13^a mercy rejoiceth against judgment And how is it that mercy rejoices against judgment but by the fact that as we do forgive others and as we so treat others like unto ourselves; so have we obtained mercy and forgivness ourselves. For if we would be forgiven, we must forgive. And if we would obtain mercy, we must ourselves so show mercy and fair treatment unto others. In short, if ye would obtain mercy then ye must be merciful.
14 ^aWhat doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath ^bfaith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or ^asister be naked, and destitute of daily ^bfood, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye ^agive them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so ^afaith, if it hath not ^bworks, 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 ^afaith by my ^bworks.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the ^adevils also ^bbelieve, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that ^afaith without ^bworks is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father ^ajustified by works, when he had ^boffered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by ^aworks was faith made ^bperfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham ^abelieved God, and it was imputed unto him for ^brighteousness: and he was called the ^cFriend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by ^aworks a man is ^bjustified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not ^aRahab the harlot ^bjustified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the ^aspirit is ^bdead, so faith without ^cworks is dead also.