Memory verse: 2:8
To who was James writing and how does he describe them?
We know from James 1:1 that he was writing primarily to the early Jewish Christians who he further addresses in Verse 2:1 as "my brothers, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ."
What was their economic situation?
Probably ran the whole gamut from rich to poor. There is no reason to think that all (or most) of the early Jewish Christians were wealthy, particularly those that were scattered in Asia and Europe.
Where is James prohibiting discrimination specifically (vs 2)?
In church meetings, wherever they happen to be held. In general, most early Christians met in homes and there was probably not enough seating for everyone who attended, so some people had to sit on the floor. James in effect is saying, "don't give a rich man a seat and make a poor man stand in the back or sit on the floor."
Is that the only place he intends us to welcome the poor?
Absolutely not. By using a church meeting as his example, James is implying that we must not discriminate anyplace on the basis of wealth or class, not at school, at work, in the military, in our neighborhood, in a club, when shopping, or ever.
How does the world treat the wealthy vs. the poor?
Obviously, the world treats the wealthy with greater deference and respect. Forbes magazine publishes an issue honoring the wealthiest 400 people in the world, Bill Gates' wealth always puts him in demand as a speaker, and even Christian charities look for well-know, wealthy donors to feature in their promotional appeals.
Why would first-century believers find James' concept revolutionary? (Deuteronomy 7:12-14)
Early Jewish Christians grew up in the Jewish heritage which did, in fact, honor the wealthy. The Jews were God's chosen people and He promised them wealth if they would simply follow His laws. (Deut 7:12-14) Now James is saying that because of Christ, everyone is all of a sudden equal. A tough concept to accept by both rich and poor.
Is James condemning the wealthy and exaulting the poor?
No. He is simple saying to play no favorites. He speaks of favoring the wealthy as just one sin of many. He enlarges on this theme in Chapters 4 and 5.
Whose side is God on?
God is on no one's side. God doesn't take sides. God loves us all equally, rich or poor, smart or dumb, healthy or sickly. Don't ever think tht God loves poor people more than rich ones or the downtrodden more than the successful. It just isn't so.
What is the obvious contradiction in Verse 2:5?
The verse says that God has given those who are poor in money riches in faith. Be careful not to misinterpret this to also mean the converse that those who are rich in money are poor in faith. James doesn't say this. What he is saying is that God has promised poor people a share in His kingdom that He will give everyone who loves Him.
How does one inherit God's Kingdom? (John 1:12)
Accept Jesus and put your faith in Him.
What is the insult to the poor in Verse 6?
James says that rich people are dragging poor people into court (and suing them) so that, as the saying goes, "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer." But, in fact, the real insult is not recognizing that God has chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in His kingdom.
What is the big difference between the society of the first century and that of today in this context?
Today we have a social policy -- welfare, food stamps, subsidized housing, etc. -- through which the government takes care of the poor so that others don't have to.
Do we experience what James describes in Verses 6 and 7?
Of course. Prejudices between classes, between rich and poor, exist just as much today as they did 2,000 years ago. And as James points out in Verse 7, those who mistreat poor people are slandering the name of God to whom we all belong.
Since there was no "social policy" in the first century as there is today, what was James suggesting in Verse 8? (Matthew 7:12, Leviticus 19:15-18)
In place of a social policy, James admonished his readers to heed the "royal law" or "golden rule" in the scriptures that tells us to do unto others as you would have them do to you. But even before the teaching of Jesus, this was spelled out in the law of Moses, especially in Leviticus. Specifically, in Leviticus 19:15, Moses says to not show "partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly."
If we show partiality or favoritism based on worldly measures of worth, what do we risk? (Matthew 7:13-14)
In the verses in Matthew (7:13-14) following the setting down of the golden rule, Jesus says that the gate to (eternal) life is very narrow and the road that leads to it is hard to follow. By showing favoritism and not treating others as we would have them treat us, we are breaking the "royal law" and going through the gate to destruction.
What is the point of Verse 10?
James is reiterating that by breaking just one part of the law, we are breaking all of it. But he may also be implying that despite our best efforts, we can't helop ourselves from breaking the law from time to time.
Do Verses 12 and 13 remind you of any of Jesus' teaching? (Matthew 5:21-26)
Here James is telling us to speak and act as those who will be "judged by the law that gives freedom." Now this is not the same law that he has been talking about in Verses 8 to 10, but the law that God will use in the final judgement of each of us. Like Jesus before him, James says that God will be merciful to those who have showed mercy.
Are Christians under the Law?
By believing that Jesus Christ died to take our sins away, Christians are set free from the law of Moses. However, as we saw earlier, a law similar to the law of Moses, the "royal law" or golden rule, continues to set a standard for our behavior.
What was the purpose of the Law?
The purpose of Moses' Law was to set down God's standard of behavior for His chosen people. God recognized that we cannot follow this law perfectly and that we are all sinners, so He sent Jesus to take away our sins. But God still wants us to worship Him, to respect each other and to treat each other fairly and mercifully.
If the Law restrains us out of fear, what does grace inspire in us?
One might think of the law as restraining negative behavior (adultery, murder, stealing, lying, etc.) while grace inspires positive behavior (worship the Lord, generosity, mercy, love, forgiveness, etc.)
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