james-2:8-bsb

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - James 2:1-9

The Royal Law Jam 2:1-9 We do not know what is meant by a man having on "a gold ring." The translators have Englished this matter down to simplicity. The persons referred to had not on "a" gold ring, they had as many rings on each finger as the finger would carry. That is a very different statement; that, however, is the historical fact; the hands were all jewelled, hardly any portion of the hand could be seen. We do not know what is meant by a man having "long hair" in this country, or in... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - James 2:1-13

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord 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 poor man in vile raiment; (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... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - James 2:8

If then you fulfil the royal law,...thou shalt love, &c. you do well. By these words, the apostle explains what he had said before of the particular respect paid to rich and powerful men, that if these were no more than some exterior marks paid them without any injustice or interior contempt of such as were poor, so that they took care to comply with that royal precept given to every one by Almighty God, the King of kings, thou shalt love thy neighbour, that is, every one without... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - James 2:1-13

1-13 Those who profess faith in Christ as the Lord of glory, must not respect persons on account of mere outward circumstances and appearances, in a manner not agreeing with their profession of being disciples of the lowly Jesus. St. James does not here encourage rudeness or disorder: civil respect must be paid; but never such as to influence the proceedings of Christians in disposing of the offices of the church of Christ, or in passing the censures of the church, or in any matter of religion.... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - James 2:1-99

James 2 THESE EARLY JEWISH Christians were far too much controlled by the ordinary thoughts of the world, and as a consequence of being spotted by the world, they despised the poor. They should have been controlled by the faith of the Lord Jesus, and not by the standards and customs of the world. Though he was the Lord of Glory yet He ever stooped to the poor and the fatherless. Poverty and need may be incompatible with human glory, but they are quite compatible with Divine glory. As a... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - James 2:1-9

Dead Faith Compared with Living Faith. Caution against partiality: v. 1. My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, with respect of persons. v. 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, v. 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... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - James 2:1-26

V. THIRD ADMONITION WITH REFERENCE TO THE THIRD FORM OF TEMPTATION. EBIONITE CONDUCTCAUTION AGAINST JUDAISTIC PARTIALITY, AGAINST FAVOURING THE RICH (THE JUDAIZING CHRISTIAN) AND DEPRECIATING THE POOR (THE GENTILE CHRISTIAN) IN THEIR CHURCH-LIFE. CONSISTENT PROOF OF FAITH DEMANDED IN THE WORK OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERLY LOVE AND IN THE ACKNOWLEDGING OF UNITY OF FAITH IN THE FAITH-WORK OF ABRAHAB THE PATRIARCH AND IN THE FAITH-WORK OF RAHAB, THE GENTILE HARLOT. DEAD AND LIVING FAITHJames 2:01My... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - James 2:1-13

Avoid Servility to the Rich James 2:1-13 This sin of making distinctions in God’s house is as rife today as ever; and wherever it is practiced the divine Spirit departs. God’s love is impartial, so far as outward appearances might affect it; and in His Church the only real differences must be those of humility, purity and righteousness. “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” whether they be rich in this world’s goods or not. But it is easier for a poor man to be rich in faith and an heir of the... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - James 2:1-26

Proceeding, James dealt with the effect of faith on conduct. It makes it impossible to show any respect of persons on the ground of the possession of worldly wealth. To show such respect shows that the faith of Jesus Christ is not held. In His eyes wealth or poverty is nothing. The corrective, therefore, for such failure is to be found in the exercise of a faith like that of Christ, which, seeing God, respects men, and gives them the place of honor according to their relationship to Him. In... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:8-9

‘If you really (or ‘however, if you’) fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself, you do well, but if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.’ The basic principle here is simple. If they keep the law which says, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’ by treating all impartially they ‘do well’. But if they show partiality and reveal respect of particular persons such as the rich then they... read more