The General Epistle of James the Apostle
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ in respect of persons.
2 For if there come into your company a man with a gold ring, and in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment,
3 And ye have a respect to him that weareth the gay clothing; and say unto him, Sit thou here in a goodly place, and say unto the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool,
4 Are ye not partial in your selves, and are become Judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, that they should be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not the rich oppress you by tyranny, and do they not draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme the worthy Name after which ye be named?
8 But if ye fulfill the royal Law according to the Scripture, which saith, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well.
9 But if ye regard the persons, ye commit sin, and are rebuked of the Law, as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet faileth in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now though thou doest none adultery, yet if thou killest, thou art a transgressor of the Law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judgeth by the Law of liberty.
13 For there shall be condemnation merciless to him that showeth not mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against condemnation.
James 2:1 : Leviticus 9:15; Deuteronomy 1:17; Deuteronomy 16:29; Proverbs 24:23
Editor's thoughts:
Verses 1-4, 9; Read James 1:17. God is consistent in all His ways, he shows no favor based on wealth or appearance, there is no turning away or, as written in the abovementioned verse a shadow of turning.
Verse 8; We are reminded here of Christ speaking upon the two most important commands of God. To love God, and to love others. (Read Matthew 22:37-40 and also Matthew 7:12)
Verse 10; Read Matthew 5:17; Malachi 2:8
Verse 13; There is a soliloquy from the Merchant of Venice that I will quote for it sums up mercy so well.
" The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth like the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much"
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