We do well to pay close attention to the guidance in James.
The Sin of Partiality
1My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” 4have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?
8If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well. 9But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT COMMIT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
The first warning we get from James 2 is not to show partiality based on economic status. More generally, he is getting at not showing partiality in others based on our own selfish motives. It may be to get the benefit of someone’s wealth, but it could be for other reasons as well.
The second part is important to take in context. James says that those who are guilty of one thing are guilty of breaking the whole law. The context is that we should not be content to only do some of what YHWH commands. Do not take this to mean we should not try to obey any of the law as if it is pointless to try. James is specifically instructing to obey as fully as possible.
Recognizing that we are guilty, however, James reminds us we are judged by the law of liberty. The law of liberty refers to freedom from the punishment due us for sin because of our submission to Yeshua. This is not an excuse to disobey or disregard YHWH’s law. It is an opportunity to be truly thankful for his grace and mercy.
Keeping in mind we are receiving YHWH’s mercy, we are reminded that we must be merciful to others. Be merciful to receive mercy. A good reminder.
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