James 2:1-13
The Sin of Partiality
My brothers, ashow no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, bthe Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” awhile you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become ajudges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, ahas not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be brich in faith and heirs of cthe kingdom, dwhich he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you ahave dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who bdrag you cinto court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable aname by which you were called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, a“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you ashow partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point ahas become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, a“Do not commit adultery,” also said, a“Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under athe law of liberty. 13 For ajudgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
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