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                             Sunday, February 19, 2023

Lesson Text: James 2:1-12

King James Version (KJV)

I. THE INJUSTICE OF PARTIALITY (James 2:1-4)

1. 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 thoughts?

 

II. THE INCONSISTENCY OF PARTIALITY (James 2:5-7)

5. Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

6. But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

7. Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

 

III. THE INIQUITY OF PARTIALITY (James 2:8-12)

8. If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

9. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

 

New International Version (NIV)

I. THE INJUSTICE OF PARTIALITY (James 2:1-4)

1. My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.

2. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.

3. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”

4. have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

 

II. THE INCONSISTENCY OF PARTIALITY (James 2:5-7)

5. Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

6. But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?

7. Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

 

III. THE INIQUITY OF PARTIALITY (James 2:8-12)

8. If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.

9. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

10. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

11. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,

 

 

 

PRACTICAL POINTS FOR DISCUSSION:

Preferring the rich over the poor is a worldly and sinful attitude (James 2:1-4).
A man’s true wealth lies in the amount of faith he has (James 2:5).
The rich have a tendency to rely on themselves, making it much more difficult to honor God (James 2:6-7).
We are not to show love based on a person’s merit, but only because God first loved us (James 2:8-9; I John 4:19-20).
If we are guilty of any sin, we are guilty of breaking the whole law (James 2:10-11).
The LORD repays our mercy with His mercy, but our judgment earns His judgment (James 2:12).

 

 

***The Sunday School Lesson; The International Sunday School Lesson Curriculum***