James outlines the scenario of how one who is well attired and another shabbily clothed, are sometimes treated differently in a congregation. Sadly, this situation has occurred innumerable times worldwide and throughout the years. The former is given a prestigious seat, while the latter is given standing room only, or a place on the floor. James does not mince his words exposing these actions rooted in judgemental, evil thoughts.
A credible and consistent testimony
This is not a homily about wealth and equality, but rather it concerns our attitude and how we treat each other. In some congregations, black people are not made to feel welcome, in others, Asian individuals are not well received, in many others, Jewish people feel estranged. A little thought can make a significant difference. I know of a Christian bookshop that has thoughtfully written a Hebrew text in their window and presented a book about shalom on the opposite window. Not surprisingly, Jewish people frequent that shop and are immediately made to feel welcome and are valued. I have enjoyed regular fellowship with a Messianic Congregation that provides a genuine welcome for all visitors with a range of people represented who are truly integrated, through love for Messiah. Conversely, the Lord of glory left His heavenly estate and dwelt among us in humble means. I fear that in many places the Man from Galilee would be given standing room only or a seat on the floor.
How was the Messiah described in Isaiah 53:2b-3? “He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”
It is our faith in the Lord of glory, Yeshua (Jesus), that frees one from the inequality of human categories. I used to serve in a particular outreach in London in a multicultural context and noted something. There were a range of groups from different religions, nationalities and cultures present, but our group was different. It was strikingly evident that the other groups were not mixed. Our small group was truly diverse and there was no need for an ethnicity questionnaire since we were all believers in Yeshua and our group consisted of Jew, gentile, African, Asian and European members.
Speaking for myself and at some point, in our lives, we have probably shown a partiality that has undermined our testimony. Matthew Henry wrote wisely, “Questionning ourselves is of great use in every part of the holy life. Let us be more frequent in this, and in everything take occasion to discourse with our souls.”[i]
In the Torah, Leviticus 19:15 instructs us neither to favour the poor, nor the rich. In Proverbs 30:8-9, Agur asked the Lord for neither poverty, nor riches, lest he be full and deny God, or profane the name of the Lord. Without a biblical framework in our lives, human politics, philosophies or attitudes will come into play.
In 1 Samuel 15, David was the youngest of eight brothers and barely received a look in to be considered king. What was the heavenly verdict? Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. By heart, this does not mean ‘following the heart,’ but rather someone of a godly contrite heart. We all need God to replace our hearts of stone replaced with a heart of flesh and like David, a heart after the Lord. Do you treat someone according to their external appearance, or do you consider their character? Does someone’s impressive attire or ostentatious appearance impress the Lord of glory?
Do we view people in the congregation in the way that the Lord sees them (cf. I Corinthians 1:26-31)? Some things that are externally impressive can be an obstacle to glorifying God. The poor are not automatically guaranteed riches in heaven, but our spiritual focus should be on an eternal inheritance. Nonetheless, many who have lived sacrificially for the Lord will be openly rewarded in heaven.
A rhetorical question is asked in verse 6 noting the irony of preferential treatment for the rich. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? We might ask, who are you trying to please? Why are you trying to make an impression amongst those who will happily exploit you? Ultimately, partiality occurs when we are trying to please ourselves or others, rather than the Lord. The first of Hillel’s seven laws was ‘Qal Wahomer’ (from light to heavy). What applies in a small case under the same circumstances applies all the more in a greater instance. Therefore, we should respect all persons who are created in God’s image, yet how much more should we reverence the Lord? Sometimes we hear of titles such as ‘the most worshipful mayor’ which exceeds due respect. We should respect and pray for those in authority but we should not treat them as God or deify them!
A further rhetorical question and matter of irony follows in verse 7. Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called? Why in the world would believers seek the approval of those blaspheming against our Lord? Partiality is a sin. Partiality backfires on us, even in this life! Partiality is demonstrated in our actions, inherent in our attitudes and is displeasing to God. Sadly, one of the chief reasons people do not attend congregations is because of hypocrisy, rooted in partiality.
We all need Messiah because we have broken the law of Moses
So, in addition to examining our hearts and attitudes, how else can we avoid partiality? James, our Lord’s brother, reminds us of Leviticus 19:18, what Jesus described as the second greatest commandment. James names this as the ‘royal law,’ since it is given by Yeshua, the King of Kings. “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” If you do that, you do well.
Jesus was initially questioned about the greatest mitzvah/commandment and was also asked, who is my neighbour? Jesus told him of the parable of the Levite, priest and good Samaritan. When the former two passed by a man who was left half dead, the good Samaritan loved his neighbour. He took care for his needs and received him with compassion. We must love our neighbour and being reminded that others were created in God’s image, will help us to love our neighbour.
James explains to us that those showing partiality commit sin (James 2:9) and are convicted by the law as transgressors. Inevitably, partiality will result in division, whereas love for our neighbour brings unity. We must not show partiality since the judgement belongs to God (cf. Deuteronomy 1:17). A transgression involves stepping over a line and partiality in our judgement, shows that. In contrast, loving our neighbour, helps us to fulfil the law (Romans 13:8-10).
If someone has kept the whole law, yet stumbled in one point, they are guilty of all. The law could be compared with a chain. If a link is broken then the chain is broken. The law could be compared with a glass. The glass may be broken with a large dent, many dents or a small dent, yet the glass needs to be fixed since it has been broken. Someone might appear before a judge because they have committed a particular offence. Does the judge want to hear that other than that offence, they are a law-abiding citizen? I committed murder, but I am not actually a bad person. I committed adultery, but I do not judge anyone. No! An offence has been committed a penalty must be paid and the matter put right.
The law is also like a mirror and when we look into it, we see exactly how we have stumbled. Someone may boast that they have never committed adultery, though they may be a murderer. More often someone will consider themselves ‘good’ having neither committed adultery, nor murder. But have they committed the sin of partiality? If so, they are a transgressor of the law.
Using the law is vital in how the gospel is presented. Until someone realises, they have broken the Law of Moses, how will they see the need to repent? Without God’s law we are merely a law unto ourselves since we observe our personal code of conduct. We judge ourselves according to our own laws and justify ourselves according to our own standard.
When someone examines their life according to the Ten Commandments the transgression is immediately evident. There is then no need to compare oneself with others. Recognition of breaking God’s law is required. Conviction of sin will lead to repentance, turning from sin and turning to God. That way we can seek the Lord’s mercy and grace and be spared the wrath and judgement of God.
We are commanded in this passage ‘so speak and so do.’ The deed is important, as well as the creed. A living faith should be seen in a consistent set of actions that follow through on what we profess. A living faith should naturally exhibit the tangible evidence of faith in the Lord. A living faith should also silence the charge of hypocrisy and demonstrate that the believer does what they profess.
We are additionally informed that the believer will be judged by the law of liberty. The believer is neither under the law, nor are they granted a license, but rather the law of liberty. Fructenbaum explains, “It refers to the Law of Messiah, which liberates the Jewish believer from the Law of Moses and provides the freedom from the pharisaic interpretation of the Law. In the future, judgement will be on the basis of conforming to the Law of Messiah.”[ii] Waugh adds, “Speaking and doing are the two main factors to be judged at the Bema of the Lord.”[iii] Note that this judgement is not the Great White Throne Judgement (which no believer will encounter), but rather the Bema judgement, which is a rewards judgement only for believers.
We need mercy, not judgement
So, mercy triumphs over judgement, but how? R.C. Sproul used to state, “You don’t want justice, you want mercy!” Why? We are all guilty and have all sinned and none of us is just. If we were justly treated, we would be condemned. God demonstrates His love to us in that while we were still sinners, Messiah died for us. We were all enemies of God, before any of us were saved, hence we needed mercy, not judgement. How much more should those who have been forgiven their sins show mercy to others? The believer loves others because God first loved them, even when they did not deserve it.
Once more the judgement referred to here is the Judgement Seat of Messiah for believers. Our words and works will be considered. Have we shown mercy to others? Is our gratitude in the grace that the Lord showed us, evident in how we treat others? This is the outworking of the royal law and loving our neighbour as we love ourselves. So never let partiality undermine your testimony and do not compromise faith in the Lord. So speak and so do. This will authenticate the testimony of the believer and will be pleasing to the Lord.
[i] Matthew Henry Matthew Henry Concise Commentary (Moody Press, Chicago), p971
[ii] Arnold G. Fructenbaum Ariel’s Bible Commentary The Messianic Jewish Epistles Hebrews-James I&II Peter-Jude (Ariel, 2005; San Antonio), p249
[iii] J. Anderson & G. Waugh Acts James What the Bible Teaches (John Ritchie, 2003; Kilmarnock), p301
