Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

James 2

Introduction

1  It is not agreeable to Christian profession to regard the rich, and to despise the poor brethren;
13  rather we are to be loving and merciful;
14  and not to boast of faith where no deeds are;
17  which is but a dead faith;
19  the faith of the devils;
21  not of Abraham;
25  nor Rahab.

Verse 1

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
the faith
Acts 20:21, 24:24, Colossians 1:4, 1 Timothy 1:19, Titus 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1, Revelation 14:12
the Lord
Psalms 24:7-10, 1 Corinthians 2:8, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:3
with
3,9, 3:17, Leviticus 19:15, Deuteronomy 1:17, 16:19, 2 Chronicles 19:7, Proverbs 24:23, 28:21, Matthew 22:16, Romans 1:11, 1 Timothy 5:21, Jude 1:16

Verse 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;
assembly
Gr. synagogue. gold.
Esther 3:10, 8:2, Luke 15:22
goodly
Genesis 27:15, Matthew 11:8,9
in vile
Isaiah 64:6, Zechariah 3:3,4

Verse 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:
ye
Jude 1:16
in a good place
or well, or, seemly. to the.
6, Isaiah 65:5, Luke 7:44-46, 2 Corinthians 8:9

Verse 4

Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
partial
1:1-27, Job 34:19, Malachi 2:9
judges
4:11, Job 21:27, Psalms 58:1, 82:2, 109:31, Matthew 7:1-5, John 7:24

Verse 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?
Hearken
Judges 9:7, 1 Kings 22:28, Job 34:10, 38:14, Proverbs 7:24, 8:32, Mark 7:14, Acts 7:2
Hath not
1:9, Isaiah 14:32, 29:19, Zephaniah 3:12, Zechariah 11:7,11, Matthew 11:5, Luke 6:20, Luke 9:57,58, 16:22,25, John 7:48, 1 Corinthians 1:26-28, 2 Corinthians 8:9
rich
Proverbs 8:17-21, Luke 12:21, 1 Corinthians 3:21-23, 2 Corinthians 4:15, 6:10, Ephesians 1:18, 3:8, 1 Timothy 6:18, Hebrews 11:26, Revelation 2:9, 3:18, 21:7
heirs
Matthew 5:3, 25:34, Luke 12:32, 22:29, Romans 8:17, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, 2 Thessalonians 1:5, 2 Timothy 4:8,18, 1 Peter 1:4, 2 Peter 1:11
the
or, that which.
1:12, Exodus 20:6, 1 Samuel 2:30, Proverbs 8:17, Matthew 5:3, Luke 6:20, 12:32, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 2 Timothy 4:8

Verse 6

But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
ye
3, Psalms 14:6, Proverbs 14:31, 17:5, Ecclesiastes 9:15,16, Isaiah 53:3, John 8:49, 1 Corinthians 11:22
Do
5:4, Job 20:19, Psalms 10:2,8,10,14, 12:5, Proverbs 22:16, Ecclesiastes 5:8, Isaiah 3:14,15, Amos 2:6,7, 4:1, 5:11, 8:4-6, Micah 6:11,12, Habakkuk 3:14, Zechariah 7:10
and
5:6, 1 Kings 21:11-13, Acts 4:1-3,26-28, 5:17,18,26,27, 13:50, 16:19,20, Acts 17:6, 18:12

Verse 7

Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
blaspheme
Psalms 73:7-9, Matthew 12:24, 27:63, Luke 22:64,65, Acts 26:11, 1 Timothy 1:13, Revelation 13:5,6
worthy
Psalms 111:9, Song of Solomon 1:3, Isaiah 7:14, 9:6,7, Jeremiah 23:6, Matthew 1:23, Acts 4:12, Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 19:13,16
by
Isaiah 65:15, Acts 11:26, Ephesians 3:15

Verse 8

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
the royal
12, 1:25, 1 Peter 2:9
Thou
Leviticus 19:18,34, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31-33, Luke 10:27-37, Romans 13:8,9, Galatians 5:14, Galatians 6:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:9
ye do
19, 1 Kings 8:18, 2 Kings 7:9, Jonah 4:4,9, Matthew 25:21,23, Philippians 4:14

Verse 9

But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
if
1-4, Leviticus 19:15
are
John 8:9,46, 16:8; *marg:; 1 Corinthians 14:24, Jude 1:15
transgressors
Romans 3:20, 7:7-13, Galatians 2:19, 1 John 3:4

Verse 10

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
For
While the Jews taught that "he who transgresses all the precepts of the law has broken the yoke, dissolved the covenant, and exposed the law to contempt; and so has he done who has only broken one precept;" they also taught, "that he who observed any principal command was equal to him who kept the whole law," and gave for an example the forsaking of idolatry. To correct this false doctrine was the object James had in view.
whosoever
Deuteronomy 27:26, Matthew 5:18,19, Galatians 3:10

Verse 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.
he said that
or, that law, which said. Do not commit.
Exodus 20:13,14, Deuteronomy 5:17,18, Matthew 5:21-28, 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 13:9
Now
Leviticus 4:2,13,22, Psalms 130:3,4

Verse 12

So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
speak
Philippians 4:8, Colossians 3:17, 2 Peter 1:4-8
the
8, 1:25

Verse 13

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
he
5:4, Genesis 42:21, Judges 1:7, Job 22:6-10, Proverbs 21:13, Isaiah 27:11, Matthew 5:7, Matthew 6:15, 7:1,2, 18:28-35, 25:41-46, Luke 16:25
and
Psalms 85:10, Jeremiah 9:24, Ezekiel 33:11, Micah 7:18, Ephesians 1:6,7, 2:4-7, 1 John 4:8-16,18,19
rejoiceth
or, glorieth.

Verse 14

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
What
16, Jeremiah 7:8, Romans 2:25, 1 Corinthians 13:3, 1 Timothy 4:8, Hebrews 13:9
though
18,26, 1:22-25, Matthew 5:20, 7:21-23,26,27, Luke 6:49, Acts 8:13,21, 15:9, 1 Corinthians 13:2, 16:22, Galatians 5:6,13, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Timothy 1:5, Titus 1:16, 3:8, Hebrews 11:7,8,17, 2 Peter 1:5, 1 John 5:4,5
can
1 Corinthians 15:2, Ephesians 2:8-10

Verse 15

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
5, Job 31:16-21, Isaiah 58:7,10, Ezekiel 18:7, Matthew 25:35-40, Mark 14:7, Luke 3:11, Acts 9:29, Hebrews 11:37

Verse 16

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
one
Job 22:7-9, Proverbs 3:27,28, Matthew 14:15,16, 15:32, 25:42-45, Romans 12:9, 2 Corinthians 8:8, 1 John 3:16-18
what

Verse 17

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
so
14,19,20,26, 1 Corinthians 13:3,13, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Timothy 1:5, 2 Peter 1:5-9
alone
Gr. by itself.

Verse 18

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Thou
14,22, Romans 14:23, 1 Corinthians 13:2, Galatians 5:6, Hebrews 11:6,31
without thy works
Some copies read, by thy works.
and I will
22-25, 3:13, Matthew 7:17, Romans 8:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 7:1, 1 Thessalonians 1:3-10, 1 Timothy 1:5, Titus 2:7,11-14

Verse 19

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10, 44:6,8, 45:6,21,22, 46:9, Zechariah 14:9, Mark 12:29, John 17:3, Romans 3:30, 1 Corinthians 8:4,6, Galatians 3:20, Ephesians 4:5,6, 1 Timothy 2:5, Jude 1:4
thou doest
8, Jonah 4:4,9, Mark 7:9
the
Matthew 8:29, Mark 1:24, 5:7, Luke 4:34, Acts 16:17, 19:15, 24:25, Jude 1:6, Revelation 20:2,3,10

Verse 20

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
O vain
1:26, Job 11:11,12, Psalms 94:8-11, Proverbs 12:11, Jeremiah 2:5, Romans 1:21, 1 Corinthians 15:35,36, Galatians 6:3, Colossians 2:8, 1 Timothy 1:6, Titus 1:10
that

Verse 21

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Abraham
Joshua 24:3, Isaiah 51:2, Matthew 3:9, Luke 1:73, 16:24,30, John 8:39,53, Acts 7:2, Romans 4:1,12,16
justified
18,24, Psalms 143:2, Matthew 12:37, 25:31-40, Romans 3:20
when
Genesis 22:9-12,16-18

Verse 22

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Seest thou
or, Thou seest. faith.
18, Galatians 5:6, Hebrews 11:17-19
faith made
1 John 2:5, 4:17,18

Verse 23

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
the scripture
Mark 12:10, 15:28, Luke 4:21, Acts 1:16, Romans 9:17, 11:2, Galatians 3:8-10,22, 2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Peter 2:6
Abraham
Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3-6,10,11,22-24, Galatians 3:6
the Friend
Exodus 33:11, 2 Chronicles 20:7, Job 16:21; *marg:; Isaiah 41:8, John 15:13-15

Verse 24

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
15-18,21,22, Psalms 60:12

Verse 25

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
was
Joshua 2:1, Matthew 1:5
Rachab
the harlot.
Matthew 21:31
justified
18,22
when
Joshua 2:19-21, 6:17,22-25, Hebrews 11:31

Verse 26

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
as
Job 34:14,15, Psalms 104:29, 146:4, Ecclesiastes 12:7, Isaiah 2:22, Luke 23:46, Acts 7:59,60
spirit
or, breath. so.
14,17,20

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