James 2
1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in fine apparel, and there come in also a poor man in shabby clothing;
3And you have respect to him that wears the fine clothing, and say unto him, Sit here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand there, or sit here under my footstool:
4Are you not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5Hearken, my beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them that love him?
6But you have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judges?
7Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by which you are called?
8If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture,
You shall love your neighbor as yourself,
you do well:
9But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convicted of the law as transgressors.
10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11For he that said,
Do not commit adultery,
said also,
Do not kill.
Now if you commit no adultery, yet you kill, you are become a transgressor of the law.
12So speak, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy; and mercy triumphs over judgment.
14What does it profit, my brethren, though a man says he has faith, and has not works? can faith save him?
15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled; yet you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit?
17Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.
18Yea, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19You believe that there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe, and tremble.
20But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22See how faith worked with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23And the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Commentaries for James 2:0