James 2:1-13

Bringing the sermon home:

Having just described “religion that is pure and undefiled before God”, James then identifies a specific way that his readers were violating this: showing partiality to the rich in their worship gatherings. Three reasons are given for why this is evil. First, partiality does not value what God values: namely, the people made in His image. That shabbily-dressed visitor who is a believer in Christ is a co-heir of God’s eternal kingdom, and thus we must treat them accordingly.

Secondly, their mistreatment of poor visitors demonstrated that they were adopting the same misvaluing of riches that was leading to their own oppression at the hands of the rich in society. There is a kind of blasphemy in this, as their behavior was speaking falsely about the worth of poor believers for whom Christ died and who now bear His name.

This is just one form of partiality that can be demonstrated within a church. This also applies to what parts of God’s Word we might be tempted to skip over or to try to explain away out of fear of offending either current members/givers or potential members/givers. Another tendency in established congregations is to cater to the negotiable preferences of the current members without regard for the unique needs and equally valid preferences of those we are trying to reach, especially those of a younger generation.

Finally, partiality is evil because it violates the royal law of love. By not quoting Leviticus 19:15 that is explicitly about showing partiality and instead quoting from verse 18 about loving your neighbor as yourself, James is jumping straight to the heart of the matter: a lack of love. To love your neighbor as yourself is to earnestly desire and to actively seek their good, and never their harm. Having been so loved by Christ, we are to show this same love to others.

Sermon Outline:

1. Partiality does not value what God values. (vv. 1-6a)
2. Partiality oppresses and blasphemes. (vv. 6b-7)
3. Partiality violates the royal law of love. (vv. 8-13)