Post by Char on Oct 26, 2008 13:28:47 GMT -6
JAMES 2:1-7
I. RESPECT OF PERSONS...WITH RESPECT OF PERSON.
The sin against which the warning is directed.
It is stated, V. 1, MY BRETHREN, he begins, addressing them in a conciliatory manner, well fitted to gain their compliance. He calls on them not to hold, in a certain way, " THE FAITH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST." It is only by believing with the whole mind and heart that we are united to the Savior, and reap the benefits of His great redemption. " HAVE NOT THE FAITH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST–that is, hold it not–WITH RESPECT OF PERSONS."
It is illustrated–verse 2-4--for this is what I mean, here is a specimen of the kind of thing I am warning you against" IF THERE COME INTO YOUR ASSEMBLY–" that is, your congregation, or place of meeting for divine worship. IF THERE COMES IN, He says, A MAN WITH A GOLD RING, IN GOODLY APPAREL–one who appeared by these marks to be a person of superior position. WITH A GOLD RING, literally, gold-fingered, having his hands adorned probably with more than a single ring, it might be with several. IN GOODLY APPAREL –having a splendid garment, as the word signifies, bright, shining, glittering, either from its color or its ornaments.
AND THERE COMES IN ALSO A POOR MAN IN VILE RAIMENT. Here is one of mean condition, as shown by his attire, the dirt and rags with which he is covered. AND YE HAVE RESPECT TO HIM THAT WEARS THE GAY CLOTHING, marking the deference paid to him by saying SIT THOU HERE IN A GOOD PLACE–sit here, near the speaker, in the midst of the assembly, in a comfortable and honorable seat; while your language to the poor is, STAND THOU THERE–stand, that is suitable and sufficient for you; and stand there, away at a distance, behind the others, it may be in some remote corner, some inconvenient position; or sit THOU HERE UNDER MY FOOTSTOOL; if you sit at all among us let it be on the ground beneath, at my feet, in a mean, low situation of the kind.
Supposing then to act in suf a manner, he asks Verse 4 ARE YE NOT THEN PARTIAL IN YOURSELVES, AND ARE BECOME JUDGES OF EVIL THOUGHTS?
ARE YE NOT PARTIAL IN YOURSELVES? Do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, or are ye not at issue with yourselves?
What he condemns is honoring the rich at the expense of the poor–cringing to the on and trampling on the other, and doing this, besides, in the house of God, in the church of Christ, where all should meet on the same footing, should be viewed as standing on a common level.
The reasons by which the warning is enforced....
The poor are the special objects of the Divine regard. Verse 5..HATH NOT GOD CHOSEN THE POOR OF THIS WORLD RICH IN FAITH? He has chosen them in His eternal decree; and in pursuance of this, chose them by separating them to Himself, through the effectual operation of the Holy Ghost. And whom has He thus chosen? THE POOR OF THIS WORLD– The poor in respect of it, in the things of it, the poor temporally. RICH IN FAITH–That is, God has chosen them to be this–He has destined them to it, and made them it by His election. AND HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM WHICH HE HATH PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM, The Christian is rich at present.
The rich had shown themselves the great enemies of Christian people and person. He appeals to his readers, DO NOT RICH MEN OPPRESS? Lord it over you, exercise their power against you–AND DRAW YOU, drag you: for it implies force, violence BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEATS. They did so by vexations law-suits, by false charges, by persecuting measures. Not only so, he asks, DO THEY NOT BLASPHEME THAT WORTHY NAME BY THE WHICH YE ARE CALLED? The worthy or honorable name intended is that of Christ.
I. RESPECT OF PERSONS...WITH RESPECT OF PERSON.
The sin against which the warning is directed.
It is stated, V. 1, MY BRETHREN, he begins, addressing them in a conciliatory manner, well fitted to gain their compliance. He calls on them not to hold, in a certain way, " THE FAITH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST." It is only by believing with the whole mind and heart that we are united to the Savior, and reap the benefits of His great redemption. " HAVE NOT THE FAITH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST–that is, hold it not–WITH RESPECT OF PERSONS."
It is illustrated–verse 2-4--for this is what I mean, here is a specimen of the kind of thing I am warning you against" IF THERE COME INTO YOUR ASSEMBLY–" that is, your congregation, or place of meeting for divine worship. IF THERE COMES IN, He says, A MAN WITH A GOLD RING, IN GOODLY APPAREL–one who appeared by these marks to be a person of superior position. WITH A GOLD RING, literally, gold-fingered, having his hands adorned probably with more than a single ring, it might be with several. IN GOODLY APPAREL –having a splendid garment, as the word signifies, bright, shining, glittering, either from its color or its ornaments.
AND THERE COMES IN ALSO A POOR MAN IN VILE RAIMENT. Here is one of mean condition, as shown by his attire, the dirt and rags with which he is covered. AND YE HAVE RESPECT TO HIM THAT WEARS THE GAY CLOTHING, marking the deference paid to him by saying SIT THOU HERE IN A GOOD PLACE–sit here, near the speaker, in the midst of the assembly, in a comfortable and honorable seat; while your language to the poor is, STAND THOU THERE–stand, that is suitable and sufficient for you; and stand there, away at a distance, behind the others, it may be in some remote corner, some inconvenient position; or sit THOU HERE UNDER MY FOOTSTOOL; if you sit at all among us let it be on the ground beneath, at my feet, in a mean, low situation of the kind.
Supposing then to act in suf a manner, he asks Verse 4 ARE YE NOT THEN PARTIAL IN YOURSELVES, AND ARE BECOME JUDGES OF EVIL THOUGHTS?
ARE YE NOT PARTIAL IN YOURSELVES? Do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, or are ye not at issue with yourselves?
What he condemns is honoring the rich at the expense of the poor–cringing to the on and trampling on the other, and doing this, besides, in the house of God, in the church of Christ, where all should meet on the same footing, should be viewed as standing on a common level.
The reasons by which the warning is enforced....
The poor are the special objects of the Divine regard. Verse 5..HATH NOT GOD CHOSEN THE POOR OF THIS WORLD RICH IN FAITH? He has chosen them in His eternal decree; and in pursuance of this, chose them by separating them to Himself, through the effectual operation of the Holy Ghost. And whom has He thus chosen? THE POOR OF THIS WORLD– The poor in respect of it, in the things of it, the poor temporally. RICH IN FAITH–That is, God has chosen them to be this–He has destined them to it, and made them it by His election. AND HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM WHICH HE HATH PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM, The Christian is rich at present.
The rich had shown themselves the great enemies of Christian people and person. He appeals to his readers, DO NOT RICH MEN OPPRESS? Lord it over you, exercise their power against you–AND DRAW YOU, drag you: for it implies force, violence BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEATS. They did so by vexations law-suits, by false charges, by persecuting measures. Not only so, he asks, DO THEY NOT BLASPHEME THAT WORTHY NAME BY THE WHICH YE ARE CALLED? The worthy or honorable name intended is that of Christ.
