James 2:1-13
“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 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; 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: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 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? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 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. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”

What does James 2:1-13 mean?
The biblical passage James 2:1-13 is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the themes of faith, judgment, and mercy. In this passage, the author James, often thought to be the brother of Jesus, addresses the issue of favoritism and discrimination within the Christian…
Read full commentaryDevotionalThe Royal Law of Love: Judging Without Partiality
As we ponder upon James 2:1-13, we are brought face to face with a critical aspect of our faith: the call for equality before God. The Apostle James begins with a warning against holding the faith of Jesus Christ "with respect of persons" (James 2:1 KJV). This admonition…
Read devotionalPrayerA Prayer for True Faith Without Favoritism
Heavenly Father, We come before You today with humble hearts, acknowledging the truth of Your Word found in James 2:1-13. We bow our heads, recognizing that sometimes we fall short of the love and grace You require of us. Lord, help us to remember that faith in our Lord Jesus…
Read prayer