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The actions of James’s church toward the rich and poor have shown they are no better than
the world. The rich man now knows his power and position can buy him a seat in the church
just as they can in the world. The poor man now knows Christians treat him just as the
world does.

Why should he want to accept Jesus as his Lord if he is shown the same prejudice from
those who profess to have eternal life?

Jas 2:6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you
before the judgment seats?

The rich were using the courts to oppress the people of Jerusalem. Many in the
congregation at Jerusalem were part of that crowd who had been taken to court by the rich
and powerful. Some of the rich of the city had built their riches through oppression and
hostility toward others. Now one of those rich men comes through the door of the church,
and the people stumble to find him a seat of prominence!

Jas 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

Do not they blaspheme (slander) that worthy name by the which ye are called?

The rich not only oppress and drag the people of the city before the judges, they also had
religious hatred toward anyone who calls on the name of Jesus. Many of the rich were
arrogant and did not like to hear of those who trusted in the Lord. To trust in the Lord
sounded weak to them because they had worked hard to gain their riches. These were self‐
made men whose riches were controlling them instead of them controlling the riches. Such
was the story of the rich young ruler who was controlled by money and kept away from
eternal life (Mark 10:24). Rich young rulers were scattered throughout the city of Jerusalem
in the days of the early church.

Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself, ye do well:

If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love (agapa) thy neighbor as
thyself, ye do well:

This “royal law” is quoted from Leviticus 19:18. It was the law Jesus used for the rich young
ruler to prove that he did not love his neighbor as himself (Matthew 19: 19‐22). If a person
can keep this law, he can keep all of the others. It is impossible for this law to be kept by a
person’s will or by the energy of the flesh. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit in a person’s
life to manifest divine love (Romans 5:5). This could not be fulfilled until the New Testament
when the Holy Spirit was given. Divine love is to be the motivation behind all Christian
service (John 13: 34‐35, 1 Corinthians 13). If Christians love their neighbors ‐‐ whether
sinners or saints ‐‐ as they do themselves, they will seek the same good for them as they
do for themselves. They will want their neighbors to have eternal life, be healed, and
prosper just as they have.

Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as
transgressors.