Back during the first century in Jewish culture traditionally Jewish Synagogues you had to buy your seat in the synagogue. So obviously the one who had more money, was going to get a better seat in the synagogue. That’s what James is talking about here in the scriptures . James is saying…

My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. (or show favoritism) That’s why here at Church, everyone sits wherever they want. This is the New Covenant in Christ, this is what the Church, the Body of Christ is about, we are all equal or one in Christ. You can sit wherever you want here free of charge.

So then James tells us a story, basically if a rich guy walks in your assembly (Church), he has nice clothes and jewelry, and you give them the best seat in the house, you are showing favoritism. While the poor person walks in and you tell them , you better go sit back there

have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? (4)

So we are making judgements based on peoples physical appearance or social status, ect. And this happens all the time in life, doesn’t it? Even in Churches, One Sunday during our worship service a woman came in here, track marks up and down her arms and legs, high as a kite, and she sat there for most of the service. And we were glad to have her here, because we want her to get saved, we want her to encounter Jesus Christ, but the reality is most Churches from my experience, would probably have thrown her out. Lets be honest, or I hear all the time people are afraid to take their kids to certain Churches because they get scolded or dirty looks, and I’m not up here trying to say we do everything perfect, but what I will say is I never want to be a stumbling block for someone to come to Christ. 

So James is trying to teach that the New Covenant in Christ is not the same as the world or even the Old Covenant. We are all One in Jesus Christ, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, we are a family of God

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

Love Your Neighbor

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; (v8)

What a concept , James quotes his brother Jesus. The royal law he calls it , Love your neighbor as yourself, this means if you want to be treated equally with respect, then treat others equally with respect. This is why Christianity is so radically different from the rest of the world. Because our identity is in Jesus Christ, therefor we are one in Christ. Think about everyone in this room, there are people of different ages and backgrounds, but we are united in Jesus Christ. 

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14

Consider Jesus story about the Good Samaritan..Luke 10

30Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among [i]thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35On the next day, [j]when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

37And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (9)

But James continues to warn here, listen if you guys keep showing favoritism , you guys keep elevating some people over another, within the Church, you guys are in sin, you guys are breaking The Law of God, because what did Paul just say “Love your neighbor is the fulfillment of The Law” 

Keep The Law

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. (10-12)

Now I know alot of us are thinking, man I judged certain people, I’m guilty of this myself, I have broken the Law of God, I’m a sinner, yeah welcome to the club. Remember a little earlier in chapter 1 James said the “Word of God was like a mirror” The Ten Commandments, the Law of God reveals to us we have all fallen short, we are all sinners, it reveals to us all we need a Savior. The Good News is God provided that Savior for us Jesus Christ

James brings up a good point here, he says you can try and keep the whole Law of God, you can try, but if you mess up in one spot, your guilty of breaking the entire law of God. This is where you need to understand , its only by the grace of God in our faith in Jesus Christ, that we are saved. You are not going to save yourself, your going to stumble and fall, put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation

Show Mercy

For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (13)

Mercy triumphs over judgement, this is actually for us to comprehend as humans. We don’t like showing mercy to people, lets be honest. But James warns there will be judgement with no mercy, for the one who shows no mercy. Consider what Jesus says about this…

Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6:36)

Conclusion:

1. There is no favoritism in the Church, the Body of Christ
2. Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
3. We are all sinners
4. Mercy over Judgement
5. We Are One In Christ

For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. I Corinthians 10:17

I think this is a great text for Communion this morning, to the world we are all seperated by class and race, but in Jesus Christ we are One Body, there is no favoritism in the family of God.  Everyone is welcomes to The Lords Table, you have a seat there , that nobody can buy, but your place at The Table was bought with the blood of Jesus Christ. Through Christ you have been unified by his body and blood, Born Again in the Holy Spirit,  Amen

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (19-20)

If I can provide some marriage counseling for this morning…its this verse…all the woman say Amen? Listen More and Speak Less! Right? We have 2 ears and 1 mouth…

But also, when were always talking we are never listening, right? Its important that we listen to people more than we talk. Now I know this is easier said than done, but this is godly wisdom you can apply to your lives..especially your relationships

Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.Proverbs 10:19  NLT

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 NIV

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Ephesians 4:29

So as we can see in the Bible, our words are important, we need to remember to listen more and talk less….Amen?

Doer of The Word

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; -for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. (22-24)

Another challenge the Apostle James presents to us, is are we hypocritical Christians? Being Hypocritical in our daily lives, our marriages, our friendships, raising our children, our workplace…Do we do what we actually say? We talk the talk but do we walk the walk? James says Dont just heard the Word of God, actually Do The Word of God. We know alot of people who like to beat people over the heads with the Bible, but they themselves are guilty themselves…

Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth. 1 John 3:18

consider what Jesus says..

24“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

Jesus says anyones who hears the Word of God and actually is a doer, actually does the will of God, is like a wise person who builds their life upon a solid foundation, obviously that foundation is Christ. So when the storms of life come in, trials and testing, you will be able to stand against these things. But the person who listens to the Word of God and doesn’t actually apply them , is a foolish person who builds their life upon sand, so when the trials and testing come, their faith totally collapses, because they are hypocrites. You have to be a doer of the word, by faith follow Jesus, not just a hearer of the word

False Religion

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. (26)

Now James talks about false religion, many people can call themselves Christian, but does their life really reflect this? Again going back to James saying be a Doer of the Word and not just a Hearer. But also James goes back to our words, if you don’t keep control of your words, you deceive yourself and your religion is useless. This goes back to listen more and speak less, if we are hypocritical our religion is worthless….religion is only good if its truthful…..lets consider what Jesus said

But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37

Here’s another scary thought, every word that you speak, you will have to give an account for it on judgement day. By your words you will be justified and condemned, that’s not my opinion, thats the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. So this should make us a little more serious about the words we speak, right? 

James then gives us an example of what true Christianity looks like…

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (27)

Help people, right its one thing to preach to people but actually practice what you preach. And to keep yourselves from this world, right resist temptation as James taught earlier….again consider what Jesus says….

35for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ (Matthew 25:35-36)

45Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me 

This is what Jesus demonstrates what true Christianity looks like, we as the Church are the Salt of the Earth, the Light of the World, we are the hands and feet of Christ. Think about what Jesus said, for whatever you do for the least of these, the lowly of the people, you did it for Jesus, think about that. 

Conclusion:

1. Listen more and Speak Less
2. Be accountable for your words- they will condemn you
3. Be a Doer of the Word Not just a listener- Don’t be a Hypocrite
4. False Religion is useless- don’t just say you are a Christian- live for Christ
5. Whatever you do for the least of these, you do it for Jesus

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

True religion is to be a doer of the Word and not just a Hearer, if we call ourselves Christians, we should act like Christ. Be slow to speak and quick to listen, love and forgive one another, because Christ loves us and has forgiven us, Amen!