1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (James 2:1-9)
In this section of James’ epistle, the brother of the Lord Jesus makes an argument against a common practice which seemed to be taking place in the Jerusalem churches, the practice of showing favoritism to the rich man and his family attending worship services and neglecting the poor person who also comes in. He reminds the Jewish believers that this act of making distinctions between persons, and demonstrating deference to one party while discriminating against another is evil and needs to be repented of.
This practice of discrimination is “common to man” in every generation, and it comes from within our hearts and it defiles us. When Samuel went to the home of Jesse in Bethlehem to anoint one of his sons as king in place of Saul, Samuel was impressed with the appearance of Eliab, the oldest son of Jesse. Yet the Lord warned Samuel, saying, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him.”
One of the often overlooked attributes of God is His impartiality. God in His infinite knowledge, power, wisdom, justice and holiness, is completely unimpressed with anything outside Himself. The Lord simply does not see as man sees.
We, as fallen people, can see no further than the outward appearance; we see someone’s clothing, height, weight, stature, hair style, vehicle, home, jewelry and accessories, we see her smile or his frown, we pay attention to an accent or a manner of speaking, and we make distinctions and judgments about that person. We presume to know their education or lack thereof; their likely position in life or career; we even make snap decisions about their family or their faith.
It is this sinful practice of partiality, of showing personal favoritism, that James warns against. His example of the rich and poor visitors is merely one application.
In our hyper-sensitive culture, with its insistence on showing favoritism and partiality to every marginalized group, we must avoid the twin ditches of denying or ignoring the injustices of the past and institutionalizing injustices in the present and future.
Only God can look upon the heart. And this merciful, mighty, magnificent God has looked upon your heart and my heart, with all the wickedness and vileness within, and determined to save us from ourselves and despite ourselves.
And as we are the undeserving beneficiaries of His love and kindness, we are also granted the privilege of looking beyond the surface of the skin and into the hearts of men and women, to see them more accurately, because God has revealed to us something about ourselves.
Because God has revealed to us what we are really like, and our great need for Him, we of all people can know what others are really like, and display God’s mercy and kindness to one another as He has displayed to us.
Consider confessing this sinful tendency using the following prayer:
Our great, mighty and awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribes,
Forgive us, for we too often look upon the face of someone and make judgments about them.
We show favor and seek to please those we imagine can benefit us, and we ignore or dismiss those who we judge to be “unworthy.”
Remind us, Lord, that You do not see as we see, for we look upon the outward appearance with eyes of flesh, but You look upon the heart with perfect knowledge and righteous judgment.
Cause us to remember that You show mercy and kindness to the just and the unjust.
Soften our hearts with mercy toward those we might dismiss, just as You have shown mercy and patience toward us in Christ, who died for the ungodly.
We ask these things in the name of Jesus, amen.
In light of this sinful tendency in your heart and actions, cling to this good news of forgiveness from God:
1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
(Psalm 32:1-2)