James 2:25-26 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.            Abraham was called by God and chosen to be the progenitor of the Israelite people. He was justified by faith, his faith was vindicated by his works, and ...  Read More

James 2:21-24 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified ...  Read More

James 2:19-20 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?            In Judaism, the foundational passage of Scripture recited by all Jews is the great Shema (Hebrew for “hear”). It is a quote from Deuteronomy 6:4 which says, “Hear O Israel, Yahweh our God, Yahweh is on...  Read More

James 2:15-18 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works...  Read More

James 2:14-26 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? …Faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself… A man is justified by works and not by faith alone… For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.Some see a contradiction between the theology of Paul and James. Whereas Paul said, “A man ...  Read More

Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”            Whereas the beatitudes from vv. 3-6 speak of the Christian’s vertical posture before God, vv. 8-12 speak of the Christian’s horizontal posture toward his fellow man. Christians have a different standard for how they treat others in comparison to non-Christians. Mercy, for instance, is typically for the weak, illustrat...  Read More

James 2:12-13 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.            Active, ongoing love for both God and man is the command of Jesus Christ to all of His followers (cf. John 15), distinctions between classes and races of people notwithstanding. This is James’ point, for app...  Read More

James 2:8-11 If, however, you are fulfilling 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. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also sai...  Read More

James 2:5-7 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?            James surmises in v. 5 that since the ea...  Read More

James 2:1-4 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the po...  Read More

James 2:1 My brothers, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.            Firstly, we notice in James 2:1 that James is addressing “my brothers.” James being one of the half-brothers of Jesus (cf. Matt. 13:55), and Jesus being from the tribes of Israel, specifically Judah (Matt. 1:1-16), James was Jewish. His “brothers” therefore were the t...  Read More

Matthew 13:5-7, 20-21 “Other [seeds] fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out… 20 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this ...  Read More