My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, _the Lord_ of glory, with respect of persons. Ver. 1. _The Lord of glory_] Or, "Have not the glorious faith of our Lord Jesus Christ," &c. Faith is a glorious grace indeed. _ With respect of persons_] _i.e._ Of their outward quality or cond... [ Continue Reading ]
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; Ver. 2. _For if there come, &c._] It is probable, saith an interpreter here, that the primitive Christians, the better to ingratiate with the richer pagans, gave them v... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 3. _That weareth the gay cloth_] As Hospinian tells us of the dogs that kept Vulcan's temple, and as others say of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Ver. 4. _Are ye not then partial_] ου διακριθητε, or, "Are ye not for so doing condemned in your own consciences?" Or, "Neither have ye so much as once doubted or questioned the matter within yourselves, whether in so do... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 5. _Chosen the poor_] This the world wonders and stumbles at. The heathen Romans would not receive Christ (though they heard of his mir... [ Continue Reading ]
But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Ver. 6. _Ye have despised the poor_] _Pauper ubique iacet._ Zephaniah 3:12, afflicted and poor are joined together; because poverty is an affliction, and makes a man trodden upon. Men go over the hed... [ Continue Reading ]
Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? Ver. 7. _Do not they blaspheme_] That is, cause to be blasphemed, as Romans 2:24; 1 Timothy 1:20. Marcellinus, a heathen historian, taxeth the Christians of his times for their dissensions, biting and devouring one another, till the... [ Continue Reading ]
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: Ver. 8. _If ye fulfil the royal law_] Acknowledging God's sovereignty, and sending a lamb to the ruler of the earth, Isaiah 16:1, seeking the help of that free or noble spirit of his, Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. Ver. 9. _Ye commit sin_] That is flat; though ye have thought otherwise. _See Trapp on "_ Jam 2:4 _"_ And are convinced of the law as transgressors] This they held either no sin or a small one, a pecca... [ Continue Reading ]
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one _point_, he is guilty of all. Ver. 10. _He is guilty of all_] The whole law is but one copulative,Exodus 16:18; Ezekiel 18:10,13. He that breaketh one commandment habitually breaketh all; not so actually. The godly keep those commandment... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 11. _For he that said_] "God spake all those words, and said;" there is the same divine authority for one commandment as another, Exodu... [ Continue Reading ]
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. Ver. 12. _As they that shall be judged_] Or, as they that should judge by the law of liberty; which is so called, because it doth freely and fully discover unto every man, without respect of persons, the errors and evils of... [ Continue Reading ]
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. Ver. 13. _For he shall have mercy_] _See Trapp on "_ Mat 5:7 _"_ And mercy rejoiceth against judgment] κατακαυχαται, _a_ that is, the merciful man glorieth, as one that hath received mercy, a... [ Continue Reading ]
What _doth it_ profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Ver. 14. _Though a man say he hath faith_] Saying serves not the turn. Livy telleth us of the Athenians (Dec. iv.) that they waged a word war against Philip, king of Macedon; _Quibus solis va... [ Continue Reading ]
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, Ver. 15. _If a brother or a sister_] As it may befall the best to be, and they are not of the chameleon kind, to live (with Ephraim) upon wind, Hosea 12:1, to be fed with fair words, or to be clothed with a suit of compliments. Sion shou... [ Continue Reading ]
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be _ye_ warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what _doth it_ profit? Ver. 16. _And one of you say_] This age aboundeth with mouth mercy, which is good cheap. But a little handful were better tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Ver. 17. _Is dead, being alone_] That is, being workless; for life discovers itself by action; so doth true faith by trust in God and love to men. A tree that is not for fruit, is for the fire.... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Ver. 18. _My faith by my works_] It appeared by the fruits it was a good land, Numbers 13:23. It appeared that Dorcas was a true believer by the coats she had made:... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. Ver. 19. _Believe and tremble_] Gr. φρισσουσι, roar as the sea, and shriek horribly, Acts 19:29; Mark 6:49. Their hearts ache and quake within them; and shall any man mock at God's menaces? Shall not the de... [ Continue Reading ]
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Ver. 20. _But wilt thou know_] _Interrogatio doeturientis, _ saith Piscator. A question made by one that is desirous to teach. _ Thou vain man_] Gr. Thou empty man; for works without faith are nothing else but a nutshell without a k... [ Continue Reading ]
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Ver. 21. _Justified by works_] _sc._ _Declarative et in fore humano, _ but not before God,Romans 3:2. It is faith that justifieth the man; but they are works that justify faith to be right and real, sav... [ Continue Reading ]
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? Ver. 22. _Wrought with his works_] Or, was a help to his works, and was her own midwife to bring them forth of herself into the open light, Hebrews 11:17 . _ Was faith made perfect_] That is, declared to be operative... [ Continue Reading ]
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ver. 23. _And it was imputed_] _See Trapp on "_ Gen 15:6 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Rom 4:3 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Gal 3:6 _"_ The friend of God] A very hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Ver. 24. _By works a man is justified_] Declaratively, as by faith apprehensively, by God effectively.... [ Continue Reading ]
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent _them_ out another way? Ver. 25. _The messengers_] Gr. The angels, so Luke 7:24; Acts 12:15. _See Trapp on "_ Act 12:15 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Ver. 26. _As the body, &c._] Yet is not charity the soul of faith, but the vital spirit only.... [ Continue Reading ]