My brethren — The equality of Christians, intimated by this name, is the ground of the admonition. Hold not the faith of our common Lord, the Lord of glory — Of which glory all who believe in him partake. With respect of persons — That is, honour none merely for being rich; despise none merely for b... [ Continue Reading ]
With gold rings — Which were not then so common as now.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye look upon him — With respect.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye distinguish not — To which the most respect is due, to the poor or to the rich. But are become evil — reasoning judges — You reason ill, and so judge wrong: for fine apparel is no proof of worth in him that wears it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hearken — As if he had said, Stay, consider, ye that judge thus. Does not the presumption lie rather in favour of the poor man? Hath not God chosen the poor — That is, are not they whom God hath chosen, generally speaking, poor in this world? who yet are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom — Con... [ Continue Reading ]
Do not the rich often oppress you — By open violence; often drag you — Under colour of law.... [ Continue Reading ]
Do not they blaspheme that worthy name — Of God and of Christ. The apostle speaks chiefly of rich heathens: but are Christians, so called, a whit behind them?... [ Continue Reading ]
If ye fulfil the royal law — The supreme law of the great King which is love; and that to every man, poor as well as rich, ye do well. Leviticus 19:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
Being convicted — By that very law. Exodus 23:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
Whosoever keepeth the whole law, except in one point, he is guilty of all — Is as liable to condemnation as if he had offended in every point.... [ Continue Reading ]
For it is the same authority which establishes every commandment.... [ Continue Reading ]
So speak and act — In all things. As they that shall be judged — Without respect of persons. By the law of liberty — The gospel; the law of universal love, which alone is perfect freedom. For their transgressions of this, both in word and deed, the wicked shall be condemned; and according to their w... [ Continue Reading ]
Judgment without mercy shall be to him — In that day. Who hath showed no mercy — To his poor brethren. But the mercy of God to believers, answering to that which they have shown, will then glory over judgment.... [ Continue Reading ]
From James 1:22, the apostle has been enforcing Christian practice. He now applies to those who neglect this, under the pretence of faith. St. Paul had taught that "a man is justified by faith without the works of the law." This some began already to wrest to their own destruction. Wherefore St. Jam... [ Continue Reading ]
So likewise that faith which hath not works is a mere dead, empty notion; of no more profit to him that hath it, than the bidding the naked be clothed is to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
But one — Who judges better. Will say — To such a vain talker. Show me, if thou canst, thy faith without thy works.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou believest there is one God — I allow this: but this proves only that thou hast the same faith with the devils. Nay, they not only believe, but tremble — At the dreadful expectation of eternal torments. So far is that faith from either justifying or saving them that have it.... [ Continue Reading ]
But art than willing to know — Indeed thou art not: thou wouldest fain be ignorant of it. O empty man — Empty of all goodness. That the faith which is without works is dead — And so is not properly faith, as a dead carcase is not a man.... [ Continue Reading ]
Was not Abraham justified by works — St. Paul says he was justified by faith, Romans 4:2, &c.: yet St. James does not contradict him; for he does not speak of the same justification. St. Paul speaks of that which Abraham received many years before Isaac was born, Genesis 15:6. St. James, of that whi... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou seest that faith — For by faith Abraham offered him, Hebrews 11:17. Wrought together with his works — Therefore faith has one energy and operation; works, another: and the energy and operation of faith are before works, and together with them. Works do not give life to faith, but faith begets w... [ Continue Reading ]
And the scripture — Which was afterwards written. Was hereby eminently fulfilled, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness — This was twice fulfilled, — when Abraham first believed, and when he offered up Isaac. St. Paul speaks of the former fulfilling; St. James, of the lat... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only — St. Paul, on the other band, declares, "A man is justified by faith," and not by works, Romans 3:28. And yet there is no contradiction between the apostles: because, They do not speak of the same faith: St. Paul speaking of living... [ Continue Reading ]
After Abraham, the father of the Jews, the apostle cites Rahab, a woman, and a sinner of the gentiles; to show, that in every nation and sex true faith produces works, and is perfected by them; that is, by the grace of God working in the believer, while he is showing his faith by his works.... [ Continue Reading ]