James - Chapter 2

(In this chapter, James’ continues with his theme on the development of Christian behavior)


In the last lesson, we briefly touched on the difference between ‘testing’ and ‘temptation’. God never tempts us, but He does test us.

Temptation involves some form of evil or sinfulness. God cannot be a part of anything evil or sinful. Any testing from God does not involve evil or sin, but may involve some type of hardship such as illness or other human trials. Christ was ‘tempted’ by Satan on the mount. The disciples were ‘tested’ by the persecution they suffered.

Temptation will often come after a high point in our spiritual lives or ministries. Remember that Satan chooses the times for his attacks, so be on guard at all times.

When you face trials, first make sure you haven’t brought them on yourself through sin or unwise choices. If you find no sin to confess or unwise behavior to change, then ask God to strengthen you for your test.


Acts 2:45 tells us "Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need."

and in Acts 4:34-35, we find "There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need."

These verses explain how the first century church members took care of each other. If someone was in need, the other members of the church would make sure their needs were met.

James 2:1-5 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

Believers should not show favoritism because God doesn’t show any favoritism. Christians should have equal respect for all people.

In verse 2, the word translated as ‘meeting’ was actually the Greek term sunagoge (soon-ag-o-gay´ ) and is the origin of the English word ‘synagogue’. It’s literal meaning in Greek was “a bringing together” and was used in the NT as “an assembly of Christian Jews”. This is how we know that James was writing to converted Jews. They were still meeting in their synagogue.

The Judean church must have been showing a lot of favoritism to the rich and shunning the poor. This is not the way Christians should act, so James is trying to explain to them what they are doing wrong. To do so, he reminds them that showing favoritism is evil. The Jews, even prior to conversion, were familiar with this idea.

Deuteronomy 1:17 says "Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it."

So James is not telling them anything new here, just reminding them of how they should treat people.

We all know people who are ‘religious’ without being true Christians. The people that James was writing to were very religious, but their actions didn’t portray the love of God. We have to ask ourselves if our actions, both within the church and outside of the church, will portray God’s love to others.

James 2:6-8 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.

royal law: called the ‘royal’ law because it is the supreme law that is the source of all other laws governing human relationships.

Again, James refers to laws with which the Jewish people are already familiar. This is one of the laws handed down to Moses and written in the Leviticus 19:18: "'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.'"

James 2:9-11 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,"also said, "Do not murder."If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

The law is the expression of the character and will of God, therefore to break one law is to violate God’s will and thus is equal to breaking all of the laws.

On human terms, we tend to measure sins as small sins and great sins. But sin is sin. To sin means that we’ve offended God and merit His judgment.

James 2:12-13 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

And in Revelation 22:12, we read "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done."

And finally, 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 tells us "If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."

Take special note of the last verse here and the good imagery.

So even though you may be saved from the eternal fire, you may escape it by the skin of your teeth, depending upon how you perform as a Christian.

If we are merciful to others, God will be merciful to us on the day of our judgment.

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

On the surface, this seems to contradict Paul’s doctrine that we are saved by faith and not by works, but it actually supplements Paul’s teachings. We know by Acts 15:13-29 and 21:17-26 that Paul and James worked together. The difference was that Paul was preaching to the Gentiles and James was preaching to the Jews. These two groups had different ideas about what was acceptable. So Paul and James had to adjust the way they taught so that each group would accept this new Christianity. Paul preached Faith as the basis of salvation, but insisted that this faith would change the kind of life we would want to live. James was preaching to Jews who had already accepted Paul’s doctrine of faith but were still not living right, telling them that such faith was no faith at all. True faith would bring about change in their lives.

Having ‘faith’ in something can merely mean to have an intellectual acceptance of certain truths, but not necessarily true faith in Christ as Savior. James is distinquishing between the two here. Faith without deeds is NOT true faith in Christ. Genuine faith will produce good deeds, and it is only this kind of faith in Jesus Christ that will bring salvation.

James 2:15-17 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Faith without good deeds, or a change in our attitude, is compared to pretending to care about others or showing fake consideration.

If you really care about someone and know they are in need, would you just wish them well and continue on your way, leaving them to fend for themselves? Not if you really cared about them! You would see to it that they had all they needed before you left them. In the same way, if you have true faith, you will live a more pure life and not continue on in your old habits.

James 2:18-19 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

The Jews tried to say their faith was different from the Gentiles. Some people did good deeds, and others had faith. James is explaining to them that there is no way to prove you have faith except by your deeds. If you have faith, you will do good deeds. If you don’t do good deeds, your faith is dead.

James points out here that even the demons believe in one God, and they shudder.

Why do they shudder? Because they know God’s power and fear Him. The demons know, and therefore believe in, God, but belief alone does not warrant salvation.

Faith and belief are two separate things. We can believe that something exists without liking it or allowing it to affect us. So believing in Christ is not enough. We must have the kind of faith that brings about a transformation in our lives.

James is not saying deeds save you. He is simply pointing out that if you have true faith, the deeds will take care of themselves. Deeds are evidence of our faith.

Galatians 5:6 says "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

Faith that saves produces deeds of love.

James 2:20-22 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

Here James gives an example of faith revealing itself through deeds. Imagine how much faith Abraham had in God for him to be willing to sacrifice his young son!

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"and he was called God's friend.

Because of his faith, Abraham was called “God’s friend”. This is an expression of complete and total acceptance.

James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

If taken out of context, this verse seems to contradict our belief in being saved through our faith and not by our deeds. But once again, James is stressing how true faith will cause good deeds. If your actions don’t show love, your faith is not real, but merely an intellectual acceptance of certain truths.

Your head tells you its true, but your heart hasn’t truly absorbed it. This is what the Bible refers to as ‘hardened hearts’. Although you believe in the truth of the Gospel, rather than allow this truth to change you, you ‘harden your heart’ against it and continue in your own will.

Hebrews 3:8-9 says "do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did."

When the Israelites were wandering around in the desert, they knew God. They believed in Him because they saw all the things He was doing for them. Yet they turned against Him. They had an intellectual faith that He existed and could help them, yet they didn’t have whole-hearted faith in Him enough to obey Him. Their faith was dead.

James 2:25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?

Here James is not approving of Rahab’s occupation, but is pointing out that even someone like her could be saved by faith, and that it was her faith that caused her to do good deeds.

James 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

In summary, what good is the body without the spirit? It is empty and dead. The same is true about faith without deeds.

Which is easier for you – talking about your faith with others, or demonstrating love toward them? Which will get the better response from them? If you demonstrate your love to others, this will show them your faith. Talk is cheap—actions speak louder than words.