Ministry of Grace Church

but if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

Truth to Learn

When we show special attention to those who are rich and powerful, we are sinning!

Behind the Words

“But if you show partiality” is a conditional clause, which, based on the grammatical construction, is a first class condition. There are three classes of conditional clauses in the Greek New Testament. The first class condition assumes the “if” clause (called the protasis) is true. Since James has just accused us of showing partiality, it is natural that he would use this first class condition. Because of this, some would use the word “since” rather than “if.”

The word translated “partiality” is a word that we looked at in verse one of this chapter, literally meaning “to lift up the face on a person,” that is, to show favoritism. Hence, in its root meaning, it refers to “treating one person in a more favorable way than another.”

The word translated “commit” is from the Greek word ergadzomai, which refers to “work or toil,” as one would do for an occupation. It is much stronger than the word poieō, meaning “to do,” which is usually used in reference to sinning. Hence, James is saying that when we show partiality, we are working hard at sinning. This is not something that a Christian should be doing.

“Convicted” is translated from a form of elegchō, meaning “to reprove, rebuke, or tell a fault.” Used as it is here, it implies a rebuke which produces a belief of the transgression without need of further proof or evidence.

Meaning Explained

Continuing on James’ summary of this topic from the previous verse, we now see the other shoe drop. In the previous verse, James said, “If you are as concerned for the good of others as you are for yourself, you do well.” Now he says, “but since you show favoritism toward someone because of their outward appearance, you are being selfish, you are committing sin, and the law declares you to be guilty.”

In these first nine verses of chapter two, James is talking about rich people and poor people, and the way we treat them. Notice, however, that James does not rebuke us for our treatment of poor people nearly as much as he does for our treatment of the rich. We tend to focus our attention on the outward appearance of people. The more beautiful and well off a person appears, the more we are attracted to them. We are more likely to talk to a rich person and try to make him or her feel welcome in our church than we are a poor person. That’s sinful!

God, on the other hand, does not focus on the outward appearance and, in fact, seems to favor the poor people by making them rich in faith. After all, when we have wealth, why do we need to have faith in God? But, when we are poor and in need, our faith gets strengthened.

Application

Most of us are willing to witness about salvation to the poor and homeless because it appears that they really need Christ. Today, let’s be just as willing to witness to rich and powerful people. They need Him even more!