James warns against favouring the rich over the poor, since showing partiality breaks the law of love. Faith without works is dead, and he uses Abraham and Rahab as examples.
1 My brethren , have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ , the Lord of glory , with respect of persons .
2 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 ;
3 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 :
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves , and are become judges of evil thoughts ?
5 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 ?
6 But ye have despised the poor . Do not rich men oppress you , and draw you before the judgment seats ?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called ?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself , ye do well :
9 But if ye have respect to persons , ye commit sin , and are convinced of the law as transgressors .
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law , and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all .
11 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 .
12 So speak ye , and so do , as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty .
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy , that hath shewed no mercy ; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment .
14 What doth it profit , my brethren , though a man say he hath faith , and have not works ? can faith save him ?
15 If a brother or sister be naked , and destitute of daily food ,
16 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 ?
17 Even so faith , if it hath not works , is dead , being alone .
18 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 .
19 Thou believest that there is one God ; thou doest well : the devils also believe , and tremble .
20 But wilt thou know , O vain man , that faith without works is dead ?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works , when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar ?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works , and by works was faith made perfect ?
23 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 .
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified , and not by faith only .
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works , when she had received the messengers , and had sent them out another way ?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead , so faith without works is dead also .