Hearken, My Beloved Brethren (Part 2)

Having declared a prohibitive caution against the practice of showing partiality in James 2:1, and having delivered a forceful confrontation against the problem of showing partiality in verses 2-4, James presents a challenging consideration of the contradictions in showing partiality against the poor in favor of the rich in verses 5-7. Grammatically, these three verses encompass five separate statements. First, there is the imperative call to attentive consideration – “Hearken, my beloved brethren.” Second, there is the rhetorical question concerning God’s dealings with the poor – “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?” Third, there is the reproving declaration of their dealings with the poor in direct contrast to that of God – “But ye have despised the poor.” Finally, there are the two rhetorical questions concerning the oppression of the rich against them as believers and the blasphemy of the rich against their Savior’s name – “Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?”

1. The Call to attentive consideration of the truth
2. The Consideration concerning God’s viewpoint of the poor
3. The Contrast with God’s viewpoint of the poor
4. The Contention concerning the abusive opposition of the rich