5 Hearken, my brethren beloved, did not God choose the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the reign that He promised to those loving Him?
`Happy the poor in spirit -- because theirs is the reign of the heavens.
so `is' he who is treasuring up to himself, and is not rich toward God.'
And he, having lifted up his eyes to his disciples, said: `Happy the poor -- because yours is the reign of God.
`Fear not, little flock, because your Father did delight to give you the reign;
to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in the heavens for you,
he who is overcoming shall inherit all things, and I will be to him -- a God, and he shall be to me -- the son,
henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of the righteousness that the Lord -- the Righteous Judge -- shall give to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to all those loving his manifestation.
to do good, to be rich in good works, to be ready to impart, willing to communicate,
but, according as it hath been written, `What eye did not see, and ear did not hear, and upon the heart of man came not up, what God did prepare for those loving Him --'
for see your calling, brethren, that not many `are' wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but the foolish things of the world did God choose, that the wise He may put to shame; and the weak things of the world did God choose that He may put to shame the strong; and the base things of the world, and the things despised did God choose, and the things that are not, that the things that are He may make useless --
I love those loving me, And those seeking me earnestly do find me. Wealth and honour `are' with me, Lasting substance and righteousness. Better `is' my fruit than gold, even fine gold, And mine increase than choice silver. In a path of righteousness I cause to walk, In midst of paths of judgment, To cause my lovers to inherit substance, Yea, their treasures I fill.
a token of the righteous judgment of God, for your being counted worthy of the reign of God, for which also ye suffer,
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, for your knowing what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
for your walking worthily of God, who is calling you to His own reign and glory.
as sorrowful, and always rejoicing; as poor, and making many rich; as having nothing, and possessing all things.
greater wealth having reckoned the reproach of the Christ than the treasures in Egypt, for he did look to the recompense of reward;
for so, richly shall be superadded to you the entrance into the age-during reign of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
and it is broken in that day, and know well do the afflicted of the flock who are observing me, that it `is' a word of Jehovah.
`Therefore -- the affirmation of Jehovah, God of Israel -- I certainly said, Thy house and the house of thy father, do walk up and down before Me to the age; and now -- the affirmation of Jehovah -- Far be it from Me! for he who is honouring Me, I honour, and those despising Me, are lightly esteemed.
Therefore, O men of heart, hearken to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, And `from' the Mighty to do perverseness:
That hath not accepted the person of princes, Nor hath known the rich before the poor, For a work of His hands `are' all of them.
And now, ye sons, hearken to me, And give attention to sayings of my mouth.
And now, ye sons, hearken to me, Yea, happy are they who keep my ways.
And the humble have added joy in Jehovah, And the poor among men In the Holy One of Israel rejoice.
And I have left in thy midst a people humble and poor, And they have trusted in the name of Jehovah.
and they declare `it' to Jotham, and he goeth and standeth on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifteth up his voice, and calleth, and saith to them, `Hearken unto me, O masters of Shechem, and God doth hearken unto you:
blind receive sight, and lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and deaf hear, dead are raised, and poor have good news proclaimed,
And it came to pass, as they are going on in the way, a certain one said unto him, `I will follow thee wherever thou mayest go, sir;' and Jesus said to him, `The foxes have holes, and the fowls of the heaven places of rest, but the Son of Man hath not where he may recline the head.'
`And it came to pass, that the poor man died, and that he was carried away by the messengers to the bosom of Abraham -- and the rich man also died, and was buried;
and I appoint to you, as my Father did appoint to me, a kingdom,
did any one out of the rulers believe in him? or out of the Pharisees?
and if children, also heirs, heirs, indeed, of God, and heirs together of Christ -- if, indeed, we suffer together, that we may also be glorified together.
So then, let no one glory in men, for all things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things about to be -- all are yours, and ye `are' Christ's, and Christ `is' God's.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on James 2
Commentary on James 2 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 2
In this chapter the apostle condemns a sinful regarding of the rich, and despising the poor, which he imputes to partiality and injustice, and shows it to be an acting contrary to God, who has chosen the poor, and whose interest is often persecuted, and his name blasphemed, by the rich (v. 1-7). He shows that the whole law is to be fulfilled, and that mercy should be followed, as well as justice (v. 8-13). He exposes the error and folly of those who boast of faith without works, telling us that this is but a dead faith, and such a faith as devils have, not the faith of Abraham, or of Rahab (v. 14-26).
Jam 2:1-7
The apostle is here reproving a very corrupt practice. He shows how much mischief there is in the sin of prosoµpoleµpsia-respect of persons, which seemed to be a very growing evil in the churches of Christ even in those early ages, and which, in these after-times, has sadly corrupted and divided Christian nations and societies. Here we have,
Jam 2:8-13
The apostle, having condemned the sin of those who had an undue respect of persons, and having urged what was sufficient to convict them of the greatness of this evil, now proceeds to show how the matter may be mended; it is the work of a gospel ministry, not only to reprove and warn, but to teach and direct. Col. 1:28, Warning every man, and teaching every man. And here,
Jam 2:14-26
In this latter part of the chapter, the apostle shows the error of those who rested in a bare profession of the Christian faith, as if that would save them, while the temper of their minds and the tenour of their lives were altogether disagreeable to that holy religion which they professed. To let them see, therefore, what a wretched foundation they built their hopes upon, it is here proved at large that a man is justified, not by faith only, but by works. Now,