James 2:3

3 If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,”

James 2:3 Meaning and Commentary

James 2:3

And ye have respect to him that wears the gay clothing
Take notice of him, and show favour to him, to the neglect and contempt of the other. This is an instance of respect of persons condemned and dissuaded from:

and say unto him, sit thou here in a good place;
the best place; whether it be in a religious assembly, or in a civil court of judicature:

and say to the poor, stand thou there;
or in a lower and meaner place:

or sit thou here under my footstool;
this also was contrary to the Jewish canons ^F20, that one should sit, and another stand, while their cause was trying; the law runs thus:

``one shall not sit, and another stand, but both shall stand; but if the sanhedrim, or court, please to let them sit, they sit; but one does not sit above, and the other below; but one by the side of the other.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 Maimon. ib. sect. 3. vid. T. Bab. Shebuot, fol. 30. 1.

James 2:3 In-Context

1 My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.

2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.

3 If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,”

4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?