Study it in the app“Listen, my beloved brothers: has not God chosen the poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those who love him?”
James forbids treating the rich better than the poor in the meetingThe Church and Community
Listen,ἀκούσατεmy belovedμου ἀγαπητοίbrothers:ἀδελφοίhas notοὐχGodὁ θεὸςchosenἐξελέξατοthe poorτοὺς πτωχοὺςin the eyes of the worldτῷ κόσμῳto berichπλουσίουςinἐνfaithπίστειandκαὶheirsκληρονόμουςof the kingdomτῆς βασιλείαςwhichἧςhe promisedἐπηγγείλατοto those who loveτοῖς ἀγαπῶσινhim?αὐτόν
listen
To pay attention and obey.
Where else “akousate” appearsbeloved
Beloved, dear.
Where else “agapētoi” appearsbrother in faith
A believer, of the same family of God through the Messiah.
Where else “adelphoi” appearsGod
The Creator and Lord of all, the one God of Israel.
Where else “theos” appearschoose
Choose, select.
Where else “exelexato” appearspoor
Someone who has nothing to live on.
Where else “ptōchous” appearsworld against God
People who live with their backs to God.
Where else “kosmōi” appearsrich in
Rich in something good, like mercy.
Where else “plousious” appearstrust
Truly trusting in God or in Jesus.
Where else “pistei” appearsheir
Heir.
Where else “klēronomous” appearskingdom of God
God's rule, which comes with Jesus.
Where else “basileias” appearspromise
To pledge something, as God did to Abraham.
Where else “epēngeilato” appearslove
Love: to seek the good of the other, even of someone who does not deserve it.
Where else “agapōsin” appears4have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 · This verse (above)
6But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and do they themselves not drag you into the courts?
1. What it says
What situation does James describe with the man in the gold ring and the poor man, and what does he say about it (v. 1-4)?
2. What it means
James says faith without works is dead (v. 14-17). What example does he use, and what is he trying to show?
3. How I live it
Whom could you treat today with the same attention you would give to someone important?
