After telling of God's thoughts regarding the poor, James returns to Christians, and the way they treated the poor. God chose the poor – they dishonored them. God said, the poor were rich in faith – they despised these true riches. God said, the poor were heirs of the kingdom – they preferred men with earthly possessions. The poor loved the Lord – these judges with evil thoughts loved men with worldly pomp. What strong words of condemnation in that little expression, "but ye." Let us be careful that our words and actions are not contrary to the Lord's.

"... despised the poor ..." The word "despised" in the King James version seems a bit strong. "Dishonored" would be better. They may not have despised the poor man in verses 2 and 3, but they certainly had dishonored him. To dishonor the poor is to dishonor the Lord, and a way to honor the Lord is to have mercy on the poor. "He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor" (Prov. 14:31).

Are we like the world or the Lord?: The world despised Christ when He was here. "He is despised and rejected of men" (Is. 53:3). Are we not like the world when we dishonor a child of God, whether rich or poor? We see how Christ honored the poor widow, who cast her two mites into the treasury. He said, "This poor widow hath cast in more than they all" (Luke 21:3). Often, the poor are usually the most faithful, the most earnest in prayer, and often, the best givers.

Example of a poor one who gave: The story is told of a preacher who held several Gospel tent meetings in one specific town. Among others, a poor lady was reached with the Gospel. She could hardly afford the necessities of life. After one of the meetings, she gave him a sum of money. He tried to dissuade her, but she said: “I promised the Lord, if He would give me some graves to tend in the cemetery, I would give the money to the work of the Lord. Please take it.” The preacher thought to himself, “This is more precious to the Lord than a rich men giving ten thousand dollars."

"... do not rich men oppress you ..." When James here speaks of rich men, he evidently is not thinking of those who were Christians. He does not call them brethren, or say anything that would make us believe he is referring to any but rich men as a class. The wealthy unbelieving Jews, especially the Sadducees, hated and persecuted the Christians. These Christians were respecting and honoring a class, which deserved no respect. It was contrary to reason to court and fete their very oppressors.

Rich oppress the poor: There has always been a tendency for the rich to oppress the poor. The Lord condemns this in the Hebrew Bible (see Psalms 10; the book of Amos). This oppression shows the depravity of the human heart. Let a poor man become rich, and he is likely to be no better than his former oppressors. The love of money seems engrained in most human hearts. The poor man does everything he can to gain riches; the rich man does all he can to keep it.

"... draw you before the judgment seats?" James is not speaking of Christian rich men. The Scripture strongly condemns one Christian taking another before worldly courts (1 Cor. 6:1-7). Any difference between brethren should be brought before a body of responsible Christian brethren for decision.

Examples in the Scriptures: That the Christians were often brought by unsaved rich before the judgment seats is evident from the Scriptures. These judgment seats may have been either Jewish or Gentile courts. The Romans did not understand Jewish ecclesiastical matters too well, so, often they would turn things over to a Jewish court. Even in as important a matter as the trial of Christ, we see the Jews taking a large place – greatly influencing Pilate. The Jews sometimes were even given jurisdiction outside of Palestine. We see this in connection with Paul in Acts 9. He was given letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any Christians, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. In 2 Corinthians 11:24, Paul says, "Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one." No doubt, some of these beatings were outside of Palestine. Many of the priests in Jerusalem were rich. They received permission from Herod to do many things, especially to the Christians. We have examples of this in Acts 4:1-3 and 5:17, 18. Paul, Silas and others were drawn before Gentile courts, as we observe from Acts 16:19, 20 and 17:6.

Unwise to honor the rich: Were these Christians wise in honoring the rich, who, as a class, were persecuting them? How did they know but that the rich man they so nicely received was their enemy – looking for evidence to use against them. Tradition says that James himself was apprehended in such a way – and dragged off to jail. Before we honor and fete any man, let us make sure there is more to him than just earthly pomp and riches.

Scripture Reading: James 2:7 (KJV)

"... blaspheme ..." What an awful thing it is to "blaspheme that worthy name." Cursing was common in those days, as it is today. In those eastern countries, one can hear cursing and swearing on every hand, even now. It is little better in our own land. We can hear men, ever women, and children curse the name of Christ and God – they seem to think nothing of it – there is no fear of God before their eyes. They care not that the law says, "For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain" (Ex. 20:7).

Will a Christian swear?: Some professed Christians curse and swear, but a real one should not and would not. How could one do so without a guilty conscience? How can a Christian curse Christ, knowing that He died on the cross to save him from sin and hell? How can one curse his Father, knowing the love in His heart for His children? Any who swear are no more than counterfeit Christians.

Example of a swearing professed Christian: The story is told of a young man trying to interest his girlfriend to attend. But she said frankly that she did not want to come. “Why,” he asked. “Well, for one thing, you don’t use the Lord's prayer in your service.” “I don't know about that.

We don’t use it in the worship service, but that doesn’t mean we don’t believe in it.” But she insisted, “You don't believe in it.” To which he said: “I do believe in it; I pray it every day, and my preacher prays it every Sunday in worship.” “That doesn’t prove you believe in it. Its first line says, 'Our Father which are in heaven, hallowed be thy name.' We’ve been riding in this car for only about five minutes, and you have cursed His name twice. You don’t even believe the first line.” So it is with some – professing to know the Lord Jesus, yet cursing His name. “No man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed” (1 Cor. 12:3).

Jewish blasphemers: The blasphemers of our verse were the rich, unbelieving Jews. The mention of the name of Christ would especially arouse them to cursing. Paul says that before he was saved he was such a blasphemer (1 Tim. 1:13). He also compelled the Christians to blaspheme (Acts 26:11). It is said that some of these Jews especially referred to the portion in Deuteronomy 21:23 in cursing Christ. Little did they realize that His hanging there is what redeems the Christian from the curse of the law. "Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree" (Gal. 3:13).

"... that worthy name ..." "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear." And to think that wicked men will curse that worthy name. The word "worthy" is the same as translated "good" in the expression, "the good shepherd." It could also be translated "noble", "beautiful", or "honorable".

None worthy but Him: Jacob says in Genesis 32:10, "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant." The Jewish elders say of the Roman centurion, "That he was worthy for whom he should do this." But he himself says, "I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof." The Lord highly commends this dear man's faith. (Luke 7:4-9). Another great man who disclaimed any worthiness was John the Baptist. He says in Matthew 3:11, "But he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear." The Scriptures everywhere attest to the worthiness of the Lord Jesus (see Rev. 5).

His name: His name means everything to a Christian. First of all, it is by faith in His name and obedience to His Word that we are saved. "For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12, see Acts 2:38). "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matt. 28:19). Christians should also meet in His name, and in His name alone. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20). No where in the Bible do we read that Christians should honor the name of any other; any ordinance, doctrine or method of men – only the name of Christ. We also pray in his name. "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do" (John 14:13). In fact, a Christian should do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Col. 3:17). His name should be sweeter to us than anything else in this world. Let us be sure that we honor that name by our every word and action.

"... by which ye are called?" "By which ye are called" is literally "which is called upon you." Some think this refers primarily to the time of baptism when the name of Christ is called upon us. We become a Christian by being born again – washed clean by the blood of Christ. By being born again we contact his blood and are made clean and as Paul says in Romans 6, we are raised up from the grave of baptism to walk in newness of life. The word "Christian," means "Christ's one", or one who belongs to Christ. We should always remember that we are not our own, but we belong to Him. Our main business in life is to bring glory to Him. Let's be careful not to honor and fete those who blaspheme that worthy name.

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