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. 11 to the
end).
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,
I. A caution against this sin laid down in general: My
brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with
respect of persons, v. 1. Observe here, 1. The character of Christians fully
implied: they are such as have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ; they embrace
it; they receive it; they govern themselves by it; they entertain the doctrine,
and submit to the law and government, of Christ; they have it as a trust; they
have it as a treasure. 2. How honorably James speaks of Jesus Christ; he calls
him the Lord of glory; for he is the brightness of his Father's
glory, and the express image of his person. 3. Christ's being the Lord of
glory should teach us not to respect Christians for any thing so much as their
relation and conformity to Christ. You who profess to believe the glory of our
Lord Jesus Christ, which the poorest Christian shall partake of equally with the
rich, and to which all worldly glory is but vanity, you should not make men's
outward and worldly advantages the measure of your respect. In professing the
faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, we should not show respect to men, so as to
cloud or lessen the glory of our glorious Lord: how ever any may think of it,
this is certainly a very heinous sin.
II. We have this sin described and cautioned against, by an
instance or example of it (v. 2, 3): For if there come into your assembly a
man with a gold ring, etc. Assembly here is meant of those meetings
which were appointed for deciding matters of difference among the members of the
church, or for determining when censures should be passed upon any, and what
those censures should be; therefore the Greek word here used, synagoµgeµ,
signifies such an assembly as that in the Jewish synagogues, when they met to do
justice. Maimonides says (as I find the passage quoted by Dr. Manton) "That
is was expressly provided by the Jews' constitutions that, when a poor man and
a rich plead together, the rich shall not be bidden to sit down and the poor
stand, or sit in a worse place, but both sit or both stand alike." To this
the phrases used by the apostle have a most plain reference, and therefore the
assembly here spoken of must be some such as the synagogue-assemblies of the
Jews were, when they met to hear causes and to execute justice: to these the
arbitrations and censures of their Christian assemblies are compared. But we
must be careful not to apply what is here said to the common assemblies for
worship; for in these certainly there may be appointed different places of
persons according to their rank and circumstances, without sin. Those do not
understand the apostle who fix his severity here upon this practice; they do not
consider the word judges (used in v. 4), nor what is said of their being
convected as transgressors of the law, if they had such a respect of persons as
is here spoken of, according to v. 9. Thus, now put the case: "There
comes into your assembly (when of the same nature with some of those at the
synagogue) a man that is distinguished by his dress, and who makes a
figure, and there comes in also a poor man in vile raiment, and you act
partially, and determine wrong, merely because the one makes a better
appearance, or is in better circumstances, than the other." Observe hence,
1. God has his remnant among all sorts of people, among those that wear soft and
gay clothing, and among those that wear poor and vile raiment. 2. In matters of
religion, rich and poor stand upon a level; no man's riches set him in the
least nearer to God, nor does any man's poverty set him at a distance from
God. With the Most High there is no respect of persons, and therefore in
matters of conscience there should be none with us. 3. All undue honouring of
worldly greatness and riches should especially be watched against in Christian
societies. James does not here encourage rudeness or disorder. Civil respect
must be paid, and some difference may be allowed in our carriage towards persons
of different ranks; but this respect must never be such as to influence the
proceedings of Christian societies in disposing of the offices of the church, or
in passing the censures of the church, or in any thing that is purely a matter
of religion; here we are to know no man after the flesh. It is the character of
a citizen of Zion that in his eyes a vile person is contemned, but he
honoureth those that fear the Lord. If a poor man be a good man, we must not
value him a whit the less for his poverty; and, if a rich man be a bad man
(though he may have both gay clothing and a gay profession), we must not value
him any whit the more for his riches. 4. Of what importance it is to take care
what rule we go by in judging of men; if we allow ourselves commonly to judge by
outward appearance, this will too much influence our spirits and our conduct in
religious assemblies. There is many a man, whose wickedness renders him vile and
despicable, who yet makes a figure in the world; and, on the other hand, there
is many a humble, heavenly, good Christian, who is clothed meanly; but neither
should he nor his Christianity be thought the worse of on this account.
III. We have the greatness of this sin set forth, v. 4, 5. It is
great partiality, it is injustice, and it is to set ourselves against God, who
has chosen the poor, and will honour and advance them (if good), let who will
despise them. 1. In this sin there is shameful partiality: Are you not then
partial in yourselves? The question is here put, as what could not fail of
being answered by every man's conscience that would put it seriously to
himself. According to the strict rendering of the original, the question is, "Have
you not made a difference? And, in that difference, do you not judge by a
false rule, and go upon false measures? And does not the charge of a partiality
condemned by the law lie fully against you? Does not your own conscience tell
you that you are guilty?" Appeals to conscience are of great advantage,
when we have to do with such as make a profession, even though they may have
fallen into a very corrupt state. 2. This respect of persons is owing to the
evil and injustice of the thoughts. As the temper, conduct, and proceedings, are
partial, so the heart and thoughts, from which all flows, are evil: "You
have become judges of evil thoughts; that is, you are judges according to
those unjust estimations and corrupt opinions which you have formed to
yourselves. Trace your partiality till you come to those hidden thoughts which
accompany and support it, and you will find those to be exceedingly evil.
You secretly prefer outward pomp before inward grace, and the things that are
seen before those which are not seen." The deformity of sin is never truly
and fully discerned till the evil of our thoughts be disclosed: and it is this
which highly aggravates the faults of our tempers and lives—that the
imagination of the thoughts of the heart is evil, Gen. 6:5. 3. This respect
of persons is a heinous sin, because it is to show ourselves most directly
contrary to God (v. 5): "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world,
rich in faith? etc. But you have despised them, v. 6. God has made those
heirs of a kingdom whom you make of no reputation, and has given very great and
glorious promises to those to whom you can hardly give a good word or a
respectful look. And is not this a monstrous iniquity in you who pretend to be
the children of God and conformed to him? Hearken, my beloved brethren;
by all the love I have for you, and all the regards you have to me, I beg you
would consider these things. Take notice that many of the poor of this world are
the chosen of God. Their being God's chosen does not prevent their being poor;
their being poor does not at all prejudice the evidences of their being chosen.
Mt. 11:5, The poor are evangelized." God designed to recommend his
holy religion to men's esteem and affection, not by the external advantages of
gaiety and pomp, but by its intrinsic worth and excellency; and therefore chose
the poor of this world. Again, take notice that many poor of the world are rich
in faith; thus the poorest may become rich; and this is what they ought to be
especially ambitious of. It is expected from those who have wealth and estates
that they be rich in good works, because the more they have the more they have
to do good with; but it is expected from the poor in the world that they be rich
in faith, for the less they have here the more they may, and should, live in the
believing expectation of better things in a better world. Take notice further,
Believing Christians are rich in title, and in being heirs of a kingdom, though
they may be very poor as to present possessions. What is laid out upon them is
but little; what is laid up for them is unspeakably rich and great. Note again,
Where any are rich in faith, there will be also divine love; faith working by
love will be in all the heirs of glory. Note once more, under this head, Heaven
is a kingdom, and a kingdom promised to those that love God. We read of the
crown promised to those that love God, in the former chapter (v. 12); we here
find there is a kingdom too. And, as the crown is a crown of life, so the
kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom. All these things, laid together, show
how highly the poor in this world, if rich in faith, are now honoured, and shall
hereafter be advanced by God; and consequently how very sinful a thing it was
for them to despise the poor. After such considerations as these, the charge is
cutting indeed: But you have despised the poor, v. 6. 4. Respecting
persons, in the sense of this place, on account of their riches or outward
figure, is shown to be a very great sin, because of the mischiefs which are
owing to worldly wealth and greatness, and the folly which there is in
Christians' paying undue regards to those who had so little regard either to
their God or them: "Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the
judgment-seat? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by which you are called?
v. 7. Consider how commonly riches are the incentives of vice and mischief, of
blasphemy and persecution: consider how many calamities you yourselves sustain,
and how great reproaches are thrown upon your religion and your God by men of
wealth, and power, and worldly greatness; and this will make your sin appear
exceedingly sinful and foolish, in setting up that which tends to pull you down,
and to destroy all that you are building up, and to dishonour that worthy name
by which you are called." The name of Christ is a worthy name; it reflects
honour, and gives worth to those who wear it.
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,
I. We have the law that is to guide us in all our regards to men
set down in general. If you fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, you do well, v. 8. Lest any should
think James had been pleading for the poor so as to throw contempt on the rich,
he now lets them know that he did not design to encourage improper conduct
towards any; they must not hate nor be rude to the rich, any more than despise
the poor; but as the scripture teaches us to love all our neighbours, be they
rich or poor, as ourselves, so, in our having a steady regard to this rule, we
shall do well. Observe hence, 1. The rule for Christians to walk by is
settled in the scriptures: If according to the scriptures, etc. It is not
great men, nor worldly wealth, nor corrupt practices among professors
themselves, that must guide us, but the scriptures of truth. 2. The scripture
gives us this as a law, to love our neighbour as ourselves; it is what still
remains in full force, and is rather carried higher and further by Christ than
made less important to us. 3. This law is a royal law, it comes from the King of
kings. Its own worth and dignity deserve it should be thus honoured; and the
state in which all Christians now are, as it is a state of liberty, and not of
bondage or oppression, makes this law, by which they are to regulate all their
actions to one another, a royal law. 4. A pretence of observing this royal law,
when it is interpreted with partiality, will not excuse men in any unjust
proceedings. In is implied here that some were ready to flatter rich men, and be
partial to them, because, if they were in the like circumstances, they should
expect such regards to themselves; or they might plead that to show a
distinguished respect to those whom God in his providence had distinguished by
their rank and degree in the world was but doing right; therefore the apostle
allows that, so far as they were concerned to observe the duties of the second
table, they did well in giving honour to whom honour was due; but this
fair pretence would not cover their sin in that undue respect of persons
which they stood chargeable with; for,
II. This general law is to be considered together with a
particular law: "If you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are
convinced of the law as transgressors, v. 9. Notwithstanding the law of
laws, to love your neighbour as yourselves, and to show that respect to
them which you would be apt to look for yourselves if in their circumstances,
yet this will not excuse your distributing either the favours or the censures of
the church according to men's outward condition; but here you must look to a
particular law, which God, who gave the other, has given you together with it,
and by this you will stand fully convicted of the sin I have charged you with."
This law is in Lev. 19:15, Thou shalt do no unrighteousness in judgment; thou
shalt not respect the person of the poor nor the person of the mighty; but in
righteousness shalt though judge thy neighbour. Yea, the very royal law
itself, rightly explained, would serve to convict them, because it teaches them
to put themselves as much in the places of the poor as in those of the rich, and
so to act equitably towards one as well as the other. Hence he proceeds,
III. To show the extent of the law, and how far obedience must
be paid to it. They must fulfil the royal law, have a regard to one part as well
as another, otherwise it would not stand them in stead, when they pretended to
urge it as a reason for any particular actions: For whosoever shall keep the
whole law, and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all, v. 10. This may be
considered, 1. With reference to the case James has been upon: Do you plead for
your respect to the rich, because you are to love your neighbour as yourselves?
Why then show also an equitable and due regard to the poor, because you are to
love your neighbour as yourself: or else your offending in one point will spoil
your pretence of observing that law at all. Whosoever shall keep the whole
law, if he offend in one point, wilfully, avowedly, and with continuance,
and so as to think he shall be excused in some matters because of his obedience
in others, he is guilty of all; that is, he incurs the same penalty, and
is liable to the same punishment, by the sentence of the law, as if he had
broken it in other points as well as that he stands chargeable with. Not that
all sins are equal, but that all carry the same contempt of the authority of the
Lawgiver, and so bind over to such punishment as is threatened on the breach of
that law. This shows us what a vanity it is to think that our good deeds will
atone for our bad deeds, and plainly puts us upon looking for some other
atonement. 2. This is further illustrated by putting a case different from that
before mentioned (v. 11): For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said
also, Do not kill. Now, if thou commit no adultery, yet, if thou kill, thou art
become a transgressor of the law. One, perhaps, is very severe in the case
of adultery, or what tends to such pollutions of the flesh; but less ready to
condemn murder, or what tends to ruin the health, break the hearts, and destroy
the lives, of others: another has a prodigious dread of murder, but has more
easy thoughts of adultery; whereas one who looks at the authority of the
Lawgiver more than the matter of the command will see the same reason for
condemning the one as the other. Obedience is then acceptable when all is done
with an eye to the will of God; and disobedience is to be condemned, in whatever
instance it be, as it is a contempt of the authority of God; and, for that
reason, if we offend in one point, we contemn the authority of him who gave the
whole law, and so far are guilty of all. Thus, if you look to the law of the
old, you stand condemned; for cursed is every that continueth not in all
things that are written in the book of the law to do them, Gal. 3:10.
IV. James directs Christians to govern and conduct themselves more especially
by the law of Christ. So speak and so do as those that shall be judged by the
law of liberty, v. 12. This will teach us, not only to be just and
impartial, but very compassionate and merciful to the poor; and it will set us
perfectly free from all sordid and undue regards to the rich. Observe here, 1.
The gospel is called a law. It has all the requisites of a law: precepts with
rewards and punishments annexed; it prescribes duty, as well as administers
comfort; and Christ is a king to rule us as well as a prophet to teach us, and a
priest to sacrifice and intercede for us. We are under the law to Christ.
2. It is a law of liberty, and one that we have no reason to complain of
as a yoke or burden; for the service of God, according to the gospel, is perfect
freedom; it sets us at liberty from all slavish regards, either to the persons
or the things of this world. 3. We must all be judged by this law of liberty.
Men's eternal condition will be determined according to the gospel; this is
the book that will be opened, when we shall stand before the judgment-seat;
there will be no relief to those whom the gospel condemns, nor will any
accusation lie against those whom the gospel justifies. 4. It concerns us
therefore so to speak and act now as become those who must shortly be judged by
this law of liberty; that is, that we come up to gospel terms, that we make
conscience of gospel duties, that e be of a gospel temper, and that our
conversation be a gospel conversation, because by this rule we must be judged.
5. The consideration of our being judged by the gospel should engage us more
especially to be merciful in our regards to the poor (v. 13): For he shall
have judgment without mercy that hath shown no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth
against judgment. Take notice here, (1.) The doom which will be passed upon
impenitent sinners at last will be judgment without mercy; there will be no
mixtures or allays in the cup of wrath and of trembling, the dregs of which they
must drink. (2.) Such as show no mercy now shall find no mercy in the great day.
But we may note, on the other hand, (3.) That there will be such as shall become
instances of the triumph of mercy, in whom mercy rejoices against judgment: all
the children of men, in the last day, will be either vessels of wrath or vessels
of mercy. It concerns all to consider among which they shall be found; and let
us remember that blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
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,
I. Upon this arises a very great question, namely, how to
reconcile Paul and James. Paul, in his epistles to the Romans and Galatians,
seems to assert the directly contrary thing to what James here lays down, saying
if often, and with a great deal of emphasis, that we are justified by faith
only and not by the works of the law. Amicae scripturarum lites, utinam et
nostrae—There is a very happy agreement between one part of scripture and
another, notwithstanding seeming differences: it were well if the differences
among Christians were as easily reconciled. "Nothing," says Mr.
Baxter, "but men's misunderstanding the plain drift and sense of Paul's
epistles, could make so many take it for a matter of great difficulty to
reconcile Paul and James." A general view of those things which are
insisted on by the Antinomians may be seen in Mr. Baxter's Paraphrase: and
many ways might be mentioned which have been invented among learned men to make
the apostles agree; but it may be sufficient only to observe these few things
following:—1. When Paul says that a man is justified by faith, without the
deeds of the law (Rom. 3:28), he plainly speaks of another sort of work than
James does, but not of another sort of faith. Paul speaks of works wrought in
obedience to the law of Moses, and before men's embracing the faith of the
gospel; and he had to deal with those who valued themselves so highly upon those
works that they rejected the gospel (as Rom. 10, at the beginning most expressly
declares); but James speaks of works done in obedience to the gospel, and as the
proper and necessary effects and fruits of sound believing in Christ Jesus. Both
are concerned to magnify the faith of the gospel, as that which alone could save
us and justify us; but Paul magnifies it by showing the insufficiency of any
works of the law before faith, or in opposition to the doctrine of justification
by Jesus Christ; James magnifies the same faith, by showing what are the genuine
and necessary products and operations of it. 2. Paul not only speaks of
different works from those insisted on by James, but he speaks of a quite
different use that was made of good works from what is here urged and intended.
Paul had to do with those who depended on the merit of their works in the sight
of God, and thus he might well make them of no manner of account. James had to
do with those who cried up faith, but would not allow works to be used even as
evidence; they depended upon a bare profession, as sufficient to justify them;
and with these he might well urge the necessity and vast importance of good
works. As we must not break one table of the law, by dashing it against the
other, so neither must we break in pieces the law and the gospel, by making them
clash with one another: those who cry up the gospel so as to set aside the law,
and those who cry up the law so as to set aside the gospel, are both in the
wrong; for we must take our work before us; there must be both faith in Jesus
Christ and good works the fruit of faith. 3. The justification of which Paul
speaks is different from that spoken of by James; the one speaks of our persons
being justified before God, the other speaks of our faith being justified before
men: "Show me thy faith by thy works," says James, "let
thy faith be justified in the eyes of those that behold thee by thy works;"
but Paul speaks of justification in the sight of God, who justifies those only
that believe in Jesus, and purely on account of the redemption that is in him.
Thus we see that our persons are justified before God by faith, but our faith is
justified before men by works. This is so plainly the scope and design of the
apostle James that he is but confirming what Paul, in other places, says of his
faith, that it is a laborious faith, and a faith working by love, Gal. 5:6; 1
Th. 1:3; Titus 3:8; and many other places. 4. Paul may be understood as speaking
of that justification which is inchoate, James of that which is complete; it is
by faith only that we are put into a justified state, but then good works
come in for the completing of our justification at the last great day; then, Come
you children of my Father—for I was hungry, and you gave me meat, etc.
II. Having thus cleared this part of scripture from every thing
of a contradiction to other parts of it, let us see what is more particularly to
be learnt from this excellent passage of James; we are taught,
1. That faith without works will not profit, and cannot save us.
What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, and have not
works? Can faith save him? Observe here, (1.) That faith which does not save
will not really profit us; a bare profession may sometimes seem to be
profitable, to gain the good opinion of those who are truly good, and it may
procure in some cases worldly good things; but what profit will this be, for any
to gain the world and to lose their souls? What doth it profit?—Can faith
save him? All things should be accounted profitable or unprofitable to us as
they tend to forward or hinder the salvation of our souls. And, above all other
things, we should take care thus to make account of faith, as that which does
not profit, if it do not save, but will aggravate our condemnation and
destruction at last. (2.) For a man to have faith, and to say he has faith, are
two different things; the apostle does not say, If a man have faith without
works, for that is not a supposable case; the drift of this place of
scripture is plainly to show that an opinion, or speculation, or assent, without
works, is not faith; but the case is put thus, If a man say he hath faith,
etc. Men may boast of that to others, and be conceited of that in themselves, of
which they are really destitute.
2. We are taught that, as love or charity is an operative
principle, so is faith, and that neither of them would otherwise be good for any
thing; and, by trying how it looks for a person to pretend he is very charitable
who yet never does any works of charity, you may judge what sense there is in
pretending to have faith without the proper and necessary fruits of it: "If
a brother or a sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say
unto them, Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled, notwithstanding you give
them not those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit? v.
15-17. What will such a charity as this, that consists in bare words, avail
either you or the poor? Will you come before God with such empty shows of
charity as these? You might as well pretend that your love and charity will
stand the test without acts of mercy as think that a profession of faith will
bear you out before God without works of piety and obedience. Even so faith,
if it hath not works, is dead, being along," v. 17. We are too apt to
rest in a bare profession of faith, and to think that this will save us; it is a
cheap and easy religion to say, "We believe the articles of the Christian
faith;" but it is a great delusion to imagine that this is enough to bring
us to heaven. Those who argue thus wrong God, and put a cheat upon their own
souls; a mock-faith is as hateful as mock-charity, and both show a heart dead to
all real godliness. You may as soon take pleasure in a dead body, void of soul,
or sense, or action, as God take pleasure in a dead faith, where there are no
works.
3. We are taught to compare a faith boasting of itself without
works and a faith evidenced by works, by looking on both together, to try how
this comparison will work upon our minds. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast
faith, and I have works. Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show
thee my faith by my works, v. 18. Suppose a true believer thus pleading with
a boasting hypocrite, "Thou makest a profession, and sayest thou hast
faith; I make no such boasts, but leave my works to speak for me. Now give any
evidence of having the faith thou professest without works if thou canst, and I
will soon let thee see how my works flow from faith and are the undoubted
evidences of its existence." This is the evidence by which the scriptures
all along teach men to judge both of themselves and others. And this is the
evidence according to which Christ will proceed at the day of judgment. The
dead were judged according to their works, Rev. 20:12. How will those be
exposed then who boast of that which they cannot evidence, or who go about to
evidence their faith by any thing but works of piety and mercy!
4. We are taught to look upon a faith of bare speculation and
knowledge as the faith of devils: Thou believest that there is one God; thou
doest well; the devils also believe, and tremble, v. 19. That instance of
faith which the apostle here chooses to mention is the first principle of all
religion. "Thou believest that there is a God, against the atheists;
and that there is but one God, against the idolaters; thou doest well: so
far all is right. But to rest here, and take up a good opinion of thyself, or of
thy state towards God, merely on account of thy believing in him, this will
render thee miserable: The devils also believe, and tremble. If thou
contentest thyself with a bare assent to articles of faith, and some
speculations upon them, thus far the devils go. And as their faith and knowledge
only serve to excite horror, so in a little time will thine." The word
tremble is commonly looked upon as denoting a good effect of faith; but here it
may rather be taken as a bad effect, when applied to the faith of devils. They
tremble, not out of reverence, but hatred and opposition to that one God on whom
they believe. To rehearse that article of our creed, therefore, I believe in
God the Father Almighty, will not distinguish us from devils at last, unless
we now give up ourselves to God as the gospel directs, and love him, and delight
ourselves in him, and serve him, which the devils do not, cannot do.
5. We are taught that he who boasts of faith without works is to
be looked upon at present as a foolish condemned person. But wilt thou know,
O vain man, that faith without works is dead? v. 20. The words translated vain
man—anthroµpe kene, are observed
to have the same signification with the word Raca, which must never be
used to private persons, or as an effect of anger (Mt. 5:22), but may be used as
here, to denote a just detestation of such a sort of men as are empty of good
works, and yet boasters of their faith. And it plainly declares them fools and
abjects in the sight of God. Faith without works is said to be dead, not
only as void of all those operations which are the proofs of spiritual life, but
as unavailable to eternal life: such believers as rest in a bare profession of
faith are dead while they live.
6. We are taught that a justifying faith cannot be without
works, from two examples, Abraham and Rahab.
(1.) The first instance is that of Abraham, the father of the
faithful, and the prime example of justification, to whom the Jews had a special
regard (v. 21): Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had
offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Paul, on the other hand, says (in ch.
4 of the epistle to the Romans) that Abraham believed, and it was counted to
him for righteousness. But these are well reconciled, by observing what is
said in Heb. 11, which shows that the faith both of Abraham and Rahab was such
as to produce those good works of which James speaks, and which are not to be
separated from faith as justifying and saving. By what Abraham did, it appeared
that he truly believed. Upon this footing, the words of God himself plainly put
this matter. Gen. 22:16, 17, Because thou hast done this thing, and hast not
withheld thy son, thine only son; therefore in blessing I will bless thee.
Thus the faith of Abraham was a working faith (v. 22), it wrought with his
works, and by works was made perfect. And by this means you come to the true
sense of that scripture which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed
unto him for righteousness, v. 23. And thus he became the friend of God.
Faith, producing such works, endeared him to the divine Being, and advanced him
to very peculiar favours and intimacies with God. It is a great honour done to
Abraham that he is called and counted the friend of God. You see then (v. 24)
how that by works a man is justified (comes into such a state of favour
and friendship with God), and not by faith only; not by a bare opinion,
or profession, or believing without obeying, but by having such a faith as is
productive of good works. Now besides the explication of this passage and
example, as thus illustrating and supporting the argument James is upon, many
other useful lessons may be learned by us from what is here said concerning
Abraham. [1.] Those who would have Abraham's blessings must be careful to copy
after his faith: to boast of being Abraham's seed will not avail any, if they
do not believe as he did. [2.] Those works which evidence true faith must to
works of self-denial, and such as God himself commands (as Abraham's offering
up his son, his only son, was), and not such works as are pleasing to flesh and
blood and may serve our interest, or are the mere fruits of our own imagination
and devising. [3.] What we piously purpose and sincerely resolve to do for God
is accepted as if actually performed. Thus Abraham is regarded as offering up
his son, though he did not actually proceed to make a sacrifice of him. It was a
done thing in the mind, and spirit, and resolution of Abraham, and God accepts
it as if fully performed and accomplished. [4.] The actings of faith make it
grow perfect, as the truth of faith makes it act. [5.] Such an acting faith will
make others, as well as Abraham, friends of God. Thus Christ says to his
disciples, I have called you friends, Jn. 15:15. All transactions between
God and the truly believing soul are easy, pleasant, and delightful. There is
one will and one heart, and there is a mutual complacency. God rejoiceth over
those who truly believe, to do them good; and they delight themselves in
him.
(2.) The second example of faith's justifying itself and us
with and by works is Rahab: Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified
by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another
way? v. 25. The former instance was of one renowned for his faith all his
life long, This is of one noted for sin, whose faith was meaner and of a much
lower degree; so that the strongest faith will not do, nor the meanest be
allowed to go without works. Some say that the word here rendered harlot
was the proper name of Rahab. Others tell us that it signifies no more than a hostess,
or one who keeps a public house, with whom therefore the spies lodged. But it is
very probable that her character was infamous; and such an instance is mentioned
to show that faith will save the worst, when evidenced by proper works; and it
will not save the best without such works as God requires. This Rahab believed
the report she had heard of God's powerful presence with Israel; but that
which proved her faith sincere was, that, to the hazard of her life, she received
the messengers, and sent them out another way. Observe here, [1.] The
wonderful power of faith in transforming and changing sinners. [2.] The regard
which an operative faith meets with from God, to obtain his mercy and favour.
[3.] Where great sins are pardoned, there must prefer the honour of God and the
good of his people before the preservation of her own country. Her former
acquaintance must be discarded, her former course of life entirely abandoned,
and she must give signal proof and evidence of this before she can be in a
justified state; and even after she is justified, yet her former character must
be remembered; not so much to her dishonour as to glorify the rich grace and
mercy of God. Though justified, she is called Rahab the harlot.
7. And now, upon the whole matter, the apostle draws this conclusion, As
the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also, v.
26. These words are read differently; some reading them, As the body without
the breath is dead, so is faith without works: and then they show that works
are the companions of faith, as breathing is of life. Others read them, As
the body without the soul is dead, so faith without works is dead also: and
then they show that as the body has no action, nor beauty, but becomes a
loathsome carcass, when the soul is gone, so a bare profession without works is
useless, yea, loathsome and offensive. Let us then take head of running into
extremes in this case. For, (1.) The best works, without faith, are dead; they
want their root and principle. It is by faith that any thing we do is really
good, as done with an eye to God, in obedience to him, and so as to aim
principally at his acceptance. (2.) The most plausible profession of faith,
without works, is dead: as the root is dead when it produces nothing green,
nothing of fruit. Faith is the root, good works are the fruits, and we must see
to it that we have both. We must not think that either, without the other, will
justify and save us. This is the grace of God wherein we stand, and we should
stand to it.
James 2 Bible Commentary
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary (complete)
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. 11 to the end).
Verses 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,
I. A caution against this sin laid down in general: My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons, v. 1. Observe here, 1. The character of Christians fully implied: they are such as have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ; they embrace it; they receive it; they govern themselves by it; they entertain the doctrine, and submit to the law and government, of Christ; they have it as a trust; they have it as a treasure. 2. How honorably James speaks of Jesus Christ; he calls him the Lord of glory; for he is the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person. 3. Christ's being the Lord of glory should teach us not to respect Christians for any thing so much as their relation and conformity to Christ. You who profess to believe the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, which the poorest Christian shall partake of equally with the rich, and to which all worldly glory is but vanity, you should not make men's outward and worldly advantages the measure of your respect. In professing the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, we should not show respect to men, so as to cloud or lessen the glory of our glorious Lord: how ever any may think of it, this is certainly a very heinous sin.
II. We have this sin described and cautioned against, by an instance or example of it (v. 2, 3): For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring, etc. Assembly here is meant of those meetings which were appointed for deciding matters of difference among the members of the church, or for determining when censures should be passed upon any, and what those censures should be; therefore the Greek word here used, synagoµgeµ, signifies such an assembly as that in the Jewish synagogues, when they met to do justice. Maimonides says (as I find the passage quoted by Dr. Manton) "That is was expressly provided by the Jews' constitutions that, when a poor man and a rich plead together, the rich shall not be bidden to sit down and the poor stand, or sit in a worse place, but both sit or both stand alike." To this the phrases used by the apostle have a most plain reference, and therefore the assembly here spoken of must be some such as the synagogue-assemblies of the Jews were, when they met to hear causes and to execute justice: to these the arbitrations and censures of their Christian assemblies are compared. But we must be careful not to apply what is here said to the common assemblies for worship; for in these certainly there may be appointed different places of persons according to their rank and circumstances, without sin. Those do not understand the apostle who fix his severity here upon this practice; they do not consider the word judges (used in v. 4), nor what is said of their being convected as transgressors of the law, if they had such a respect of persons as is here spoken of, according to v. 9. Thus, now put the case: "There comes into your assembly (when of the same nature with some of those at the synagogue) a man that is distinguished by his dress, and who makes a figure, and there comes in also a poor man in vile raiment, and you act partially, and determine wrong, merely because the one makes a better appearance, or is in better circumstances, than the other." Observe hence, 1. God has his remnant among all sorts of people, among those that wear soft and gay clothing, and among those that wear poor and vile raiment. 2. In matters of religion, rich and poor stand upon a level; no man's riches set him in the least nearer to God, nor does any man's poverty set him at a distance from God. With the Most High there is no respect of persons, and therefore in matters of conscience there should be none with us. 3. All undue honouring of worldly greatness and riches should especially be watched against in Christian societies. James does not here encourage rudeness or disorder. Civil respect must be paid, and some difference may be allowed in our carriage towards persons of different ranks; but this respect must never be such as to influence the proceedings of Christian societies in disposing of the offices of the church, or in passing the censures of the church, or in any thing that is purely a matter of religion; here we are to know no man after the flesh. It is the character of a citizen of Zion that in his eyes a vile person is contemned, but he honoureth those that fear the Lord. If a poor man be a good man, we must not value him a whit the less for his poverty; and, if a rich man be a bad man (though he may have both gay clothing and a gay profession), we must not value him any whit the more for his riches. 4. Of what importance it is to take care what rule we go by in judging of men; if we allow ourselves commonly to judge by outward appearance, this will too much influence our spirits and our conduct in religious assemblies. There is many a man, whose wickedness renders him vile and despicable, who yet makes a figure in the world; and, on the other hand, there is many a humble, heavenly, good Christian, who is clothed meanly; but neither should he nor his Christianity be thought the worse of on this account.
III. We have the greatness of this sin set forth, v. 4, 5. It is great partiality, it is injustice, and it is to set ourselves against God, who has chosen the poor, and will honour and advance them (if good), let who will despise them. 1. In this sin there is shameful partiality: Are you not then partial in yourselves? The question is here put, as what could not fail of being answered by every man's conscience that would put it seriously to himself. According to the strict rendering of the original, the question is, "Have you not made a difference? And, in that difference, do you not judge by a false rule, and go upon false measures? And does not the charge of a partiality condemned by the law lie fully against you? Does not your own conscience tell you that you are guilty?" Appeals to conscience are of great advantage, when we have to do with such as make a profession, even though they may have fallen into a very corrupt state. 2. This respect of persons is owing to the evil and injustice of the thoughts. As the temper, conduct, and proceedings, are partial, so the heart and thoughts, from which all flows, are evil: "You have become judges of evil thoughts; that is, you are judges according to those unjust estimations and corrupt opinions which you have formed to yourselves. Trace your partiality till you come to those hidden thoughts which accompany and support it, and you will find those to be exceedingly evil. You secretly prefer outward pomp before inward grace, and the things that are seen before those which are not seen." The deformity of sin is never truly and fully discerned till the evil of our thoughts be disclosed: and it is this which highly aggravates the faults of our tempers and lives—that the imagination of the thoughts of the heart is evil, Gen. 6:5. 3. This respect of persons is a heinous sin, because it is to show ourselves most directly contrary to God (v. 5): "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith? etc. But you have despised them, v. 6. God has made those heirs of a kingdom whom you make of no reputation, and has given very great and glorious promises to those to whom you can hardly give a good word or a respectful look. And is not this a monstrous iniquity in you who pretend to be the children of God and conformed to him? Hearken, my beloved brethren; by all the love I have for you, and all the regards you have to me, I beg you would consider these things. Take notice that many of the poor of this world are the chosen of God. Their being God's chosen does not prevent their being poor; their being poor does not at all prejudice the evidences of their being chosen. Mt. 11:5, The poor are evangelized." God designed to recommend his holy religion to men's esteem and affection, not by the external advantages of gaiety and pomp, but by its intrinsic worth and excellency; and therefore chose the poor of this world. Again, take notice that many poor of the world are rich in faith; thus the poorest may become rich; and this is what they ought to be especially ambitious of. It is expected from those who have wealth and estates that they be rich in good works, because the more they have the more they have to do good with; but it is expected from the poor in the world that they be rich in faith, for the less they have here the more they may, and should, live in the believing expectation of better things in a better world. Take notice further, Believing Christians are rich in title, and in being heirs of a kingdom, though they may be very poor as to present possessions. What is laid out upon them is but little; what is laid up for them is unspeakably rich and great. Note again, Where any are rich in faith, there will be also divine love; faith working by love will be in all the heirs of glory. Note once more, under this head, Heaven is a kingdom, and a kingdom promised to those that love God. We read of the crown promised to those that love God, in the former chapter (v. 12); we here find there is a kingdom too. And, as the crown is a crown of life, so the kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom. All these things, laid together, show how highly the poor in this world, if rich in faith, are now honoured, and shall hereafter be advanced by God; and consequently how very sinful a thing it was for them to despise the poor. After such considerations as these, the charge is cutting indeed: But you have despised the poor, v. 6. 4. Respecting persons, in the sense of this place, on account of their riches or outward figure, is shown to be a very great sin, because of the mischiefs which are owing to worldly wealth and greatness, and the folly which there is in Christians' paying undue regards to those who had so little regard either to their God or them: "Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment-seat? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by which you are called? v. 7. Consider how commonly riches are the incentives of vice and mischief, of blasphemy and persecution: consider how many calamities you yourselves sustain, and how great reproaches are thrown upon your religion and your God by men of wealth, and power, and worldly greatness; and this will make your sin appear exceedingly sinful and foolish, in setting up that which tends to pull you down, and to destroy all that you are building up, and to dishonour that worthy name by which you are called." The name of Christ is a worthy name; it reflects honour, and gives worth to those who wear it.
Verses 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,
I. We have the law that is to guide us in all our regards to men set down in general. If you fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, you do well, v. 8. Lest any should think James had been pleading for the poor so as to throw contempt on the rich, he now lets them know that he did not design to encourage improper conduct towards any; they must not hate nor be rude to the rich, any more than despise the poor; but as the scripture teaches us to love all our neighbours, be they rich or poor, as ourselves, so, in our having a steady regard to this rule, we shall do well. Observe hence, 1. The rule for Christians to walk by is settled in the scriptures: If according to the scriptures, etc. It is not great men, nor worldly wealth, nor corrupt practices among professors themselves, that must guide us, but the scriptures of truth. 2. The scripture gives us this as a law, to love our neighbour as ourselves; it is what still remains in full force, and is rather carried higher and further by Christ than made less important to us. 3. This law is a royal law, it comes from the King of kings. Its own worth and dignity deserve it should be thus honoured; and the state in which all Christians now are, as it is a state of liberty, and not of bondage or oppression, makes this law, by which they are to regulate all their actions to one another, a royal law. 4. A pretence of observing this royal law, when it is interpreted with partiality, will not excuse men in any unjust proceedings. In is implied here that some were ready to flatter rich men, and be partial to them, because, if they were in the like circumstances, they should expect such regards to themselves; or they might plead that to show a distinguished respect to those whom God in his providence had distinguished by their rank and degree in the world was but doing right; therefore the apostle allows that, so far as they were concerned to observe the duties of the second table, they did well in giving honour to whom honour was due; but this fair pretence would not cover their sin in that undue respect of persons which they stood chargeable with; for,
II. This general law is to be considered together with a particular law: "If you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors, v. 9. Notwithstanding the law of laws, to love your neighbour as yourselves, and to show that respect to them which you would be apt to look for yourselves if in their circumstances, yet this will not excuse your distributing either the favours or the censures of the church according to men's outward condition; but here you must look to a particular law, which God, who gave the other, has given you together with it, and by this you will stand fully convicted of the sin I have charged you with." This law is in Lev. 19:15, Thou shalt do no unrighteousness in judgment; thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shalt though judge thy neighbour. Yea, the very royal law itself, rightly explained, would serve to convict them, because it teaches them to put themselves as much in the places of the poor as in those of the rich, and so to act equitably towards one as well as the other. Hence he proceeds,
III. To show the extent of the law, and how far obedience must be paid to it. They must fulfil the royal law, have a regard to one part as well as another, otherwise it would not stand them in stead, when they pretended to urge it as a reason for any particular actions: For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all, v. 10. This may be considered, 1. With reference to the case James has been upon: Do you plead for your respect to the rich, because you are to love your neighbour as yourselves? Why then show also an equitable and due regard to the poor, because you are to love your neighbour as yourself: or else your offending in one point will spoil your pretence of observing that law at all. Whosoever shall keep the whole law, if he offend in one point, wilfully, avowedly, and with continuance, and so as to think he shall be excused in some matters because of his obedience in others, he is guilty of all; that is, he incurs the same penalty, and is liable to the same punishment, by the sentence of the law, as if he had broken it in other points as well as that he stands chargeable with. Not that all sins are equal, but that all carry the same contempt of the authority of the Lawgiver, and so bind over to such punishment as is threatened on the breach of that law. This shows us what a vanity it is to think that our good deeds will atone for our bad deeds, and plainly puts us upon looking for some other atonement. 2. This is further illustrated by putting a case different from that before mentioned (v. 11): For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now, if thou commit no adultery, yet, if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. One, perhaps, is very severe in the case of adultery, or what tends to such pollutions of the flesh; but less ready to condemn murder, or what tends to ruin the health, break the hearts, and destroy the lives, of others: another has a prodigious dread of murder, but has more easy thoughts of adultery; whereas one who looks at the authority of the Lawgiver more than the matter of the command will see the same reason for condemning the one as the other. Obedience is then acceptable when all is done with an eye to the will of God; and disobedience is to be condemned, in whatever instance it be, as it is a contempt of the authority of God; and, for that reason, if we offend in one point, we contemn the authority of him who gave the whole law, and so far are guilty of all. Thus, if you look to the law of the old, you stand condemned; for cursed is every that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them, Gal. 3:10.
IV. James directs Christians to govern and conduct themselves more especially by the law of Christ. So speak and so do as those that shall be judged by the law of liberty, v. 12. This will teach us, not only to be just and impartial, but very compassionate and merciful to the poor; and it will set us perfectly free from all sordid and undue regards to the rich. Observe here, 1. The gospel is called a law. It has all the requisites of a law: precepts with rewards and punishments annexed; it prescribes duty, as well as administers comfort; and Christ is a king to rule us as well as a prophet to teach us, and a priest to sacrifice and intercede for us. We are under the law to Christ. 2. It is a law of liberty, and one that we have no reason to complain of as a yoke or burden; for the service of God, according to the gospel, is perfect freedom; it sets us at liberty from all slavish regards, either to the persons or the things of this world. 3. We must all be judged by this law of liberty. Men's eternal condition will be determined according to the gospel; this is the book that will be opened, when we shall stand before the judgment-seat; there will be no relief to those whom the gospel condemns, nor will any accusation lie against those whom the gospel justifies. 4. It concerns us therefore so to speak and act now as become those who must shortly be judged by this law of liberty; that is, that we come up to gospel terms, that we make conscience of gospel duties, that e be of a gospel temper, and that our conversation be a gospel conversation, because by this rule we must be judged. 5. The consideration of our being judged by the gospel should engage us more especially to be merciful in our regards to the poor (v. 13): For he shall have judgment without mercy that hath shown no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. Take notice here, (1.) The doom which will be passed upon impenitent sinners at last will be judgment without mercy; there will be no mixtures or allays in the cup of wrath and of trembling, the dregs of which they must drink. (2.) Such as show no mercy now shall find no mercy in the great day. But we may note, on the other hand, (3.) That there will be such as shall become instances of the triumph of mercy, in whom mercy rejoices against judgment: all the children of men, in the last day, will be either vessels of wrath or vessels of mercy. It concerns all to consider among which they shall be found; and let us remember that blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Verses 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,
I. Upon this arises a very great question, namely, how to reconcile Paul and James. Paul, in his epistles to the Romans and Galatians, seems to assert the directly contrary thing to what James here lays down, saying if often, and with a great deal of emphasis, that we are justified by faith only and not by the works of the law. Amicae scripturarum lites, utinam et nostrae—There is a very happy agreement between one part of scripture and another, notwithstanding seeming differences: it were well if the differences among Christians were as easily reconciled. "Nothing," says Mr. Baxter, "but men's misunderstanding the plain drift and sense of Paul's epistles, could make so many take it for a matter of great difficulty to reconcile Paul and James." A general view of those things which are insisted on by the Antinomians may be seen in Mr. Baxter's Paraphrase: and many ways might be mentioned which have been invented among learned men to make the apostles agree; but it may be sufficient only to observe these few things following:—1. When Paul says that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law (Rom. 3:28), he plainly speaks of another sort of work than James does, but not of another sort of faith. Paul speaks of works wrought in obedience to the law of Moses, and before men's embracing the faith of the gospel; and he had to deal with those who valued themselves so highly upon those works that they rejected the gospel (as Rom. 10, at the beginning most expressly declares); but James speaks of works done in obedience to the gospel, and as the proper and necessary effects and fruits of sound believing in Christ Jesus. Both are concerned to magnify the faith of the gospel, as that which alone could save us and justify us; but Paul magnifies it by showing the insufficiency of any works of the law before faith, or in opposition to the doctrine of justification by Jesus Christ; James magnifies the same faith, by showing what are the genuine and necessary products and operations of it. 2. Paul not only speaks of different works from those insisted on by James, but he speaks of a quite different use that was made of good works from what is here urged and intended. Paul had to do with those who depended on the merit of their works in the sight of God, and thus he might well make them of no manner of account. James had to do with those who cried up faith, but would not allow works to be used even as evidence; they depended upon a bare profession, as sufficient to justify them; and with these he might well urge the necessity and vast importance of good works. As we must not break one table of the law, by dashing it against the other, so neither must we break in pieces the law and the gospel, by making them clash with one another: those who cry up the gospel so as to set aside the law, and those who cry up the law so as to set aside the gospel, are both in the wrong; for we must take our work before us; there must be both faith in Jesus Christ and good works the fruit of faith. 3. The justification of which Paul speaks is different from that spoken of by James; the one speaks of our persons being justified before God, the other speaks of our faith being justified before men: "Show me thy faith by thy works," says James, "let thy faith be justified in the eyes of those that behold thee by thy works;" but Paul speaks of justification in the sight of God, who justifies those only that believe in Jesus, and purely on account of the redemption that is in him. Thus we see that our persons are justified before God by faith, but our faith is justified before men by works. This is so plainly the scope and design of the apostle James that he is but confirming what Paul, in other places, says of his faith, that it is a laborious faith, and a faith working by love, Gal. 5:6; 1 Th. 1:3; Titus 3:8; and many other places. 4. Paul may be understood as speaking of that justification which is inchoate, James of that which is complete; it is by faith only that we are put into a justified state, but then good works come in for the completing of our justification at the last great day; then, Come you children of my Father—for I was hungry, and you gave me meat, etc.
II. Having thus cleared this part of scripture from every thing of a contradiction to other parts of it, let us see what is more particularly to be learnt from this excellent passage of James; we are taught,
1. That faith without works will not profit, and cannot save us. What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? Observe here, (1.) That faith which does not save will not really profit us; a bare profession may sometimes seem to be profitable, to gain the good opinion of those who are truly good, and it may procure in some cases worldly good things; but what profit will this be, for any to gain the world and to lose their souls? What doth it profit?—Can faith save him? All things should be accounted profitable or unprofitable to us as they tend to forward or hinder the salvation of our souls. And, above all other things, we should take care thus to make account of faith, as that which does not profit, if it do not save, but will aggravate our condemnation and destruction at last. (2.) For a man to have faith, and to say he has faith, are two different things; the apostle does not say, If a man have faith without works, for that is not a supposable case; the drift of this place of scripture is plainly to show that an opinion, or speculation, or assent, without works, is not faith; but the case is put thus, If a man say he hath faith, etc. Men may boast of that to others, and be conceited of that in themselves, of which they are really destitute.
2. We are taught that, as love or charity is an operative principle, so is faith, and that neither of them would otherwise be good for any thing; and, by trying how it looks for a person to pretend he is very charitable who yet never does any works of charity, you may judge what sense there is in pretending to have faith without the proper and necessary fruits of it: "If a brother or a sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled, notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit? v. 15-17. What will such a charity as this, that consists in bare words, avail either you or the poor? Will you come before God with such empty shows of charity as these? You might as well pretend that your love and charity will stand the test without acts of mercy as think that a profession of faith will bear you out before God without works of piety and obedience. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being along," v. 17. We are too apt to rest in a bare profession of faith, and to think that this will save us; it is a cheap and easy religion to say, "We believe the articles of the Christian faith;" but it is a great delusion to imagine that this is enough to bring us to heaven. Those who argue thus wrong God, and put a cheat upon their own souls; a mock-faith is as hateful as mock-charity, and both show a heart dead to all real godliness. You may as soon take pleasure in a dead body, void of soul, or sense, or action, as God take pleasure in a dead faith, where there are no works.
3. We are taught to compare a faith boasting of itself without works and a faith evidenced by works, by looking on both together, to try how this comparison will work upon our minds. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works. Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works, v. 18. Suppose a true believer thus pleading with a boasting hypocrite, "Thou makest a profession, and sayest thou hast faith; I make no such boasts, but leave my works to speak for me. Now give any evidence of having the faith thou professest without works if thou canst, and I will soon let thee see how my works flow from faith and are the undoubted evidences of its existence." This is the evidence by which the scriptures all along teach men to judge both of themselves and others. And this is the evidence according to which Christ will proceed at the day of judgment. The dead were judged according to their works, Rev. 20:12. How will those be exposed then who boast of that which they cannot evidence, or who go about to evidence their faith by any thing but works of piety and mercy!
4. We are taught to look upon a faith of bare speculation and knowledge as the faith of devils: Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also believe, and tremble, v. 19. That instance of faith which the apostle here chooses to mention is the first principle of all religion. "Thou believest that there is a God, against the atheists; and that there is but one God, against the idolaters; thou doest well: so far all is right. But to rest here, and take up a good opinion of thyself, or of thy state towards God, merely on account of thy believing in him, this will render thee miserable: The devils also believe, and tremble. If thou contentest thyself with a bare assent to articles of faith, and some speculations upon them, thus far the devils go. And as their faith and knowledge only serve to excite horror, so in a little time will thine." The word tremble is commonly looked upon as denoting a good effect of faith; but here it may rather be taken as a bad effect, when applied to the faith of devils. They tremble, not out of reverence, but hatred and opposition to that one God on whom they believe. To rehearse that article of our creed, therefore, I believe in God the Father Almighty, will not distinguish us from devils at last, unless we now give up ourselves to God as the gospel directs, and love him, and delight ourselves in him, and serve him, which the devils do not, cannot do.
5. We are taught that he who boasts of faith without works is to be looked upon at present as a foolish condemned person. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? v. 20. The words translated vain man—anthroµpe kene, are observed to have the same signification with the word Raca, which must never be used to private persons, or as an effect of anger (Mt. 5:22), but may be used as here, to denote a just detestation of such a sort of men as are empty of good works, and yet boasters of their faith. And it plainly declares them fools and abjects in the sight of God. Faith without works is said to be dead, not only as void of all those operations which are the proofs of spiritual life, but as unavailable to eternal life: such believers as rest in a bare profession of faith are dead while they live.
6. We are taught that a justifying faith cannot be without works, from two examples, Abraham and Rahab.
(1.) The first instance is that of Abraham, the father of the faithful, and the prime example of justification, to whom the Jews had a special regard (v. 21): Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Paul, on the other hand, says (in ch. 4 of the epistle to the Romans) that Abraham believed, and it was counted to him for righteousness. But these are well reconciled, by observing what is said in Heb. 11, which shows that the faith both of Abraham and Rahab was such as to produce those good works of which James speaks, and which are not to be separated from faith as justifying and saving. By what Abraham did, it appeared that he truly believed. Upon this footing, the words of God himself plainly put this matter. Gen. 22:16, 17, Because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son; therefore in blessing I will bless thee. Thus the faith of Abraham was a working faith (v. 22), it wrought with his works, and by works was made perfect. And by this means you come to the true sense of that scripture which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness, v. 23. And thus he became the friend of God. Faith, producing such works, endeared him to the divine Being, and advanced him to very peculiar favours and intimacies with God. It is a great honour done to Abraham that he is called and counted the friend of God. You see then (v. 24) how that by works a man is justified (comes into such a state of favour and friendship with God), and not by faith only; not by a bare opinion, or profession, or believing without obeying, but by having such a faith as is productive of good works. Now besides the explication of this passage and example, as thus illustrating and supporting the argument James is upon, many other useful lessons may be learned by us from what is here said concerning Abraham. [1.] Those who would have Abraham's blessings must be careful to copy after his faith: to boast of being Abraham's seed will not avail any, if they do not believe as he did. [2.] Those works which evidence true faith must to works of self-denial, and such as God himself commands (as Abraham's offering up his son, his only son, was), and not such works as are pleasing to flesh and blood and may serve our interest, or are the mere fruits of our own imagination and devising. [3.] What we piously purpose and sincerely resolve to do for God is accepted as if actually performed. Thus Abraham is regarded as offering up his son, though he did not actually proceed to make a sacrifice of him. It was a done thing in the mind, and spirit, and resolution of Abraham, and God accepts it as if fully performed and accomplished. [4.] The actings of faith make it grow perfect, as the truth of faith makes it act. [5.] Such an acting faith will make others, as well as Abraham, friends of God. Thus Christ says to his disciples, I have called you friends, Jn. 15:15. All transactions between God and the truly believing soul are easy, pleasant, and delightful. There is one will and one heart, and there is a mutual complacency. God rejoiceth over those who truly believe, to do them good; and they delight themselves in him.
(2.) The second example of faith's justifying itself and us with and by works is Rahab: Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? v. 25. The former instance was of one renowned for his faith all his life long, This is of one noted for sin, whose faith was meaner and of a much lower degree; so that the strongest faith will not do, nor the meanest be allowed to go without works. Some say that the word here rendered harlot was the proper name of Rahab. Others tell us that it signifies no more than a hostess, or one who keeps a public house, with whom therefore the spies lodged. But it is very probable that her character was infamous; and such an instance is mentioned to show that faith will save the worst, when evidenced by proper works; and it will not save the best without such works as God requires. This Rahab believed the report she had heard of God's powerful presence with Israel; but that which proved her faith sincere was, that, to the hazard of her life, she received the messengers, and sent them out another way. Observe here, [1.] The wonderful power of faith in transforming and changing sinners. [2.] The regard which an operative faith meets with from God, to obtain his mercy and favour. [3.] Where great sins are pardoned, there must prefer the honour of God and the good of his people before the preservation of her own country. Her former acquaintance must be discarded, her former course of life entirely abandoned, and she must give signal proof and evidence of this before she can be in a justified state; and even after she is justified, yet her former character must be remembered; not so much to her dishonour as to glorify the rich grace and mercy of God. Though justified, she is called Rahab the harlot.
7. And now, upon the whole matter, the apostle draws this conclusion, As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also, v. 26. These words are read differently; some reading them, As the body without the breath is dead, so is faith without works: and then they show that works are the companions of faith, as breathing is of life. Others read them, As the body without the soul is dead, so faith without works is dead also: and then they show that as the body has no action, nor beauty, but becomes a loathsome carcass, when the soul is gone, so a bare profession without works is useless, yea, loathsome and offensive. Let us then take head of running into extremes in this case. For, (1.) The best works, without faith, are dead; they want their root and principle. It is by faith that any thing we do is really good, as done with an eye to God, in obedience to him, and so as to aim principally at his acceptance. (2.) The most plausible profession of faith, without works, is dead: as the root is dead when it produces nothing green, nothing of fruit. Faith is the root, good works are the fruits, and we must see to it that we have both. We must not think that either, without the other, will justify and save us. This is the grace of God wherein we stand, and we should stand to it.