Favoritism Like the Lord, the Lord’s people are not to show partiality or ____ (Jas 2:1, 9; cf. Ex 23:1-3; Lev 19:15; Dt 1:17, 10:17-19; 1 Sam 16:7; Pr 24:23, 28:21; Ac 10:34-35; Rom 2:11; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25 1 Pet 1:14-17). That is, we are not to give preferential treatment to certain people based on outward appearances, race, nationality, wealth, wardrobe, etc.
Neighbor If you show partiality, you are not loving your ____ as yourself (Jas 2:8-9; cf. Lev 19:15, 18; Mt 22:37-40; Mk 12:28-34; Lk 10:27; Rom 13:9-10; Gal 5:14).
Judge God’s people are to ___ fairly without showing partiality (Lev 19:15; Jn 7:24; 1 Cor 6:1-2).
Royal The ___ law (Jas 2:8) does not necessarily refer to the Old Testament Law. The ___ law likely refers to the teachings of Christ the King, who inaugurated the Kingdom of God. Christians follow the law of the Messiah, who has the authority to reinterpret the Law of Moses (Mt 5:17; Mk 2:28; Col 2:16-17).
Lawbreaker If someone keeps the whole law and yet transgresses in just one area, they are still a _____ (Jas 2:9-11). Even in minor infractions, a _____ violates the will of the Lawmaker.
Stumble Metaphorically, to ___ means to sin (Jas 2:10; cf. Rom 11:11; Jas 3:2; 2 Pet 1:10).
All Not __ sins are the same in severity (cf. 1 Cor 6:18). There are certain matters of the law that are more important than others (Mt 23:23-24). And though partiality may seem like a minor sin, a person who breaks the law of the Lord at onepoint is guilty of ____ (Jas 2:10).
Adultery James quotes the Seventh Commandment: You shall not commit ___ (Jas 2:11; cf. Ex 20:14; Dt 5:18; Mt 5:31-32, 19:8-9, 19:18; Mk 10:19; Lk 16:18, 18:20; Rom 13:9), a capital crime (Lev 18:20, 20:10). Jesus says that even lusting over a woman who is not one’s wife is _____ (Mt 5:27-28).
Kill James quotes the Sixth Commandment: You shall not ___ unjustly (Jas 2:11; cf. Ex 20:13; Dt 5:17; Mt 5:21, 19:18; Mk 10:19; Lk 18:20; Rom 13:9). This includes murder (intentional homicide), which requires the death penalty (Gen 9:6; Ex 21:12; Lev 24:17; Num 35:31; cf. Rom 13:4), in addition to unintentional homicide (Ex 21:12-14; Num 35:9-11), and negligent homicide (Ex 21:28-29).
Ransom By shedding His blood on the cross, Christ the King paid a King’s ____ to redeem our lives and save our souls (Mk 10:45; cf. Ex 21:30; Num 35:31-32; Rom 6:23). Therefore, we should faithfully follow the royal Law of our Resurrected Redeemer.
Bibliography
Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. [BDAG]
Balz, Horst Robert, and Gerhard Schneider. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990–. [EDNT]
Carson, D. A. “James.” In Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, 997–1012. Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, UK: Baker Academic; Apollos, 2007.
Cole, R. Alan. Exodus: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 2. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973.
Davids, Peter H. “James.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 4th ed., 1354–68. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994. [NBC]
Garland, David E. 1 Corinthians. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2003.
Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Second Edition. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014.
Lockett, Darian R., and Craig A. Evans. “James.” In John’s Gospel, Hebrews–Revelation, edited by Craig A. Evans and Craig A. Bubeck, First Edition., 257–87. The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary. Colorado Springs, CO; Paris, ON; Eastbourne: David C Cook, 2005. [BKBC]
Loh, I-Jin, and Howard Hatton. A Handbook on the Letter from James. UBS Handbook Series. New York: United Bible Societies, 1997. [UBS]
Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996. [LN]
Moo, Douglas J. “James”. In The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary. Edited by Gary M. Burge and Andrew E. Hill. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012. [BIBC]
Moo, Douglas J. “James”. In Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Hebrews to Revelation. Vol. 4. Edited by Clinton E. Arnold. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002. [ZIBBC]
Morris, Leon. 1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 7. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985.
Porter, Stanley E. Idioms of the Greek New Testament. Sheffield: JSOT, 1999.
Silva, MoisÈs, ed. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Vol. 1–5. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014. [NIDNTTE]
Verbrugge, Verlyn D. “1 Corinthians.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Romans–Galatians (Revised Edition), edited by Tremper Longman III & Garland, David E., Vol. 11. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008.
Wallace, Daniel B. Greek Grammar beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996.
