and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,”
This respect of persons, favoring the rich and scorning the poor, has corrupted Christian nations and societies from the earliest days. If you profess faith in Christ the Lord of glory, you cannot measure men by their gold rings and fine clothes when the poorest saint shares equally in the glory you claim to believe in. To cloud His glory by exalting the wealthy is a heinous sin.
AI summary
Commenting on James 2:1-7
And ye have respect to him that wears the gay clothing,.... Take notice of him, and show favour to him, to the neglect and contempt of the other. This is an instance of respect of persons condemned and dissuaded from: and say unto him, sit thou here in a good place; the best place; whether it be in a religious assembly, or in a civil...
Verse 3. And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing. If you show him superior attention on account of his rich and gay apparel, giving him a seat by himself, and treating others with neglect or contempt.