Page 14 - General Epistles (James through Jude) Textbook

Study Section 3: Favoritism, Faith, and Works.

3.1 Connect.

I have observed that some parents have a “favorite” child. Seems like that kid does everything
right and none of the other children live up to their standards. I know of one family that has
four children. Three of them must go to bed at 8:30 PM, but the favored one gets to stay up for
another hour to spend time with her parents, playing games or watching TV. When its supper
time, the favored child gets a special meal because she does not like what is being offered the
rest of the family. These parents don’t realize that they are setting up all their children for some sort of
disaster.

Think of Joseph in Genesis. He was favored above all the other boys. His father even gave him a special
coat as a symbol of his favored regard. And his brothers resented him because of that. Their hatred was
so strong that they sold him into slavery and faked his death before their father. Jacob was partially at
fault for their mistreatment of their brother. His favoritism led them to be jealous and motivated them
to sin. Such is the result of showing favoritism in families and in the church. Today, we are going to look
into this irresponsible act and the damage it causes…

3.2 Objectives.

1. The student should be able to define favoritism.

2. The student should be able to identify what one violates when favoritism is being practiced.

3. The student should be able to identify and explain the remedies to overcoming favoritism.

3.3 Favoritism, Faith, and Works (Jas. 2:1-26).

Favoritism (Jas. 2:1-13).
Notice that James begins with “my brothers and sisters.” This is important because it helps us
understand that the people being addressed are not unbelievers but the opposite. James
reminds them of a problem (actually, a big problem because it involves “evil thoughts” [Jas.
2:4a]) among themselves which they practiced in their meetings. He did not state who informed
him about that nor the means by which he received the report (e.g., through oral or written
report) concerning this problem. This problem is favoritism. Favoritism (or partiality) in Greek means to
“make judgements and distinctions based on external considerations, such as physical appearance,
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social status or race.” This problem was being practiced during their meetings. Meeting here has been
understood as relating to a “public worship.” So, Christians, specifically, Jewish Christians who have
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come to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ were practicing favoritism during the public worship or
in an assembly.

Nature of Favoritism (Jas. 2:2-4).
In what form was this favoritism (Jas. 2:2-4)? Jewish Christians were giving special attention to those
men who were wearing gold rings and fine clothes (rich men) by giving them good seats. On the other
hand, those same Christians were giving insignificant (or unworthy) attention to those men who were

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