Stop honoring some people more than others, because by doing that, you are disobeying God’s law that we should love one another.

James 2:1-11

2 My fellow believers, because you trust our Lord Jesus Christ, the one who is glorious/wonderful, stop honoring some people more than others. 2 For example, suppose that a person who wears gold rings and fine clothes enters your meeting place. Then suppose that a poor person who wears shabby/ragged clothes also comes in. 3 And suppose that you ◄show special attention to/treat better► the one who is dressed in fine clothes by saying, “Sit here in this good seat!” and you say to the poor one, “Stand there or sit on the floor [MTY]!” 4 Then you have obviously [RHQ] caused divisions in the congregation (OR, you are clearly treating one better than the others, and you are using evil motives/reasons to ◄evaluate people/decide whether people are important or not►). 5 Listen to me, my fellow believers whom I love: God has chosen [RHQ] poor people whom unbelievers consider to possess nothing of value, so that he might bless them greatly because they trust in him, and in order that they will enter the place where he will rule [MET] forever. That is what he has promised to those who love him. 6 But you dishonor the poor people. Think about it! ◄It is rich people, not poor people, who are causing you to suffer!/Isn’t it rich people, not poor people, who are oppressing you?► [RHQ] ◄It is the rich people who forcibly take you to court to accuse you in front of judges!/Is it not the rich people who forcibly take you to court to accuse you in front of judges?► [RHQ] 7 ◄And they are the ones who say evil things about Jesus Christ, the one who is worthy of praise, to whom you belong!/Are they not the ones who say evil things about Jesus Christ, the one who is worthy of praise, to whom you belong?► [RHQ] 8 In the Scriptures God has commanded each of you to love other people like you love yourself. That commandment was also given by Jesus our King [MTY]. If you are loving others, you are doing what is right. 9 But if you honor some people more than others, you are ◄doing wrong/sinning►. And because you do not do what God commanded us to do, he condemns you [PRS] because you disobey his laws.

10 Do not forget that those who disobey only one of God’s laws, even if they obey all his other laws, God considers them to be as guilty as anyone who has disobeyed all of God’s laws. 11 For example, God said, “Do not commit adultery,” but he also said, “Do not murder anyone.” So if you (sg) do not commit adultery but you (sg) murder someone, you (sg) have become a person who disobeys God’s laws.