A Warning against Favoritism

2 My brothers, as you hold out [your] faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, {do} not [show] favoritism.

2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting[fn] [wearing] a gold ring [and] fine clothes, and a poor [man] in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 [If] you lavish attention on the [man] in fine clothes and say, “Here [is] a seat of honor,” [but] say to the poor [man], “You must stand” or “Sit here under [my] footstool,”[fn] 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges [with] evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brothers: {Has} not God chosen the poor of this world [to be] rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. [Is it] not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7 {Are} they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?[fn]

8 If you really fulfill [the] royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[fn] you are doing well. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin [and] are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one [point] is guilty of [breaking] all of it. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,”[fn] also said, “Do not murder.”[fn] If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by [the] law that gives freedom. 13 For judgment without mercy [ will be shown to ] anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.