James 2:3

And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

And {G2532} ye have respect {G1914} to {G1909} him that weareth {G5409} the gay {G2986} clothing {G2066}, and {G2532} say {G2036} unto him {G846}, Sit {G2521} thou {G4771} here {G5602} in a good place {G2573}; and {G2532} say {G2036} to the poor {G4434}, Stand {G2476} thou {G4771} there {G1563}, or {G2228} sit {G2521} here {G5602} under {G5259} my {G3450} footstool {G5286}:

If you show more respect to the man wearing the fancy clothes and say to him, “Have this good seat here,” while to the poor man you say, “You, stand over there,” or, “Sit down on the floor by my feet,”

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 at my feet,”

and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;

James 2:3 (KJV) directly illustrates the discriminatory behavior that the Apostle James warns against in the early Christian community. This verse paints a vivid picture of a scenario where individuals entering a gathering (likely a church assembly) are treated based on their outward appearance and presumed wealth, rather than their inherent worth or spiritual standing.

Context

This verse is part of a larger discourse by James on the nature of true, living faith, which he argues must be demonstrated through actions, not merely words or profession. Immediately following the directive in James 2:1 to "have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons," James provides a concrete example. He describes how a wealthy person ("him that weareth the gay clothing") is offered a place of honor, while a poor person is relegated to an inferior position, either standing or sitting "under my footstool," signifying a place of lowliness and disrespect. This highlights a critical issue in the nascent church: the temptation to adopt worldly class distinctions within a community meant to embody unity in Christ.

Key Themes

  • Partiality and Discrimination: The core message is a strong condemnation of showing favoritism based on wealth or social status. This practice directly contradicts the impartial love of God and the spirit of the Gospel.
  • Social Justice within the Church: James emphasizes that the Christian community should be a place where all are treated with dignity and equality, regardless of their economic standing. True faith actively seeks to uplift the marginalized, not demean them.
  • True Faith vs. Outward Show: The passage challenges the notion that faith is merely an intellectual assent. Instead, it argues that genuine faith is evidenced by actions of love and impartiality towards all people, particularly the poor, who are often overlooked by the world.
  • Love for Neighbor: This verse underscores the importance of the second great commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself (James 2:8). Discrimination violates this fundamental principle.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Gay clothing": In KJV English, "gay" (from Old French gai) signifies bright, showy, splendid, or richly adorned. It refers to expensive, fashionable attire, indicating wealth and status, not sexual orientation. This term effectively conveys the outward display of riches that was being favored.
  • "Respect to him": The Greek word is epiblepō (ἐπιβλέπω), meaning "to look upon with favor" or "to pay attention to." This highlights the deliberate act of showing preference.
  • "Under my footstool": This phrase literally means under the footrest of a chair, symbolizing a position of extreme subservience, humiliation, or insignificance. It starkly contrasts with the "good place" offered to the rich.

Practical Application

James 2:3 serves as a timeless challenge for believers and the church today. It calls us to:

  • Examine Our Own Biases: We must honestly assess if we show favoritism based on wealth, appearance, influence, or any other superficial criteria, either consciously or unconsciously.
  • Cultivate Radical Inclusivity: The church should be a beacon of welcome and dignity for everyone, especially those whom society often marginalizes. Every person, regardless of their background or perceived status, has inherent worth as an image-bearer of God.
  • Prioritize Spiritual Worth: Our focus should always be on the spiritual state and eternal value of individuals, rather than their temporary material possessions or social standing.
  • Practice Genuine Love: This verse compels us to demonstrate the impartial, unconditional love of Christ in our interactions, ensuring that our actions align with the principles of the kingdom of God, where there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female (Galatians 3:28). Failing to do so is deemed sin by James in James 2:9.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:9

    For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

  • James 2:6

    But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

  • Luke 7:44

    And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped [them] with the hairs of her head.

  • Luke 7:46

    My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

  • Isaiah 65:5

    Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These [are] a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

  • Jude 1:16

    These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

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