Lesson 4

Observation

Outline

Judging with Evil Thoughts (2:1-4)

Dishonoring Those Whom God Has Chosen (2:5-7)

Law, Mercy, Judgment (2:8-13)

Key Words/Phrases

Faith, partiality, poor, judge, rich, law, love, sin, transgressors, so speak and so do, mercy.

General Analysis

1.      It is contrary to faith in Christ (1) 2. It is based on evil thoughts (4). 3. It dishonors what God honors and extols what God despises (5-7) 4. It is a transgression of the law of love (8-9,11). 5. It disregards future judgment (12).

Segment Analysis

2.      If we truly honor the Lord Jesus Christ, we would also honor everyone He has created, especially our fellow believers, whom He has redeemed with His blood.

3.      Assembly of believers (2).

4.      Partiality involves judging others based on such external criteria as wealth, looks, or power.

5.      Injustice; pride; contempt for the poor and needy.

6.      Our partiality shows that we place high values on material or physical possessions, such as wealth, education, power, or beauty.

7.      God has chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world (Lk 4:18; 1Cor 1:26-29), and to these who love Him, God has given them spiritual riches and the inheritance of His kingdom.

8.      It is wrong to despise the poor because God has chosen them and given them the greatest wealth and the most honorable status. Despising them is despising God.

9.      We have become heirs of God’s glorious kingdom and have received abundant blessings in Christ (Lk 12:32; Eph 1:3; 1Pet 1:3-4).

10.  Partiality is a serious offense against God, especially when we favor, admire, and flatter those who violate God’s command and blaspheme His glorious name.

11.  While God loves everyone equally regardless of their appearance or possessions (Acts 10:34; Gal 2:6), human beings tend to love only those who are rich, beautiful, and powerful.

12.  It is contrary to the command, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

13.  Love (Gal 5:14; Mt 22:36-40; Rom 13:8-10)

14.  Because God is the giver of the law, breaking even just one point of the law is an offense against God and His whole law. Thus, showing partiality is not just a minor offense. It makes us transgressors against God.

15.  Verse 12 teaches us to speak and act with the future judgment in mind. Verse 13 reminds us of the severity of judgment on the unmerciful. Putting these two verses together, we understand that in order to be shown mercy at the final judgment, we must speak and act with mercy (Mt 5:7). Since partiality involves unmerciful treatment of the poor, this principle further reinforces the case against partiality.