A Warning against Favoritism

1My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, in a partial respect of persons. 2For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring in fine clothes, and there come in also a poor man in a mean habit; 3and ye turn your eyes toward him that weareth the fine clothes, and say to him, Sit thou here in an honorable place; and say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4do ye not make a partial difference within yourselves, and become judges that reason wickedly? 5Hear, my beloved brethren; hath not God chosen the poor of this world who are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which He hath promised to them that love Him? but ye have slighted the poor. 6Do not the rich tyrannize over you; and drag you to their tribunals? 7Do they not blaspheme the glorious name by which ye are called?

8If ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, which saith, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well. 9But if ye partially respect persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. 10For whosoever shall keep the whole law besides, but offend in one point, he is under the penalty of all: 11for He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou do not commit adultery, but committest murder, thou art a transgressor of the law. 12So speak, and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13For he shall have judgement without mercy, that hath not shewn mercy: but mercy triumpheth over judgement.

Faith and Works
(Galatians 3:1–9)

14What is the advantage, my brethren, if any one say that he has faith, and he hath not works, can faith alone save him? 15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food; 16and one of you say to them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and be ye filled: but ye give them not the necessaries of life, what profit is it to them? 17so faith, if it have not works, being alone, is dead.

18But one may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith by thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble. 20But desirest thou to know, O vain man, that faith without works, is dead? 21consider, Was not our father Abraham justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? 22Thou seest that faith co-operated with his works, and that by his works his faith was perfected. 23And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God. 24Ye see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25And in like manner also was not the harlot Rahab justified by works, when she entertained the spies, and let them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.