James (Yacob) Chapter 2 (Expounded)

James (Yacob) Chapter 2

1) My Brethren..., My brethren, who are of the twelve tribes of Israel; and who are believers of the Way of Yahushua... do not have... do not possess and exercise control of... do not mishandle... the faith... the conviction of the truth of Who and What our Master, Yahushua, the Anointed One from Yahweh is...; of glory... and make the honor that Yahushua has, in the estimation of Yahweh, to be dishonored... with respect of persons... 4382 prosopolepsia {pros-o-pol-ape-see'-ah} - by exhibiting any sort of partiality or favoritism for one over another... by showing respect for the external circumstances of power, wealth and prestige in the lives of those you come into contact with.

2) For, if someone comes to your gathering of believers who is a man/woman wearing a gold ring and fine clothing; and someone else comes there who is a beggar that does not possess any wealth, influential status, or social honor; and he/she is dressed in filthy, stinking clothing;

3) And, you then exhibit preferential regard to the man/woman who is wearing the fine clothing; and you say to him/her through your words and actions: Welcome! Glad you came! Have a seat over here in a place of honor where you can be seen and recognized as befits your social status; and you then say, by your words and actions, to the poor man/woman: You! Stand over there out of the way where you cannot be seen or smelled and be a bother to others; or, sit down on the floor by my footstool in subjection to me.

4) If you behave this way, then aren't you partial in yourselves... 1252 diakrino {dee-ak-ree'-no} - aren't you making a distinct separation of the value and worth of those people; and making the distinction between the two on the basis of prejudices within yourselves?... Prejudices that are a natural part of what has remained on you from the nature that used to be the generating force within you for thinking, feeling, and deciding things?...; and are become... 1096 ginomai {ghin'-om-ahee} - Haven't you then also begun to be... judges... 2923 krites {kree-tace'} - those who claim the authority to exercise decisions of judgment or render opinions... of evil thoughts... from the wisdom of the bad, diseased, nature that has corrupted all mankind that now guides your inner reasonings?

***NOTE: This is NOT the type of "binding and loosening" that was indicated by Yahushua. Which is a part of the power exhibited by those who have become Sons of Yahweh. (see John 20:22-23, Matthew 16:19) For it is not, and has never been, sin or error against Yahweh and His Order to be poor and destitute. This discriminatory mental stance is not of Yahweh's Order and nature; and it is not a part of the salvation and rescue from danger and destruction; and it is not a part of the preservation and protection of those who are called to Yahushua by Yahweh...

5) Hearken... 191 akouo {ak-oo'-o} - Hear me and perceive the sense of what I am saying to you... recognize the logic and rationale of this nonsensical form of "wisdom"..., my beloved brethren. Recognize that Yahweh has chosen... 1586 eklegomai {ek-leg'-om-ahee} - picked out... selected... the poor... 4434 ptochos {pto-khos'} - those reduced to begging... those who are afflicted because of being destitute of wealth, power, influence or honor... Hasn't Father Yahweh selected, for Himself and as His own, the destitute who know that they have no power or authority within themselves to change themselves to become anything more than what they are as men..., of this world... who are a part of the world order of things that does not recognize the Truth of the Soveriegnty of Yahweh and His Order..., rich in faith... who are abundantly supplied because of their faith... who are rich beyond the comprehension of the nature of mankind because of the fixed, unmoving, steadfast belief that they have of Yahweh's Truth, Salvation and Order..., and heirs of... 2818 kleronomos {klay-ron-om'-os} - and recognize that it is those, who are of this kind, who have received their allotted portion within... the kingdom... 932 basileia {bas-il-i'-ah} - all of the royal power, dignity and honor that comes from the ability to exercise authority within the kingdom... that He has promised to those who love Him?

*** From the very words spoken and taught by Yacob's half brother, Yahushua, the Anointed One of Yahweh...

See Matthew 5:3... Blessed are the poor in spirit. Because the royal power of the right to exercise authority within the kingdom of heaven is theirs...

6) But... More than this..., realize that you have treated the poor and destitute with contempt and dishonor in your thoughts and feelings; and accordingly, in your words and deeds. Isn't it true that the rich and powerful use their status and influence against you? Don't they, throught their status and influence, put pressure on you in order to control you and draw you... 1670 helkuo {hel-koo'-o} - don't they cause you to be dragged away from where you want to be and compel you with violent force... to stand in the place where matters are judged... To stand in front of courts or tribunals that neither know of nor care at all for Yahweh's Truth, Order, or Wisdom. Don't they do this in order to achieve their own will and purpose?

7) Don't they, who are of this sort, speak in an evil manner against that excellent name that you are named with?... Don't they blaspheme the name of the Master, Yahushua, the Anointed One of Yahweh; and all that His name stands for?...

8) If you... If you, who are believers of the Way of Yahushua; and belong to the Master Yahushua for Him to accomplish His Will and Purpose... carry out the performing of the royal law in accordance with the scripture in which is written: You will love your neighbor as yourself; ...then you do well;

From Leviticus 19:17-18 ⁷ You will not hate your brother within your heart. You will, in any way possible, rebuke your neighbour; and by doing so, not allow sin to be upon him. ¹⁸ You will not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you will, instead, love your neighbour as you love yourself. I am Yahweh. See Ephesians 5:29 also...

9) But, if you discriminate the external condition of a man, then you exercise transgression against the excellence of Yahweh's Order, and you are exposed by the law of Yahweh's Order and found fault with as violators.

10) For, whoever attends carefully to all of the law (the established rules of conduct that produce a state or condition approved of by Yahweh) and yet stumbles, and falls, and violates one of the rules, he is still under obligation and subject to all of the rules of the law.

11) For, he who said: Do not be an adulterer, also said: Do not murder. Now..., if you are not an adulterer, but, you are a murderer, then you are a violator of the law (the established rules of conduct) that makes you approved of by Yahweh.

12) In this manner, you speak, and in this manner, do; like those who will have judgment pronounced on them according to the law of liberty. (the rules of conduct established for living as we should, and not as we please, in service to our Master)

(***We are not our own... no matter which Master we serve... No Grey Area)

13) For, He will cause separation, and pass a sentence of condemnation without mercy on those who have showed no mercy; and, mercy boasts of itself to the injury of condemnation.

14) What profit is there, my brethren, in the case of a man who says he has a conviction of the Truth, and does not produce anything from his hand or his mind that reflects the Truth he professes? Can his conviction of the Truth within himself keep him safe from the destruction of the rebellious against Yahweh?

15) If a brother or a sister is without clothing, and needing daily nourishment;

16) And one of you say to them: Leave in peace; warm yourself and fill yourself; however, you do not give them those things that are suitable for the needs of the body; then, what advantage or profit is there in having said such a thing?

17) In the same manner, if faith does not produce anything, then that conviction of Truth has no life in and of itself only.

18) Yes... a man can say: You have faith, and I have works; Show me your conviction of the Truth that is within you without producing anything that can be seen or perceived; and I will show you my conviction of Truth through what I produce through my mind and hands.

19) You believe (you think it to be true, you place confidence in the concept or idea) that there is one Supreme Deity; ... You do well to do so; The messengers and servants of the adversary also believe... and shudder... as they are struck with extreme fear.

20) Now then, will you, a man that is devoid of Truth, come to know and perceive that the conviction of Truth without deeds being done and actions taken is lifeless?

21) Wasn't Abraham, our forefather, recognized by Yahweh as being justified (as he ought to be) through the actions he took when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22) Do you understand how faith worked together with his actions, and that, through the actions that he took, his conviction of the Truth of Yahweh was made complete?

23) And further, that the thing written of was accomplished, which says: Abraham believed Yahweh, and it was counted as equal to being as he ought to be in Yahweh's Order of Things; and he was named: The Friend of Yahweh.

Genesis 15:6 And he (Abraham) believed in Yahweh; and He (Yahweh) counted it to him (Abraham) for righteousness.

24) You perceive in your mind, now, that through actions taken and deeds done, a man is declared to be as he ought to be by Yahweh, and not by an inner conviction of the Truth alone.

25) In another example; wasn't Rahab the harlot declared to be as she ought to be by Yahoshua, because of her actions, when she took the messengers in and compelled them to leave by a direction other than the one by which they came?

26) For, in the same manner that the body is lifeless without the spirit; likewise, the conviction of the Truth of Yahweh is lifeless without actions taken and deeds done as well.