Posted on 04/24/2020 5:49:52 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment” (Proverbs 24:23).
What belongs to the wise? That the evil man in verse 19 and the unfearing man in verse 21 will be destroyed. They understand that. They know that. These things also belong to the wise. They understand the end of the evil man in verse 19 and the rebellious man in verse 21 and 22. it is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. That’s something else that belongs to the wise man. Judge the rich as strictly as the poor.
“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 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: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors” (James 2:1-9).
Here James is saying that if you have respect of persons, and you respect the rich man more than a poor man, he said that that was not something he learned from the Lord Jesus Christ with respect of persons and it's not supposed to be. He talks about the fact that God chose the poor. Jesus Christ was a poor man. He never was a rich man during His earthly ministry.
Here is wisdom – clearly specified. Wise persons – noble men and women – know and practice this rule. Solomon wrote down a rule of wisdom to make you great in the sight of God and men. Will you consider it, comprehend it, and apply it in your life? Character and conduct consistent with this rule will honor and promote you among your peers.
When judging a matter, do not consider who is involved. Love for friends or hatred or fear of enemies must be ignored. Sympathy for the poor or the rich must be excluded. This is a holy rule of God’s justice system, so that pure equity and justness will prevail, and the Bible repeats the warning over and over, for it applies to both God and men.
“How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked” (Psalms 82:2-4).
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