5. Hearken--James brings to trial the self-constituted
"judges"
(Jas 2:4).
poor of this world--The best manuscripts read, "those poor in
respect to the world." In contrast to "the rich in this world"
(1Ti 6:17).
Not of course all the poor; but the poor, as a class,
furnish more believers than the rich as a class. The rich, if a
believer, renounces riches as his portion; the poor, if an unbeliever,
neglects that which is the peculiar advantage of poverty
(Mt 5:3;
1Co 1:26, 27, 28).
rich in faith--Their riches consist in faith.
Lu 12:21,
"rich toward God."
1Ti 6:18,
"rich in good works"
(Re 2:9;
compare
2Co 8:9).
Christ's poverty is the source of the believer's riches.
kingdom . . . promised--
(Lu 12:32;
1Co 2:9;
2Ti 4:8).
JFB.
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