James 2:5

“Hearken, my beloved brethren, etc.] As to a matter of importance, and worthy of attention and regard; being an instance of the divine conduct towards the poor, and carries in it a strong argument against respect of persons: hath not God chosen the poor of this world? this interrogative is equal to a strong affirmative; and the sense is, that God has chosen the poor of this world; and which is to be understood, not of the choice of them to an office, either in church or state; though sometimes this has been the case, as the instances of David, and the apostles of Christ, show; nor merely to the Gospel, and the outward means of grace, though the poor have the Gospel preached unto them; nor of…”

“Hearken--James brings to trial the self-constituted "judges" (Jam 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" (Ti1 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 (Mat 5:3; Co1 1:26-28). rich in faith--Their riches consist in faith. Luk 12:21, "rich toward God." Ti1 6:18, "rich in good works" (Rev 2:9; compare Co2 8:9). Christ's poverty is the source of the believer's riches. kingdom . . . promised-- (Luk…”

“Hearken, my beloved brethren - The apostle now proceeds to show that the rich, as such, had no special claim on their favor, and that the poor in fact might be made more entitled to esteem than they were. For a view of the arguments by which he does this, compare the analysis of the chapter. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world? - Those who are poor so far as this world is concerned, or those who have not wealth. This is the first argument which the apostle suggests why the poor should not be treated with neglect. It is, that God has had special reference to them in choosing those who should be his children. The meaning is not that he is not as willing to save the rich as the poor, for…”

“Hearken - As if he had said, Stay, consider, ye that judge thus. Does not the presumption lie rather in favour of the poor man? Hath not God chosen the poor - That is, are not they whom God hath chosen, generally speaking, poor in this world? who yet are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom - Consequently, the most honourable of men: and those whom God so highly honours, ought not ye to honour likewise? James 2:6”

“2:5 Listen to me: Employing this rhetorical device for emphasis (see Deut 6:3; Amos 3:1; Matt 13:18; Acts 15:13), James presents his argument against favoring the rich. • Hasn’t God chosen the poor? God’s special concern for the poor is reflected in the Old Testament (Exod 23:11; 1 Sam 2:8; Ps 12:5) and in the ministries of Jesus and Paul (Luke 4:18; 6:20; 1 Cor 1:26-28). This concern was emphasized by the Jerusalem church (Gal 2:9-10), of which James was the leader. • inherit the Kingdom: The Kingdom of God was central to the teaching of Jesus (Matt 12:8; Mark 1:15; Luke 17:21). Christ already rules from his place at the right hand of the Father, yet his Kingdom will be fully realized only…”

“Hearken: Jdg 9:7; Kg1 22:28; Job 34:10, Job 38:14; Pro 7:24, Pro 8:32; Mar 7:14; Act 7:2 Hath not: Jam 1:9; Isa 14:32, Isa 29:19; Zep 3:12; Zac 11:7, Zac 11:11; Mat 11:5; Luk 6:20; Luk 9:57, Luk 9:58, Luk 16:22, Luk 16:25; Joh 7:48; Co1 1:26-28; Co2 8:9 rich: Pro 8:17-21; Luk 12:21; Co1 3:21-23; Co2 4:15, Co2 6:10; Eph 1:18, Eph 3:8; Ti1 6:18; Heb 11:26; Rev 2:9, Rev 3:18, Rev 21:7 heirs: Mat 5:3, Mat 25:34; Luk 12:32, Luk 22:29; Rom 8:17; Th1 2:12; Th2 1:5; Ti2 4:8, Ti2 4:18; Pe1 1:4; Pe2 1:11 the: or, that which, Jam 1:12; Exo 20:6; Sa1 2:30; Pro 8:17; Mat 5:3; Luk 6:20, Luk 12:32; Co1 2:9; Ti2 4:8 James 2:6”