Scripture: James 2: 1-4

My dear brothers and sisters,^[a] how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? ² For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting^[b] dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. ³ If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, ⁴ doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

Scripture Commentary: Don’t discriminate based on the world’s standards.

Why do we discriminate based on earthly wealth? In James 2, we are presented with two people. We assume one is wealthy based on his fancy clothes and expensive jewelry. We assume the other is poor based on his dirty clothes.

What if both men were plainly dressed? How could we distinguish one against the other? What would we judge each on?

Would you see love, gratefulness or greed and selfishness? The poor man could have so much bitterness that it blocks his way to salvation. On the other hand, the rich man can be using his wealth to help others.

Jesus taught us to love one another as he loves us.

We don’t have the right to judge others. We must treat everyone as we would want to be treated. Don’t place one person over another. As God’s children we are to be Christ-like. Walk in the light that God has revealed to us.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

James 2

Read Other Commentary from the Book of James:

Tame Your Tongue – Watch What You Say

Can A Man Have Faith Without Works?

Scripture: Romans 2: 21-22, 25

²¹ Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? ²² You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples?^{[b] 25} The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 

Scripture Commentary:

Sometimes we question people about what they say and do. We become judge and jury based on our experiences. We think we can teach or correct a mistake being made based on our past experience. Don’t say something is wrong or that you would do things differently. We are all human.

Don’t Teach What You Don’t Live.

Don’t criticize someone you don’t know or who is just beginning to learn about God. Help that person. Don’t be judgmental. Paul tells us that we are responsible for teaching ourselves the lifestyle God has for us, and then live by it. God’s law is more than legalistic; it’s the blueprint to live according to His will. It tells us that we cannot have a proper relationship with God until we accept and live a Christian lifestyle. This is how we please God.

Look inward. Remove any ungodly thing that you are doing or holding onto. Ask for forgiveness and repent. Live the life God has for you.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans 2

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Romans:

Jesus Will Prepare A Place For You

Give Thanks to God; Praise His Holy Name

Scripture: John 8: 3-5

³ As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. ⁴ “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

Scripture Commentary: What do you say?

The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus into being judge, jury and executioner. At times, we are placed in a similar situation. What do you say when you find yourself there?

What does Jesus say?

Who are we to judge someone? Do you pray, give your opinion or stay out of it? If you read on, you will see Jesus putting the question back unto the Pharisees. In the end Jesus says that if anyone is sinless, let him cast the first stone. Who among us is sinless? Who can say that they haven’t thought or committed sin in their life?

We are to pray and forgive, not judge others. Only God has the right or authority to judge. He gives us each day to get it right. Jesus forgave the woman and told her to go and sin no more. He tells us the same.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

John 8

Read Other Commentary From the Book of John:

Jesus Is the Way to Eternal Life

Can You Hear the Voice of Jesus?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2: 11-13

¹¹ No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. ¹² And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. ¹³ When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.^[f] 

Scripture Commentary:

God’s Holy Spirit lives in each of us. You know this when you have accepted God, His Only Begotten Son and His Holy Spirit. Those who haven’t accepted the Holy Trinity are in the world.

Those who are in the world cannot hear God when He speaks. Neither can they see nor feel his presence. They are lost in themselves. A non-Christian can’t understand God. And they don’t understand who you worship or why.

But those who can hear His voice experience unspeakable joy! As we read and study God’s Word, we grow closer to Him, and in return, He gets closer to us. Spend as much time as you have with God.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 Corinthians 2

Read Other Commentary From the Book of 1 Corinthians:

God Has Prepared Great Things for You

God Has Freely Given Us His Love

Scripture: Luke 13: 24-25

²⁴ “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. ²⁵ When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 

Scripture Commentary:

Let’s say that you, your family and friends have been invited to a special gathering at a very special person’s house; however, you all are out in the world enjoying what is currently important to you. Time slips away, and then you remember the invitation. Now you and your group decide to go. But is it too late?

When you arrive, you knock on the door and the person inside asks, “Who is it?” You identify yourselves; however, the person inside replies, “Go away, I do not know you.” You remind the person who you are but are reminded that when the invitation was first sent, you did not respond. Now it is too late. You decided that other things were more important.

We are invited daily into God’s presence.

When Jesus asked his disciples to follow him, they dropped everything. God gives us every second of the day to follow Him. Daily we are invited into His presence.

This may be your last invitation before you die. Repent. Accept Jesus Christ as God’s Only Begotton Son. Death is only the beginning, not the end. Christ is eternity.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Luke 13

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Luke:

Who Loves Us More Than Christ?

Jesus Went to Synogogue Every Week

Scripture: Romans 7: 5-6

⁵ When we were controlled by our old nature,^[b] sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. ⁶ But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

Scripture Commentary:

When you did something wrong as a child, your parent or caregiver likely corrected you. This is how you learned the laws of life. In the Old Testament, the people tried to live by the law. And when God sent His Son Jesus Christ, his mission was not to change the law but to help us live better. Jesus showed us that we cannot be saved by the law.

We don’t have the strength to live by the law. We need God’s help.

Signs are all around us in our everyday life. Do not enter, slow down, icy road ahead. But we are in a hurry and ignore the warnings. Likewise, Jesus has a set of signs for us to obey. Love one another, forgive each other, honor our mother and father. These are just a few.

Through God’s grace and mercy, He gives us the signs (laws) for how to live. On the other hand, Satan is standing in our way, telling us that he has everything we want in life. This is the challenge we fight daily, and without God’s help, we will lose. Don’t go into the battle with Satan without God. God defeated Satan and He is all you need.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans 7

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Romans:

Being Saved Is Being Under Grace

Walk After the Lord Day After Day

Scripture: Romans 6: 6-9

⁶ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ⁷ For he that is dead is freed from sin. ⁸ Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: ⁹ Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Scripture Commentary:

Do you serve sin or God? There are two masters: death, which is sin, or eternal life with God, our Father. One gives you the earthly gifts you ask for and the required payment is your soul in hell for eternity. The other is Jesus Christ who paid for your sins on the cross because He loves you so much. This is a free gift of love that God gives each of us.

Do you accept this gift or will you return it? Christ paid the price for you so don’t put a price on it by trying to pay it back. Because you can’t.

In the Old Testament, the people had the law and they could not live up to it. So God sent His Son to show us how to live, obey, and love one another. In the New Testament Paul tells us that salvation cannot be obtained by following the law. Salvation is God’s gift to us through His Son Jesus Christ.

Have you accepted God’s gift or are you trying to pay God for it?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans 6

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans:

God Has Made It Plain

Jesus Delivered Us and Teaches Us Love

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5: 4-6

⁴ But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.^[b]5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. ⁶ So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. 

Scripture Commentary: Be clearheaded in thought and deed.

A drunken person has no control of him/herself. They have no idea what they are saying or doing. If you show them what they did, once clearheaded, they wouldn’t believe their eyes. This is the same with a sinner who has repented, accepted Christ, and has left their old lifestyle behind.

God destroys the old record of our life. He knows we are weak, sinful people, and He waits patiently for us to come to Him, asking for forgiveness. And He does forgive.

But some remain in their drunken stupor, never coming out into the light. They stumble and fall deeper into a cavern of sin. The day of reckoning will come. We are to help the lost through the aid of the Holy Spirit. If we don’t, then we are as lost as they are.

Are you trying to help someone?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 Thessalonians 5

Read More Commentary From Thessalonians:

Don’t Suffer the Delusion to Believe a Lie

Scripture: Matthew 23: 25-26

²⁵ “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! ²⁶ You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish,^[i] and then the outside will become clean, too.

Scripture Commentary:

After we eat, we take the dishes into the kitchen to wash. We don’t just wash the outside of the dish; we also wash the inside where the meal was placed. This is done so bacteria that causes disease can be washed away.

Jesus is saying that when you are portraying something you aren’t, like pretending to be a follower of Christ while living a self-serving life, you are like dishes that have not been properly washed. He condemns the Pharisees and church leaders for appearing holy but underneath remain corrupt and full of greed and selfishness.

These same leaders crucified Jesus and killed the disciples. They were powerful and respected but had lost sight of who they were serving. We also have church leaders today who have forgotten who they are supposed to be serving. They miss God in their self-centered journey.

Beware of false teachers with false messages. The message today is the same as yesterday. Love one another.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew 23

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Matthew:

The Wise Take Time to Prepare

What Favor Do You Ask of Jesus?

Scripture: Luke 7: 40-42

⁴⁰ Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied. ⁴¹ Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver^[i] to one and 50 pieces to the other. ⁴² But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

Scripture Commentary:

In Luke 7, Jesus asks which debtor loved the creditor more: the one with the small loan or the larger loan? The answer is the one who owed the most. God loves us so much for He forgives us when we repent and accept Him. He forgives the small sins and the large ones. Sin is sin but God forgives and forgets.

Jesus is dining at Simon’s house in Luke 7 and a woman comes, uninvited. She is a sinner who places herself at Jesus’s feet and washes them with her tears and then puts expensive oil on them. She repents of her sins.

What are you doing to repent of your sins?

Are you asking Jesus for forgiveness and accepting His Only Begotten Son as your Lord and Savior or are you just continuing on a path of sin?

Jesus forgives the sinful woman. Only God’s grace through faith saves us. This woman shows her true faith and love for Christ.

Where are you on the road of life? Are you going to God’s kingdom or are you headed to a dead end? Jesus honors faith.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Luke 7

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Luke:

Ask, Seek, and Knock on God’s Door

The True Christian Has Good Stored in His Heart