Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Hearken—James brings to trial the self-constituted "judges" (James 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" (I Timothy 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 (Matthew 5:3; I Corinthians 1:26-28).
rich in faith—Their riches consist in faith. Luke 12:21, "rich toward God." I Timothy 6:18, "rich in good works" (Revelation 2:9; compare II Corinthians 8:9). Christ's poverty is the source of the believer's riches.
kingdom . . . promised— (Luke 12:32; I Corinthians 2:9; II Timothy 4:8).
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing James 2:5:
Isaiah 29:19
Haggai 2:8
Matthew 5:3
Luke 6:20-21
Luke 12:21
Romans 8:28
1 Corinthians 1:27
1 Corinthians 11:22
1 Timothy 6:18
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