2:6. But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?
2:6. But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? - The church at that time was choosing to exalt the rich above the poor because of their wealth, clothing and social status. Though Christ had shown that it was the poor in heart who would be honoured in the coming Kingdom of God he also showed a new law that all should be equally accepted in Christ as heirs of the promise.
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26 -29)
James is writing as a warning to the church about honouring the poor man. The rich at the time were the ones who were treating the poor with contempt. James is asking the church to wake up to those around them. It would be safely assumed that the rich people James is speaking and writing about in this and the last chapter gained their wealth through ungodly practices and exploited their positions. The church was so eager to please and honour the rich and place them in the high places yet these very people who were so esteemed, were the ones that were dragging these people into the judgment houses and law courts without regard to mercy and grace, the very essence of how God’s people should be treated.
