What's easily missed here is that "working sin" isn't just a passive mistake, but an active creation of something wrong, emphasizing that partiality isn't a minor slip-up but a fundamental violation that renders you a lawbreaker in God's eyes. The text shows that the law doesn't just convict you of being a transgressor, but convicts you as a transgressor, highlighting the active role you play in breaking faith.
But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
English Standard Version (ESV)
James is addressing his readers directly, calling out their practice of favoring the wealthy over the poor in their gatherings. He just pointed out that this favoritism violates the "royal law" of loving your neighbor as yourself. This verse then directly labels that favoritism as sin and declares them transgressors of God's law.
Ever feel like some people get special treatment? James calls this 'respect of persons,' and it's not just a minor slip-up.
James hits hard here: showing partiality, or 'respect of persons,' isn't just a bad habit – it's actively 'working sin.'
A Direct Violation
The Greek word used here, 'ergazesthai,' literally means 'to work' or 'to labor at.' It suggests an active engagement in sin, not just a passive occurrence. When you show favoritism, you're not just failing; you're building something wrong.
Breaking the Royal Law
This isn't a small detail to James. He links it directly to the 'royal law' – 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Favoritism fundamentally breaks this core command because it means you aren't loving all your neighbors equally.
How does the law convict us? James explains that it's not about the law making you feel bad, but about its undeniable verdict.
James declares that when you show partiality, you are 'convinced by the law as transgressors.' This means the divine law itself proves you're breaking it.
The Law's Verdict
This isn't necessarily about an emotional conviction or feeling guilty in your heart (though that can follow). It's about the objective truth: the law pronounces you guilty. Think of it like a court ruling – the evidence (your favoritism) leads to a clear verdict of transgression against the law.
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More Than Just Rules
The law here isn't just a list of dos and don'ts; it's a reflection of God's character and His demand for love and justice. By violating its principle of impartial love, you stand exposed as someone who doesn't align with God's righteous standards.
Understand the original words
prosōpolēmpteō · Greek Verb
The act of judging, favoring, or discriminating against others based on social status, wealth, or outward appearance, violating the principle of equality before God.
hamartia · Greek Noun
An action, thought, or attitude that misses the mark of God's perfect standard, representing an act of rebellion or disobedience against His will.
parabatēs · Greek Noun
Someone who has stepped over a boundary or violated a specific law or commandment of God, thereby incurring legal guilt.
enochos · Greek Adjective
To be held liable or under a sentence of debt/judgment due to a violation of law, requiring satisfaction or payment.
moicheuseis · Greek Verb
Sexual relations between a married person and someone other than their spouse, considered a violation of the marriage covenant and God’s law.
phoneuseis · Greek Verb
The unlawful and intentional taking of a human life, violating the sanctity of life created in God's image.
parabatēs · Greek Noun
One who violates or steps over the boundary of God's revealed moral standard; a lawbreaker.
nomou · Greek Noun
The divine revelation of God's will for humanity, providing a standard of righteousness and revealing human sinfulness.
James is addressing a community of Jewish believers who, despite their new faith in Christ, are falling back into old societal habits of favoring the wealthy and powerful, a practice directly condemned by the Law given at Sinai centuries earlier.
c. 1446 BC
The Law Given at Sinai
God gives the Ten Commandments and other laws to Israel, including commands to love one's neighbor and not show partiality.
c. 1445 BC
Leviticus 19:15 Promulgated
The Law explicitly states, 'You shall not show favor to the poor or deference to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.' This directly addresses the sin James is condemning.
c. 450 BC
Ezra and Nehemiah lead return from Exile
The Jewish community in Jerusalem begins to rebuild its society and religious life after the Babylonian exile, facing internal challenges and the need to re-establish just practices.
c. 50 AD— this verse
James Writes His Letter
Writing to Jewish Christians scattered abroad, James addresses practical issues of faith, including the danger of favoritism in the community.
c. 60-65 AD
Paul Addresses Favoritism
Paul also writes about favoritism, particularly concerning the poor in church gatherings, reinforcing James's teaching in his letter to the Corinthians.
This passage directly states, 'You shall not show favoritism to the poor or deference to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor,' which is the specific law James is alluding to when he says believers are 'convicted by the law.'
Matthew 7:12Jesus' teaching of the Golden Rule, 'So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them,' is the foundational principle that James is upholding. Showing partiality violates this core command to treat everyone with equal consideration.
Galatians 3:28Paul declares that in Christ, 'there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male and female.' This spiritual unity in Christ directly contrasts with and condemns the practice of showing partiality based on outward distinctions.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13The imagery of the body of Christ highlights the interdependence and equal value of all its members, regardless of their social standing or gifts. Partiality undermines this concept by elevating some parts of the body over others.
barnesJames 2:9: "But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors."
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin - You transgress the plain law of God, and do wrong. See the references on James 2:1 . And are convinced of the law as transgressors - Greek "By the law." The word convinced is now used in a somewhat different sense from what it was formerly. It now commonly refers to the impression made on a man's mind by showing him the truth of a thing…
vincentJames 2:9: "But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors."
Ye have respect to persons (προσωπολημπτεῖτε)Only here in New Testament. See on James 2:1.Ye commit sin (ἁμαρτίαν ἐργάζεσθε)Lit., "work sin." Compare Matthew 7:23; Acts 10:35; Hebrews 11:33. The phrase is rather stronger than the more common ἁμαρτίαν ποιεῖν, to do sin, John 8:34; James 5:15; 1 Peter 2:22. The position of sin is emphatic: "it is sin that ye are working."And are c…
What's easily missed here is that "working sin" isn't just a passive mistake, but an active creation of something wrong, emphasizing that partiality isn't a minor slip-up but a fundamental violation that renders you a lawbreaker in God's eyes. The text shows that the law doesn't just convict you of being a transgressor, but convicts you as a transgressor, highlighting the active role you play in breaking faith.
James is addressing his readers directly, calling out their practice of favoring the wealthy over the poor in their gatherings. He just pointed out that this favoritism violates the "royal law" of loving your neighbor as yourself. This verse then directly labels that favoritism as sin and declares them transgressors of God's law.
James is addressing his readers directly, calling out their practice of favoring the wealthy over the poor in their gatherings. He just pointed out that this favoritism violates the "royal law" of loving your neighbor as yourself. This verse then directly labels that favoritism as sin and declares them transgressors of God's law.
"But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said,…" — What's easily missed here is that "working sin" isn't just a passive mistake, but an active creation of something wrong, emphasizing that partiality isn't a minor slip-up but a fundamental violation…
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Last reviewed October 2026
