Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary James 2:4

"Do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?" — James 2:4 (ASV)

The expressed condemnation of this practice is put in question form, but in a question that expects the readers to agree with the conclusion: “Have you not discriminated?” The practice illustrated in vv.2–3 rests on an unjustified distinction. The basis for showing favor is wrong. Those acting in this way “become judges with evil thoughts.” Here the play on words in the Greek is not apparent in the English translation. The word translated “discriminated” (GK 1359) is built on the same root as the word for “judges” (GK 3216). In so judging between people, the readers had become unjust judges.