John Calvin Commentary James 2:6

"But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?" — James 2:6 (ASV)

Do not the rich. He seems to instigate them to vengeance by highlighting the unjust rule of the rich, so that those who were unjustly treated might retaliate in kind. Yet we are everywhere instructed to do good to those who injure us.

But James’s objective was different, for he only wished to show that those who, through ambition, honored their executioners—and at the same time harmed their own friends, or at least those from whom they had never suffered any wrong—were without reason or judgment.

For from this their vanity appeared more fully: they were not motivated by any acts of kindness. They only admired the rich because they were rich; indeed, they slavishly flattered those whom they found, to their own detriment, to be unjust and cruel.

Indeed, there are some rich people who are just, meek, and hate all unrighteousness; but few such individuals are to be found. James, then, mentions what generally happens, and what daily experience proves true. For as people commonly use their power to do wrong, it therefore happens that the more power anyone has, the worse they become, and the more unjust towards their neighbors. Therefore, the rich ought to be more careful, lest they contract any of the contagion that is prevalent among those of their own rank.