12th Sunday After Pentecost

1My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not
show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold
ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3If
you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s
a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on
the floor by my feet,” 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and
become judges with evil thoughts?

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5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are
poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he
promised those who love him? 6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not
the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you
into court? 7Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of
him to whom you belong?
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as
yourself,” you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are
convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law
and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who
said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you
do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a
lawbreaker.
12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that
gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone
who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.