James 1:9-11

Riches, and their perishableness

9. Let the brother of low degree The Greek joins the sentence on to the preceding with the conjunction which may be either "and," or "but," implying that there is a sequence of ideas of some kind. The train of thought would seem to lie in the fact, as shewn in our Lord's words (Matthew 6:24) that the love of mammon is the most common source of the "double-mindedness" which St James condemns, both in the poor and in the rich. The "brother" is used, as commonly in the New Testament as meaning one of the brotherhood of Christ. The word Christian had probably not as yet come into use in the Churches of Judæa, and was, at any rate, used of the disciples by others rather than by themselves. "Of low degree" is, perhaps, somewhat too narrow a rendering. Better, he that is lowly or more simply "he that is low." The contrast with the rich man shews that "poverty" is the chief feature in the low estate spoken of.

rejoice Better as elsewhere, glory, or exult.

in that he is exalted Better, in his exaltation. His lowliness instead of being a thing to be ashamed of, was his true title to honour. Christ had marked him out as an heir of the Kingdom (Luke 6:20; see ch. James 2:5). Man's estimate of honour and dishonour is reversed by God.