34 (A)A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 (B)By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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34 “A new command(A) I give you: Love one another.(B) As I have loved you, so you must love one another.(C) 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”(D)

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(A)Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may (B)with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Glorify God Together

Therefore (C)receive one another, just (D)as Christ also received [a]us, to the glory of God.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 15:7 NU, M you

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind(A) toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify(B) the God and Father(C) of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Accept one another,(D) then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

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Unity Through Humility

Therefore if there is any [a]consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any (A)affection and mercy, (B)fulfill my joy (C)by being like-minded, having the same love, being of (D)one accord, of one mind.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:1 Or encouragement

Imitating Christ’s Humility

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,(A) if any tenderness and compassion,(B) then make my joy complete(C) by being like-minded,(D) having the same love, being one(E) in spirit and of one mind.

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24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 (A)not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and (B)so much the more as you see (C)the Day approaching.

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24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,(A) 25 not giving up meeting together,(B) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another(C)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.(D)

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Beware of Personal Favoritism

My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, (A)the Lord of glory, with (B)partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in [a]fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in [b]filthy clothes, and you [c]pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not [d]shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my beloved brethren: (C)Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be (D)rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom (E)which He promised to those who love Him? But (F)you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you (G)and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are (H)called?

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, (I)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you [e]show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as (J)transgressors.

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:2 bright
  2. James 2:2 vile
  3. James 2:3 Lit. look upon
  4. James 2:4 differentiated
  5. James 2:9 Lit. receive the face

Favoritism Forbidden

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious(A) Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.(B) Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If 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,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges(C) with evil thoughts?

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:(D) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world(E) to be rich in faith(F) and to inherit the kingdom(G) he promised those who love him?(H) But you have dishonored the poor.(I) Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?(J) Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a](K) you are doing right. But if you show favoritism,(L) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.(M)

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:8 Lev. 19:18