3. You show special attention to the person wearing nice clothes. You say, “Sit here in this good seat.” But you say to the poor person, “Stand there!” or “Sit on the floor by our feet!”
4. Doesn’t this show that you think some people are more important than others? You set yourselves up as judges—judges who make bad decisions.
5. Listen, my dear brothers and sisters. God chose the poor people in the world to be rich in faith. He chose them to receive the kingdom God promised to those who love him.
6. But you show no respect to those who are poor. And you know that the rich are the ones who always try to control your lives. And they are the ones who take you to court.
7. And the rich are the ones who insult the wonderful name of Christ, the name by which you are known.
8. One law rules over all other laws. This royal law is found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” If you obey this law, you are doing right.
9. But if you are treating one person as more important than another, you are sinning. You are guilty of breaking God’s law.