King James Bible
"But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?"
James confronts the church for dishonoring the poor despite their faith, directly contradicting God's choice to exalt the humble. This rebuke follows his condemnation of favoritism, exposing how showing partiality to the wealthy inherently devalues those without status. James employs rhetorical irony, reminding readers that the wealthy class they honor are often the very ones exploiting them economically. In the first-century context, the rich frequently used their power to extract labor and resources from the poor through unjust practices. The wealthy abuse the legal system to sue and prosecute believers, likely over debts or property disputes. This phrase reveals the absurdity of favoring those who actively persecute the church through corrupt judicial proceedings.