"My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"
Having just been instructed to show compassion on those in difficult situations, we are told not to show favoritism to those in high and comfortable positions. A very plausible hypothetical situation is then given. Two visitors come to church; we give special attention to the one who looks the best. Perhaps we will put a spiritual facade on our actions by saying that we are giving our attention to we believe has the greater potential. Really we are showing partiality. We should give no special treatment to those we like or think are important. To do so falsely raises our position to one who knows the unknown. We don't know what is really in a person, and when we give preference to the one who looks wealthy, we are doing it because we think that it will bring us increased benefits or prestige. That is evil!
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