“Do you take notice

Of the one wearing

The fine clothes

And say,

‘Have an honorable seat here!’

Do you say

To the one who is poor,

‘Stand there!’

Or

‘Sit under

My footstool.’?”

ἐπιβλέψητε δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν φοροῦντα τὴν ἐσθῆτα τὴν λαμπρὰν καὶ εἴπητε Σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς, καὶ τῷ πτωχῷ εἴπητε Σὺ στῆθι ἐκεῖ ἢ κάθου ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου,

James said, “Do you take notice (ἐπιβλέψητε) of the one wearing (δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν φοροῦντα) the fine clothes (τὴν ἐσθῆτα τὴν λαμπρὰν) and say (καὶ εἴπητε), ‘Have an honorable seat here (Σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς)!’  Do you say (εἴπητε) to the one who is poor (καὶ τῷ πτωχῷ), ‘Stand there (Σὺ στῆθι ἐκεῖ)!’ or (ἢ) ‘Sit under my footstool (κάθου ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου).’?”  James pointed out that based on their clothes, the two people entering the synagogue or assembly would be treated differently.  The well-dressed person would be greeted with “sit beside me in an honorable place”, while the poorly dressed person would be told to sit under his footstool or stand over there and don’t bother anybody.  Obviously, this seemed to indicate that the person in the assembly making these decisions and comments was a rich person with a footstool already there.  How do you treat people when you are in a church or a synagogue gathering?