James 2:10-13

February 11, 2008


As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: keeps, guilty, transgressor, law of liberty, and mercy.


Passage for the day: James 2:10-13 (NASB)

10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.


Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

How can you be guilty of violating the entire law if you only broke one of the commandments?



What is the law of liberty?



Since we will be judged by the law of liberty, how should we act toward others?




What are 2 ways that you can show mercy to others this week?



Chew on this:

Sometimes we think that if we keep most of God’s commands, then we are okay. James explains to us that there is no middle ground. James tells us in this passage that if we violate even one of God’s commands, then we are guilty of all of them. How is this possible? Think of it this way. Sin is never a question of breaking a single command but of violating the integrity of the whole law. Each of the Ten Commandments are connected, like links in a chain. We offend the whole law through every single sin because we are actually refusing to submit to the Law-Giver, God Himself. The two extreme examples of adultery and murder show how this works. If you say, “Well, I only committed adultery, but at least I did not kill anybody,” then you have missed the entire point of obeying God’s commands. It is not the carrying out of the command but the heart attitude of submission that is required. Every time we sin, we are refusing to submit to God and are in opposition to God’s plan for our lives.

Instead, James tells us to speak and act as those who are to be judged by a law that makes them free. The law of freedom does not condemn – it liberates us! This law sets free those who obey it when they, in turn, set free those who are oppressed by the world. We obey this law of freedom through including the poor and unfortunate as people God has called us to serve. God will delight in showing His mercy to those who do this. However, if you refuse to show mercy and love your neighbor as yourself, then you will be in danger of judgment. Love and mercy define the “law of freedom.” Rejecting this liberating law means falling under judgment of the whole law.

It is interesting to me that James is so harsh about this concept of showing love and mercy. He does not come down on the adulterers and murderers in this passage (although they too will be judged). Instead, James’ focus is on getting us to see life from God’s perspective. Showing favoritism and refusing to show mercy to others is a very serious sin! It is not something that we can just overlook or take lightly. Failure to show mercy to those in need calls into question whether there has been any true act of repentance in face of God’s mercy. We have been shown great mercy and love from our God – why should we withhold that same mercy and love to others who are in need?

As we go throughout the day, let us remember to be Christians who submit to God’s commands with a heart of submission and be marked by our love and mercy toward those God has called us to serve!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen