James 2:8-13

⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.

⁹ But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

¹¹ For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

¹² Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,

¹³ because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

royal law (v.8) — the law of love

royal (v.8) — The definite article is absent in Greek, indicating that quality is emphasized. It is royal or kingly in its relation to other laws. Jesus said that this and the first commandment are so fundamental that on them “hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:40). — KJV Commentary, page 1718.

__________

The supreme law is that of verse 8 (Leviticus 19:18) To make a distinction between rich and poor violates this law, and this violation is sin (v.9). Such action breaks the whole law, though not the whole of the law. To break one link in a chain is to destroy the chain (v.10). — Williams, page 994.

__________

A basketball, whether it misses the hoop by an inch or a yard, still fails to score. Likewise, he who shows partiality becomes a transgressor just as readily as if he had murdered or committed adultery (vs.10-11). — KJV Commentary, page 1719.

__________

[Verse 10] is the most succinct summary of why man cannot be saved by keeping the Law (Acts 13:39; Romans 2:13; 3:20; Galatians 3:11). If we keep ALL the Law, but violate the smallest point of it, we are doomed. This was the point of the story of the rich young ruler who came to the Lord in Matthew 19:16-22. — Grace, page 2197.

__________

Is it not interesting that James inverted these two sins (v.11)? One might think that he would say, “Now if thou commit no murder, yet if thou commit adultery,” but instead he presents the case that adultery is worse than murder. — Grace, page 2197.

speak and act (v.12) — present tense, indicating continuous action

the law that gives freedom (v.13) — In James’ usage (here and in 1:25), the law of Christ (Acts 15:10, cf. John 8:32). — Grace, page 2197.

__________

We believe the “royal law” is a reference to the totality of the Law of Moses which is summed up in “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” You see, if the hearers of James loved their neighbor, they would not commit adultery with their neighbor’s wife. If they loved their neighbor, they would not steal from him or do him any harm. but if they showed partiality against their neighbor, they had sinned and therefore were transgressors of the law. …

Those who lived under the law will be judge by the law. “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” Note, James clarifies that it will essentially be the “perfect law of liberty” the Lord uses the administer justice in the kingdom. As we have seen, it specifically deals with relationships under the Mosaic system and exposes the motive behind the action. One of the standards is this: those who showed no mercy will not be shown mercy (Matthew 7:1-5, cf. James 2:13). The apostle’s desire was that his readers would show mercy to the poor so that in the Day of Judgment they might rejoice in judgment and not be the subject of it for being unmerciful. — Sadler, pages 64-65.

__________

We must remember that [verse 13] is written to believing Kingdom Jews. The issue cannot be eternal damnation or judgment because Scripture is clear that no one is saved by works (Galatians 2:16; 1 Peter 1:18-19). However, all believers in every dispensation will give an account of their stewardship (Kingdom believers, Matthew 25:14-30; Body of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:10). Also remember that the preceding context of this verse is a warning against showing favoritism. What this verse is teaching is that when believers stand before God to give an account of their service, there will be no favoritism or partiality. God’s judgment will be impartial and proportional (2 Samuel 22:26-27; Psalm 18:25-26; Proverbs 21:13; Matthew 5:7; 6:15; Luke 6:37). — Grace, page 2198.