James 2:8-13

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.  But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.  For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.  For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.  So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.  For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Love for others is the summary of God’s Law for how we are to treat one another.  Laws are generally stated in a negative way as in: Thou shalt not… However, this law is stated in the positive: Thou shalt love your neighbor.  Somehow, failing to fulfill a positive law seems less serious than doing something that has been prohibited.  James demonstrates the gravity of failing to fulfill God’s Law and shows us a better way forward.

PARTIALITY IS TRANGRESSION: Showing partiality to one person over another might somehow be misconstrued as loving the person who is being favored.  The reality is that the person who is being neglected is also a neighbor and therefore partiality is a transgression of the Law.  We are called to love all people and strive to meet their needs to the best of our ability independently of what they may or may not be able to do for us in return.  God loves us unconditionally and He calls us to love one another unconditionally as well. 

TRANSGRESSION IS JUDGED: The Law is a unified code of conduct that requires complete adherence.  The offense of one principle of the Law leaves the offender guilty of breaking the entirety of the Law.  Judgment will come upon those who break the Law.  The Law is God’s standard, and any offense of that standard is an offense against God Himself.  He is the judge, and any who offend the Law are living in rebellion against Him.  

JUDGMENT IS UNMERCIFUL: Judgment must always uphold that which is just.  Judgment cannot be merciful to the detriment of justice.  Those who show partiality are living under the Law of justice.  In Christ we have the opportunity to live under the Law of liberty with mercy as He has been judged in our place.  If we desire to live under the law of God’s grace and mercy, we must also demonstrate mercy to others.  The judgment that is necessary in showing partiality will only lead itself to our own merciless judgment.

APPLICATION: Understand that partiality is sin.  Love people unconditionally as Christ has loved us.  Remember that sin of any type is rebellion against God and merits His condemnation.  Show grace to others and live under the mercy of liberty as we have experienced from the Lord.

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