Thoughts on James 2:8-13

⁸ If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well. ⁹ But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 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. 

In life there will always be conditions that will be placed upon us. A government may place conditions on the people to maintain order and to prosper their nation. A society may place conditions on a community to enhance the surrounding environment. Employers place conditions on it employees to preform their job to produce a profit. Doctors may place conditions on their patients treatment to promote quality of life. Parents may place conditions on their children in order to instill certain values. God the Father has place conditions on those who call themselves children of God, as a remind to His children that there are consequences for not adhering to the principals and tenets of the faith.

This main point of this passage is that there are principles given to us by God the Father to instill in us as His children; His heart, His mind, and His purpose for His creation. To pick and choose which principles we will follow is to only follow a portion of the whole law. The passage brings out five principles: Love your neighbor, Do not commit adultery or murder, and speak and act as one that will be judged. The question is; are you seeking to follow all God's principals or only the ones that you think matter for your benefit? I pray that you choose wisely, God's ways, for that is the point of the passage.


Pray with me: O Lord of mercy. You are God, filled with love for Your children. O Lord, I know that there are principles of the faith that I have stumbled over. I know that I have not fulfilled the law of liberty to allow you to free my soul from myself. I thank you for providing me with clear picture of the expectations as Your child. I pray You instill in me the power of Your Holy Spirit to guide me in Your ways, that I may be an example of Your Son Jesus to my neighbor. Amen...