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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - James 2:8-13

The apostle, having condemned the sin of those who had an undue respect of persons, and having urged what was sufficient to convict them of the greatness of this evil, now proceeds to show how the matter may be mended; it is the work of a gospel ministry, not only to reprove and warn, but to teach and direct. Col. 1:28; Warning every man, and teaching every man. And here, I. We have the law that is to guide us in all our regards to men set down in general. If you fulfil the royal law,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - James 2:14-26

In this latter part of the chapter, the apostle shows the error of those who rested in a bare profession of the Christian faith, as if that would save them, while the temper of their minds and the tenour of their lives were altogether disagreeable to that holy religion which they professed. To let them see, therefore, what a wretched foundation they built their hopes upon, it is here proved at large that a man is justified, not by faith only, but by works. Now, I. Upon this arises a very great... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 2:8-11

2:8-11 If you perfectly keep the royal law, as the Scripture has it: "You must love your neighbour as yourself," you do well. But if you treat people with respect of persons, such conduct is sin and you stand convicted by the law as transgressors. For, if a man keeps the whole law and yet fails to keep it in one point, he becomes guilty of transgressing the law as a whole. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." If you do not commit adultery but kill, you become a... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 2:12-13

2:12-13 So speak and so act as those who are going to be judged under the law of liberty. For he who acts without mercy will have judgment without mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. As he comes to the end of a section, James reminds his readers of two great facts of the Christian life. (i) The Christian lives under the law of liberty, and it is by the law of liberty he will be judged. What he means is this. Unlike the Pharisee and the orthodox Jew, the Christian is not a man whose life... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 2:14-26

2:14-26 My brothers, what use is it if a man claims to have faith and has no deeds to show? Are you going to claim that his faith is able to save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear, and if they have not enough for their daily food, and if one of you says to them, "Go in peace! Be warmed and fed!" and yet does not give them the essentials of bodily existence, what use is that? So, if faith too has no deeds to show, by itself it is dead. But someone may well say, "Have you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 2:10

For whosoever shall keep the whole law ,.... Or the greatest part of it, excepting only in one point, as follows: Adam, in a state of innocence, was able to keep the whole law, but by sin he lost that power, nor can any of his posterity now keep it perfectly: they are all transgressors of it, and liable to its penalty; unregenerate men are not obedient to it, and have an aversion to it, and despise it, and cast it behind their backs; regenerate persons, who love it, and delight in it, after... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 2:11

For he that said, Do not commit adultery ,.... That same lawgiver, who is but one, and is God, that gave out the seventh command, and forbids adultery, said also, Do not kill ; delivered the sixth command, which forbids murder. Now if thou commit no adultery ; do not break the seventh command; yet if thou kill , break the sixth command, thou art become a transgressor of the law ; not of that particular precept of the law, the seventh command, for the contrary is supposed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 2:12

So speak ye, and so do ,.... Both words and actions should be taken care of; it becomes men to observe what they say, and what they do; for both sinful words and works are transgressions of the law, and will be brought to judgment; every idle word, as well as every evil work, both open and secret, men must give an account of in the day of judgment: wherefore it is incumbent on them so to behave, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty : See Gill on James 1:25 with which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 2:13

For he shall have judgment without mercy ,.... Strict justice, and no mercy shown him: that hath showed no mercy ; to the poor brethren, and distressed members of Christ, but has shown respect of persons to the hurt of the poor, and has despised and oppressed them, instead of relieving and comforting them; so the rich man, that neglected Lazarus at his gates, is refused a drop of water to cool his tongue; and the servant that cruelly insisted on his fellow servant's paying him all he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 2:14

What doth it profit, my brethren ,.... The apostle having finished his discourse on respect of persons, and the arguments he used to dissuade from it, by an easy transition passes to treat upon faith and works, showing that faith without works, particularly without works of mercy, is of no profit and advantage: though a man say he hath faith, and have not works ? it is clear that the apostle is not speaking of true faith, for that, in persons capable of performing them, is not without... read more

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