James 2:10-11

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:1-13

Respect of persons. Amongst the other evils of which these Christian Jews were guilty, was the gross evil of respect of persons. James presents the scene graphically, according to his wont. There is the synagogue, with the worshippers gathering for worship, some taking the good places, as it were the chancel-seats, near to the ark with the roll of the Law, and to the table of the Lord; some the lower seats, away from the speaker anti the Word. When, lo, a rich man enters, some stranger to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:8-11

Stumbling in one point. In these verses James takes the high ground that "respect of persons" is a transgression of the law by which we are to be judged; anal one which, like every other, involves the guilt of breaking the whole law. I. TO RESPECT PERSONS IS TO COMMIT SIN . (Verses 8, 9) It involves disobedience to " the royal law. " This is a noticeable expression. Any Divine commandment may be described as "royal," seeing that it emanates from the supreme... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:10

In this verse the subjunctives τηρήσῃ πταίσῃ , are rightly read by the Revisors, with א , B, C. The Law was express on the need of keeping all the commandments; see Le 19:37 (the same chapter to which St. James has already referred), καὶ φυλάξωσθε πάντα τὸν νόμον μου καὶ πάντα τὰ προστάγματά μου καὶ ποιήσετε αὐτά ) . He is guilty of all. The very same thought is found in rabbinical writers (Talmud, 'Schabbath,' fol. 70); a saying of R. Johanan: "Quodsi racist... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:10

The obedience which God requires is absolute. "Whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." Why, since the breach of but one command is certainly not as sinful as the breach of all? Because "Compound for sins they are inclined to, By damning those they have no mind to." As Christians, we are not entitled to bow down in the house of Rimmon, nor does the strictest obedience to one command give us a dispensation to break another; e.g. spotless... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:11

Do not commit adultery … do not kill. The order of the commandments is remarkable; what is now the seventh is placed bolero the sixth. This appears to have been the usual order at that time. In this order our Lord quotes them in Luke 18:20 , and St. Paul in Romans 13:9 . Philo also has the same order, and expressly comments on it, drawing from it an argument for the heinousness of adultery. In the Vatican Manuscript of the LXX . in Exodus 20:13-15 the order is, " Thou shalt not... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 2:10

For whosoever shall keep the whole law - All except the single point referred to. The apostle does not say that this in fact ever did occur, but he says that if it should, and yet a man should have failed in only one particular, he must be judged to be guilty. The case supposed seems to be that of one who claimed that he had kept the whole law. The apostle says that even if this should be admitted for the time to be true in all other respects, yet, if he had failed in any one particular - in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 2:11

For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill - That is, these are parts of the same law of God, and one is as obligatory as the other. If, therefore, you violate either of these precepts, you transgress the law of God as such, and must be held to be guilty of violating it as a whole. The penalty of the law will be incurred, whatever precept you violate. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 2:8-11

James 2:8-11. If ye fulfil the royal law The supreme law of the great King, which is love; and that to every man, poor as well as rich; ye do well The phrase, νομος βασιλικος , royal law, here admits of three interpretations. 1st, As the Greeks called a thing royal which was excellent in its kind, it may mean an excellent law. 2d, As the same Greeks, having few or no kings among them, called the laws of the kings of Persia, βασιλικοι νομοι , royal laws, the expression here may... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - James 2:1-13

Favouritism destroys love (2:1-13)Standards of judgment in the church are not the same as those in the society round about. People ought not to be given important places in the church merely because they have important places in the society. Likewise poor people should not be ignored (2:1-4). God welcomes people into his kingdom regardless of wealth or social position, and gives his riches to them equally. James notes how strange it is that the Christians should show special favour to the rich,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - James 2:10

offend = stumble. Greek. ptaio. See Romans 11:11 . is = has been. guilty . See Deuteronomy 27:26 . Matthew 26:66 . Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:10 . read more

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