James 2:8-10 NIV

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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 2:8

If ye fulfil the royal law ,.... Which is the law of love to men, without distinction of rich and poor, high and low, bond and free; and is so called, because it is the law of the King of kings; hence the Syriac version renders it, "the law of God", it is the law of Christ, who is King of saints; and because it is a principal law, the chief of laws; as love to God is the sum of the first and great commandment in the law, and may be called the king of laws; so love to the neighbour is the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 2:9

But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin , &c.; This is not doing well, but is a transgression of the law, as every sin is; hence it follows, and are convinced of the law as transgressors ; which carries on a formal process against such persons; it accuses them of sin, and charges them with it; it proves it upon them, and convicts them of it; it pronounces them guilty, and curses them for it; and passes the sentence of condemnation and death upon them; wherefore care should... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:8

The royal law - Νομον βασιλικον . This epithet, of all the New Testament writers, is peculiar to James; but it is frequent among the Greek writers in the sense in which it appears St. James uses it. Βασιλικος , royal, is used to signify any thing that is of general concern, is suitable to all, and necessary for all, as brotherly love is. This commandment; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, is a royal law, not only because it is ordained of God, and proceeds from his kingly... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:9

But if ye have respect to persons - In judgment, or in any other way; ye commit sin against God, and against your brethren, and are convinced, ελεγχομενοι , and are convicted, by the law; by this royal law, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself; as transgressors, having shown this sinful acceptance of persons, which has led you to refuse justice to the poor man, and uphold the rich in his oppressive conduct. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:10

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, etc. - This is a rabbinical form of speech. In the tract Shabbath, fol. 70, where they dispute concerning the thirty-nine works commanded by Moses, Rabbi Yochanan says: But if a man do the whole, with the omission of one, he is guilty of the whole, and of every one. In Bammidar rabba, sec. 9, fol. 200, and in Tanchum, fol. 60, there is a copious example given, how an adulteress, by that one crime, breaks all the ten commandments, and by the same mode... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:8

Verse 8 Now follows a plainer declaration; for he expressly points out the cause of the last reproof, for they were officiously attentive to the rich, not from love, but on the contrary, from a vain desire of attaining their favor: And it is in anticipation, by which he obviated an excuse on the other side; for they might have objected and said, that he ought not to be blamed, who humbly submiteth himself to the unworthy. James, indeed, concedes that this is true, but he shews that it was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:9

Verse 9 When, in the second place, he says, that those who had respect of persons were convinced, or reproved by the law, the law is taken according to its proper meaning. For since we are bidden by God’s command to embrace all mortals, every one who, with a few exceptions, rejects all the rest, breaks the bond of God, and inverts also his order, and is, therefore, rightly called a transgressor of the law. read more

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 2:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 2:9

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:9

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