James 2:8-13 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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