Verse 25
The law to which James referred is the revelation of God’s will contained in Scripture (cf. Matthew 5:17). It is perfect because it is the perfect will of a perfect God.
"Unlike the imperfect metal mirror in the previous illustration, this law is able to give the beholder a true and undistorted revelation of himself." [Note: Hiebert, James, p. 122.]
"The law of God is perfect, first, because it perfectly expresses his nature and, secondly, because it perfectly matches ours." [Note: Motyer, p. 70.]
It is a law of liberty because by obeying it we find true liberty from sin and its consequences (i.e., real life).
"True freedom is the opportunity and the ability to give expression to what we truly are." [Note: Ibid., p. 71.]
Note James’ agreement with Paul that Christians live in comparative liberty under the "law of Christ" (Galatians 5:1; Galatians 6:2; cf. Matthew 11:30). Obedient adherence to the Word of God is the key to experiencing God’s blessing in life now as well as in the eschatological future.
". . . the letter . . . is a ’law book’ in a deeper and more pervasive sense than any other single writing in the New Testament." [Note: Ibid., p. 21.]
"Thus the passage falls into three sections, each with a distinct response to the word God speaks: hearing (James 1:19-20), receiving (James 1:21) and obeying (James 1:22-25)." [Note: Ibid., p. 63.]
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