MERCY OVER JUDGEMENT

James 2:10–13

10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

The book of James is filled with practical and challenging teachings that are relevant to our lives as Christians. In James 2:10-13, the author addresses the importance of mercy and judgment, and how the two are interconnected in our lives as believers.

1. INTRODUCTION

A. Here's an example of choosing mercy over judgment:

Imagine a student who has been consistently struggling in school due to family problems and personal issues. Despite their efforts, they continue to fall behind in their classes and their grades suffer as a result. The school administration is considering to discipline the student for their poor academic performance.

In this situation, choosing judgment would mean punishing them for their poor grades. However, choosing mercy would involve taking the student's personal situation into account and offering them additional resources and support to help them succeed.

By choosing mercy, the school could provide the student with a tutor or counselor to address their personal issues and help them get back on track academically. This approach would not only benefit the student but also create a sense of compassion and understanding within the school community.

Overall, choosing mercy over judgment in this situation could lead to a more positive outcome for the student and the school as a whole.

II. THE COMPLAINT

—v. 10. If we keep all God’s commands but break just one, we are guilty of breaking all the commands.

James 2:10 says, "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it."

A. Vase illustration

One way to illustrate this concept is to imagine a beautiful glass vase. This vase is perfect in every way, with delicate curves, intricate patterns, and a brilliant shine. However, there is one small crack in the vase, barely visible to the naked eye. Despite the fact that the rest of the vase is flawless, this one tiny imperfection makes the entire vase imperfect and flawed. It is no longer as beautiful or valuable as it was before, and it may even be in danger of breaking completely if the crack is not repaired.

In the same way, a single sin, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, can make us imperfect and flawed in the eyes of God. We may try to live a righteous life, keeping most of the commandments and doing good works, but if we stumble in just one area, we are guilty of breaking the whole law.

This mean that we cannot rely on our own efforts to make us righteous. Instead, we must rely on the grace and mercy of God, who sent His Son to pay the price for our sins and make us righteous through faith in Him.

B. ITS NOT ABOUT FOLLOWING LAWS BUT ITS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE HEART

This verse reminds us that keeping the law is not just about following some rules, but it's a matter of the heart. It's not just about doing what we think is right or what makes us look good in front of others. Rather, it's about living a life that pleases God and demonstrates our love for Him.

The fact is that we are all guilty of breaking the law at some point. We may not have committed murder or theft, but we have all fallen short in some way. Maybe we've lied, gossiped, or harbored bitterness towards someone. Whatever it is, even one sin makes us guilty of breaking the whole law.

But there is good news. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven and made righteous in God's sight. It's not about trying harder or being perfect, but it's about putting our trust in Him and allowing His grace to transform us from the inside out.

So, let us not be discouraged by our failures, but let us turn to Jesus and trust in Him for forgiveness and strength to live a life that honors God and loves others.

III. THE COMMANDS

—v. 11. Two of the Ten Commandments are listed: (1) Do not commit adultery. (2) Do not kill.

Note Jesus’ words about how one may commit adultery—Matthew 5:28 “28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Also, the Bible warns us that hate is equal to murder—1 John 3:15 “15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

James 2:11 states, "For he who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law."

A. IF YOU BREAK ONE LAW YOU BREAK THEM ALL

In this verse, James is emphasizing the importance of following all of God's commandments, not just picking and choosing which ones to follow. He uses the examples of adultery and murder to illustrate his point.

Both adultery and murder are sins in God's eyes, and both are listed as commandments in the Old Testament. James is pointing out that if someone were to follow one of these commandments but not the other, they would still be a transgressor of the law.

Think of it like this...

B. CHAIN LINK ILLUSTRATION

imagine a large chain made up of many links. Each link represents one of the commandments in the law. If one link is broken, the entire chain is weakened and may even be useless for its intended purpose.

Now imagine that each link in the chain is made up of a different material, such as gold, silver, or iron. Some of the links may be more valuable or precious than others, but if even one link is broken, it doesn't matter how valuable the other links are. The chain is still broken and cannot fulfill its intended purpose.

C. HOLISTIC APPROACH TO OBEDIENCE

James is urging his readers to have a holistic approach to obedience, where they strive to obey all of God's commandments, not just the ones that are easy or convenient. True obedience requires a heart that is fully devoted to God and seeks to honor Him in all things.

As we reflect on James 2:11, let us ask God to help us have a genuine and consistent obedience, one that honors and glorifies Him in all areas of our lives.

IIII. THE CONCERN

James says this in verses 12 and 13...

“So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

A. THE MESSAGE OF MERCY

I. James tells us that judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. In other words, if we refuse to show mercy to others, we can't expect to receive mercy from God.

This is a sobering reminder that we need to be merciful if we want to receive mercy. It's easy to become judgmental and critical of others, but God calls us to show compassion and kindness instead.

We should be quick to forgive, slow to anger, and generous in our love for others.

Some in the church believe and act as if being critical is a fruit of the spirit. Let me tell you, it’s not! There are three roots to someone who is critical.

B. THREE ROOTS OF CRITICISM

I. Thanklessness.

Instead of being grateful for every gift, action, or kind word, the critical spirit weighs everything against an imagined standard of unattainable perfection and gripes and grumbles when it falls short. It complains about what it doesn’t have instead of appreciating what it does. II. Selfishness.

Critical spirits reside in people who expect and demand to be served. They believe their needs should be met first, their wants attended to quickly, and their preferences honored. 

III. Insecurity.

Critical spirits build themselves up by tearing others down. Pointing out others’ failures, errors, and flaws, makes them feel smug, smart, and superior.  James tells us that mercy triumphs over judgment. This means that when we show mercy to others, we're not only doing what God expects of us, but we're also reflecting the character of God himself.

God is merciful and compassionate, and he wants us to imitate him in our relationships with others.

When we show mercy, we demonstrate the power of God's love to transform lives and bring healing to brokenness.

We need to remember that faith isn't just a set of beliefs or doctrines that we affirm. True faith is a relationship with Jesus that transforms us from the inside out.

When we put our faith in Jesus, he empowers us to live a new kind of life – a life that's characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

V. APPLICATION

James 2:10-13 emphasizes the importance of showing mercy to others and reminds us that we are all equally in need of God's grace and forgiveness. Here are some practical applications of this passage:

A. Avoid hypocrisy:

James 2:10-11 shows us that we cannot pick and choose which commandments to follow. If we are quick to judge and condemn others for their sins while ignoring our own, we are guilty of hypocrisy. Instead, we should humbly acknowledge our own shortcomings and extend mercy and compassion to others.

B. Show mercy:

James 2:12-13 reminds us that mercy triumphs over judgment. Instead of condemning others for their sins, we should seek to understand their struggles and offer support and encouragement to help them overcome their sin. This may involve confronting their sin in a loving and compassionate way, but it should always be done with the goal of restoration and healing, not condemnation.

C. Remember God's grace:

James 2:13 reminds us that we are all equally in need of God's grace and forgiveness. None of us can keep the law perfectly, and we all fall short in some way. It is only through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that we can be made righteous and forgiven of our sins. Remembering this can help us extend grace and mercy to others, knowing that we have received the same from God.

D. Practice forgiveness:

James 2:13 encourages us to be merciful and forgiving towards others, just as God has been merciful and forgiving towards us. This may be difficult, especially when we have been hurt or wronged by others, but it is essential for maintaining healthy relationships and for demonstrating the love of Christ to the world.