James 2:8-13

Intro:

Recap on last week

v. 1-7

Observations:

v. 8-9, builds off of v. 1-7; to show partiality is to disobey the second greatest commandment, loving your neighbor as yourself, and therefore sin and become convicted by the law as a transgressor.

v. 10-11, James builds off of v. 8-9’s point and states that to keep the whole law and sin in one part of it, is to become guilty by all of it. He further expounds on this with an example between adultery and murder.

v. 12, His conclusion is to speak and act as though we will be judged by “the law of liberty” (is this THE Law?)

v. 13, He caps off his conclusion with judgment will be merciless to the one who has shown no mercy (likely a recall back to those who show partiality) and that mercy will be what triumphs over judgment.

Head- What does it mean?

v. 8-9,

Protection from self-deception and ineffectiveness

“The link-term is that of self-deception, applicable to both the uncomprehending person in v 24 and the individual who refuses to bridle his tongue and is thereby deceived into imagining that religion of mere profession is good enough.”

v. 26-27

Religion without self-control is worthless (What does loose tongue have to do with religiosity?) v. 26

Pure religion is a life of holy proactiveness

Among the fatherless and husbandless (); the vulnerable of society

James’s mention of Scripture in v. 8 is in reference to

In the self, unstained by the world

Commentary:

To fulfil the law is to do well, however in this particula

Jesus further contextualizes this passage in mentioning it along side the greatest commandment in

v. 26, “One of these, which is apparently of great concern to James, is the whole matter of controlling the tongue. He has already counselled his readers to be ‘quick to listen, slow to speak’ (v. 19). In chapter 3 he will develop the issue at some length (vv. 1–12) and he returns to it again in 4:11–12. The tongue, James suggests, is like a wild animal. Properly controlled and directed, it can accomplish great good. But when left on its own, its destructive powers are enormous.

People who fail to control their tongues deceive themselves about the reality of their religion. They are mere ‘hearers’ of the word, and by failing to put what they hear into practice, they show that their religion is worthless.

For James to reference this passage in light of the discussion on partiality from v. 1-7, he then begins to transition to the warning of his point against partiality in v. 9: showing partiality is a sin, for it is not loving a neighbor as one would love themself; therefore committing this sin convicts us as transgressors by the entirety of the law.

The word religion captures well the meaning of the Greek thrēskeia (and the rare adjective thrēskos). The term is used widely in the Greek world to denote the reverencing and worshipping of a god (or gods). It often connotes outward acts of worship. The true test of any religious profession, suggests James, is not the outward ritual of worship, which many go through unthinkingly and with little heart commitment. No, the real litmus test of religion is obedience; without it, religion is worthless: empty, useless and profitless.”

v. 10-11,

Transitioning from v. 9, James puts his warning into context:

To sin in one part of the law is to have the entirety of the law condemn you.

In v. 11, he fleshes out his example with murder and adultery, two different kinds of sin. To commit one kind of sin over another is to transgress against the entire law nonetheless.

v. 12-13,

James concludes with a call to action: live and speak as though we will be judged by the law of liberty, for judgment shows no partiality as we should show no partiality in our mercy.

Heart- Do I buy it?

What are your thoughts on v. 10?

Should Christians be “religious”? Why or why not?

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What does being religious, as described in this context, look like for us as sailors?

4

How does v. 12-13 fit into this discussion if it is impossible to keep the entire law?

Hands- So What? How then should I live?

Showing impartiality in our love and mercifulness is an aspect of the identity-based action/living put on all Christians.

Walk with God

Keep Christ first

Keep sin out of your life