"Playing Favorites" Part 2 (James 2:8-13)

Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:7–21

Introduction: Going on and on...

Do you go on and on about things like I do?

If it is important to you, you probably do.

James is not finished on the subject at hand.

Transition: Favoritism

Part 1: Partiality/Favoritism is Contrary to the Faith (vv. 1-7)

Part 2: Partiality/Favoritism is Contrary to the Scripture (vv. 8-13)

The Royal Law (vv. 8-9)

The Whole Law (vv. 10-11)

The Law of Liberty (vv. 12-13)

I. The Royal Law (vv. 8-9)

This just sounds important, and it certainly is.

I. A. What is the royal law?

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (v. 8)

Le 19:18, Mt 22:39

Leviticus 19:18 ESV

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Matthew 22:39 ESV

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Who is your neighbor? (Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:24-37).

As yourself? You care for yourself when you are able to.

So James tells us what command he is referring to.

Why does he call it royal?

Royal - belonging to the King; of the King and for His Kingdom

The Lord Jesus Christ is the King who commands it.

The members of His kingdom are the ones who should obey it (v. 5).

I. B. How do we brake the royal law?

Notice the contrast (v. 9)

If you do this…then you are doing this.

Partiality contrasts with love.

Committing sin contrast with doing well.

The partiality that James refers to here is serious.

It is sinful, which means that...

It is morally criminal - convicted by the law as transgressors (breaker, violator).

We should not dismiss this in our life. We should see it for what it is.

II. The Whole Law (vv. 10-11)

James is taking it another step to show the importance of this.

II. A. What is the whole law?

James’ way of referring to all of/the entirety of God’s commands to mankind.

Here taken together as a unit.

Whole law…one point…all of it.

One command/law is a representation of the whole.

The one point or one law under consideration is the royal law.

They should not minimize this law.

It is just as important as any of the other laws.

Note:

Some commands/ laws, particularly OT laws, rightly interpreted and applied, were meant by God to be for a particular time and purpose that has since passed.

So, it is appropriate to be discerning about what commands in the whole of scripture are literally binding for NT Christians - a worthy study/consideration.

But that doesn’t change what James is saying here. That’s not part of this teaching.

James’ point here, simply, is that the laws/commands of God are all in essence/heart one, which is why they can be summarized in one (Ro 13:9, Gal 5:14).

Romans 13:9 ESV

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:14 ESV

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

II. B. How do we brake the whole law?

By braking just one. Since the whole law can be summarized in one, the whole law can also be broken in one (but no one ever breaks just one).

So consider 2 main emphases in verses 10-11...

If we brake one law, then we are lawbreakers.

Brake one link in the chain, and the whole chain is broken.

Whatever law you break, you are breaking them all.

What James wants his readers to see is that mistreatment of others is equal to breaking the Ten Commandments. All the laws are equal in this sense. If breaking this one is breaking them all, and breaking that one is breaking them all, then breaking any one of them is the same as breaking any other one of them.

Notice that if you murder you are a transgressor of the law just like if you violate the royal law (v. 9).

If we brake one law, then we are Lawgiver offenders.

This clarifies the oneness or unity of the whole law. They all come from one source.

And again, the point is that breaking the royal law, by showing favoritism is just as serious as breaking any of the laws, since breaking any one of them is equal to breaking all of them.

And therefore, offends God equally.

You might say, “it’s a good thing we’re not saved by keeping the law.” Yes, that’s right…***

But, you will still be judged by the law of liberty.

III. The Law of Liberty (vv. 12-13)

James takes this a step EVEN further seemingly anticipating a potential argument.

III. A. What is the law of liberty?

Law - the commands of God, that for believers are...

Both liberating (1:25 - the word of God)

How is it liberating? How does it give freedom?

It teaches us about the spiritual freedom that we can have in Christ, NOT in keeping the law.

We don’t have to obey the law, but we can obey the law.

It liberates us from the doom of the law, and it liberates us from the inability to keep the law.

And binding

So speak and so act.

James remind believers that even they will be judged, whether final or in the moment.

We as believers secured in God’s promises are still held accountable for how we live.

It is really a way of referring to God’s commands as still applicable to believers (rightly interpreted and applied).

The law to love your neighbor as yourself is the royal law, it is included in the whole law, and it is a law of liberty - it qualifies as all three.

We’re not saved by this law, we’re educated by this law that we need a Saviour.

But, we are still bound by, or held accountable to this law.

III. B. How do we brake the law of liberty?

By not showing mercy (v. 13).

Mercy - compassion, showing mercy is expressing compassion

In a proverbial way, James condemns the absence of mercy and commends the presence of mercy.

If you are hard on others, then judgement will be hard on you. In other words, if you are hurtful to others, then you bring judgment upon yourself.

On the other hand, if you are helpful to others, then you will eliminate the judgement for not showing mercy.

Why does James bring in the word “mercy”?

Showing mercy is another way of saying love your neighbor...

This is the heart of the royal law (Lk 6:36; Lk 10:36-37).

Luke 6:36 ESV

Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Luke 10:36–37 ESV

Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

This brings even more application to the royal law that’s being violated in favoritism.

James gives more and more weight to this law, and he gives more and more clarity to this law.

So the argument in this text may run something like this...

Is favoritism a big deal?

Verses 8-9 - It is a violation of the royal law.

But it’s just one law, right?

Verses 10-11 - To break one, is to brake them all.

But I don’t have to keep the law to be saved, right?

Verses 12-13 - That’s right, but you will be judged by the law of liberty.

Application: We should take this seriously.

Our inappropriate favoritism is not just a small matter.

We should be aware of our mistreatment of others, and...

We should see it for what it really is...

A violation of the royal law

A violation of the whole law

A violation of the law of liberty

Benediction: 2 Co 13:14

2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.