What does James 2:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God will not judge us with partiality. He will punish the unmerciful unmercifully. We need to understand this statement in the light of other revelations concerning how God will judge believers. We are in no danger of losing our salvation or even experiencing God"s wrath. However, we will suffer a loss of reward if we sin by practicing unmerciful favoritism ( 2 Corinthians 5:10; cf. Matthew 5:7; Matthew 6:15; Matthew 7:1; Matthew 18:23-25). [source][source]

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On the other hand, if we are merciful in dealing with our fellowmen God will be merciful in dealing with us when we stand before Him (cf. Matthew 25:34-40). Mercy triumphs over judgment just as love triumphs over partiality. We should accept one another with courtesy, compassion, and consistency. ^[1] [source]

In modern life, partiality sometimes arises because of differences in economic levels, race, religious preferences, political views, educational backgrounds, and personal opinions, to name a few causes. ^[2] For Christians it is sometimes harder to be impartial toward sinners who flaunt their sin than it is those who acknowledge that they have sinned. However because Christ died for all we should reach out to all as He did rather than being unfriendly and cliquish. This is true whether the sinners are homosexuals, AIDS patients, the murderers of unborn children, liars, adulterers, thieves, gossips, or gluttons, for example. This reaching out will be an accurate indicator of the extent to which Christ"s love controls us (cf. James 1:27). [source][source]

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This section of verses may raise a question in some minds concerning how James viewed the Christian"s relationship to the Mosaic Law. Was he implying that we are responsible to keep the whole Mosaic Code? His own words at the Jerusalem Council show that this was not his view (cf. Acts 15:13-21). God gave the Mosaic Law both to regulate the life of the Israelites and to reveal the character and purposes of God to the Israelites and all other people. Its regulatory function ceased when Jesus died on the cross ( Romans 10:4; Hebrews 7:12). Its revelatory value remains forever; it is part of Scripture that is still profitable ( 2 Timothy 3:16). The moral revelation James referred to here is as applicable now as it was before the Cross. God still expects people to live in its light. Whereas God has terminated the Mosaic Law as a codified body of law, some individual commands within this covenant continue in force under the new "law of liberty." These are the laws affecting all human conduct presently in contrast to those affecting only the life of the Israelites under the Mosaic Law. Christians live under a new set of rules, the law of liberty. Israelites lived under a different set of rules, the Law of Moses. The fact that the "golden rule" was part of the Mosaic Law as well as the law of Christ does not mean that we are still under the Mosaic Law. ^[3] [source]

Context Summary

This sin of making distinctions in God's house is as rife today as ever; and wherever it is practiced the divine Spirit departs. God's love is impartial, so far as outward appearances might affect it; and in His Church the only real differences must be those of humility, purity and righteousness.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit," whether they be rich in this world's goods or not. But it is easier for a poor man to be rich in faith and an heir of the Kingdom, because he can give more of his attention to the things of the Spirit.

The law of love must be supreme with us; and we must love our fellows, whatever their position or property, as ourselves, for Christ's sake. If we fail in this, we show that we have never entered into the heart of the Christian faith. A man may observe all the laws of health; but if he inhale one whiff of poison he may die; so we may be outwardly obedient to the entire Decalogue, but delinquency in love will invalidate everything. [source]

Chapter Summary: James 2

¹  Do not regard the rich and despise the poor brothers;
¹³  rather we are to be loving and merciful;
¹⁴  and not to boast of faith without deeds;
¹⁷  because faith without deeds is useless;
¹⁹  as is the faith of the demons;
²¹  however, Abraham displayed both faith and actions;
²⁵  as did Rahab