Judgment without Mercy James 2:13

James, “the servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, continued to exhort the people within the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” concerning violating the “whole law” of God by transgressing the law in “one point”. His readers were to “speak” and “do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty”, and in chapter two and verse thirteen of his letter, James continued to instruct them as he wrote concerning “judgment without mercy” where we read:

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy;

and mercy rejoices against judgment.

The verse begins, “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy;” James began with the word, “For” which means “because, as, even, indeed, no doubt, seeing then and therefore” “he shall have judgment” or “selection, sundering, separation and a sentence of condemnation and damnation as punishment” “without mercy” which means “inexorable, unrelenting and unforgiving”, “that has showed” or “made, prepared, produced and acquired” “no mercy” which means “no kindness, goodwill or clemency”. This stern warning of pending condemnation is for people who are without any pity and clemency for others.

The verse goes on to say, “and mercy rejoices against judgment.” James continued, “and mercy” or “kindness, goodwill or clemency” “rejoices against” which means “glories, exults and boasts one's self to the injury of a person or thing” “judgment” which refers to “selection, sundering, separation and a sentence of condemnation and damnation as punishment”. James' idea is that “kindness and goodwill” will” toward people will prevent or “glory” over pending condemnation.

When we consider these words of James, we realize the great value there is in “mercy” toward others. “Respect of persons” who are wealthy, powerful and well-stationed in life over those with lesser strengths only aligns us with those “without mercy”. Lest we be drawn away to this doomed fate, let us live toward others as Jesus did with abundant “mercy” and “grace” to “whosoever will”.

Next time James shares about the “profit” of “faith” and “works”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.