In this verse we are warned that we shall be judged according to: our words and deeds. This judgment will not be by the Ten Commandments, but by the law of liberty.

"So speak ye ..." "So speak ye" plainly tells us that we shall be judged according to what we say. The Lord Jesus said, "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment" (Matt. 12:36; also see Rom. 14:10). How careful we should be of every word that passes over our lips for we must answer for every sinful word we say, and also for every foolish and needles word. James has already spoken about the tongue (1:19, 26), and has more to say on it in Chapter 3.

"... and so do ..." We shall also be judged for everything we do. A place in glory will be dependent on how we trust and obey Christ in this world. There are some who profess Christianity; who speak high and lofty words, yet there is little in their actions indicating they were born again and subject to Christ. Such need the words of the Lord, "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 7:21). How we act is the final proof of what is in our hearts. It is the fruit on the tree that tells what kind of a tree it is. Our words, but mostly our actions, prove whether we truly belong to Christ. Let us prove to the world that we belong to Christ, at the same time remembering that our every deed will come up for review at the judgment seat of Christ.

"... as they shall be judged ..." It is evident that the true and faithful Christian need not fear the judgment. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24). It is also evident that we shall not be judged by the Ten Commandments, "For ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Rom. 6:14). It is evident from our present text that we shall all be judged. Judgment is certain for both the saved and lost. There are many injustices that are never rectified in this scene. They will all come up for review. Many, too, have done things worthy of praise and reward that have never been recognized. These also will come up at the judgment seat of Christ. We will be judged by the law of liberty.

Our works judged: 1 Corinthians 3:11, 15, teaches very plainly that all our works shall be judged. Verse 11 tells us that the foundation of our Christian faith is the Lord Jesus Himself. Verse 12 speaks of building "upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble." "Gold, silver, precious stones" speak of works for which we will be rewarded. "Wood, hay, and stubble" of those that will not stand the test of fire. We have the expression "every man's work" twice in verse 13, and "any man's work" appears in verses 14 and 15. If a man's works stand the test of fire, "he shall receive a reward," but if his works are burned "he shall suffer loss." All of us who profess to be Christian want to please the Lord Jesus Christ, so let us be careful that our words and also our works are both acceptable in His sight.

"... judged by the law of liberty." This is the second time James uses this expression, "the law of liberty" (1:25). He does not explain just what he means by it. It probably was well understood by his readers. Bible students have understood it in various ways. Some make it the Gospel, others the law of love, still others make it the Ten Commandments, now no longer a law of bondage, but a law of liberty. StudyJesus.com prefers to apply it to the Gospel, which liberates man from the power of sin, the thralldom of Satan, etc.

Law and liberty: Law and liberty are usually thought of as opposites. Law restrains the actions of man. If he breaks the laws, he will be confined behind bars with no liberty. Usually liberty is considered as freedom from restraint. So the law of liberty must be one that a man obeys without being compelled. It must be one that agrees with his nature and that he desires to obey. The new life a Christian receives when he trusts and obeys Christ desires to do things that please the Lord, and so His commandments are laws of liberty.

Not restraint, but constraint: Some think the Christian life is a doleful thing bound by a lot of cannot’s. If you are a Christian you can't drink, can't gamble, can't curse, etc. They do not realize that a Christian does not care for these things. He has a new nature that liberates him from evil things, and he has not the same desire for them that he had before. His desires and wants are completely changed. It is no longer a matter of restraint, but of being constrained by love (2 Cor. 5:14). The law of liberty draws one to obedience, but does not compel. It causes one to do far more than a restraining law would. When compelled, one does so much and no more, but love will cause him to go beyond what is asked. Because of this law of liberty, many have willingly served Christ, yea, sacrificed for Him, even died for Him.

Christ's liberty: As far as man was concerned, Christ lived a life of perfect liberty. Nothing could chain Him. Tradition meant nothing to Him. He never violated man's law: He was always above them. Sin could not touch Him. Satan could not succeed in tempting Him. Yet He always obeyed His Father. He could say, "I do always those things that please him." This was not bondage to Him, but liberty.

Be not careless because free: Some realize their freedom in Christ and become careless. Liberty does not mean license. Let us not have lax views of sin. If we do, He will punish us some way down here, and He will remember at that time when we are before His judgment seat. The sin of those to whom James was writing was respect of persons. They were exalting the rich and despising the poor. Let us be careful lest we fall into the same sin.

Scripture Reading: James 2:13 (KJV)

This verse first brings in judgment without mercy, and then mercy without judgment. One who showed no mercy had no experience of receiving mercy from the Lord.

"... judgment without mercy ..." There are many passages in the Word and examples, too, that tell us that those who show no mercy will receive none. In Luke 16 we have the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Poor Lazarus; laid at the rich man's gate hungry and full of sores, but the rich man had no mercy upon him. In verse 24, we hear the rich man in hell cry out for mercy, but he received none. He had shown no mercy.

Joseph and his brethren: Joseph's brethren showed him no mercy. Later, when Joseph was in power in Egypt, they came to him. At first he showed them no mercy. They say in Genesis 42:21, "We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us." When they showed true repentance, and also that they would not forsake Benjamin as they had forsaken him, he frankly forgave them, and showed them great mercy (Gen. 45:14, 15).

Adoni Besek: In Judges 1:4-7, we read of Adoni Besek. He was a great warrior and conquered seventy kings. He heartlessly cut off the thumbs and great toes of these kings, and made them eat their meat like dogs under his table. When Israel came and conquered the land they found Adoni Besek, and they cut off his thumbs and great toes, too, and he died in Jerusalem. He had shown no mercy and received none.

The wicked servant: We read a very striking story in Matthew 18:23-35. A certain servant owed his lord ten thousand talents, estimated to be equivalent to many millions. The man could not pay so the lord commanded that he be sold, along with all his possessions, and payment be made. The man fell at his lord's feet and begged for patience, promising to pay it all back in time. Out of compassion the lord frees him and forgives him all that huge debt. Now we would expect a kindred spirit of forgiveness in this servant, but we do not. "But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence (a few dollars): and laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what thou owest" (Matt. 18:28). This fellow servant then begged for leniency and patience just as the servant had done with his lord. But he showed no mercy and had his fellow servant put into jail until the debt should be paid. This greatly grieved and angered his lord, and the servant is delivered to the tormentors until he should pay all. This is the case of a man who was shown mercy, but then himself showed no mercy. Then all mercy was taken away from him.

The application: We can conclude that it does not please the Lord at all when we as Christians show an unforgiving spirit.

As we forgive our debtors: In what is generally called the Lord's Prayer we read, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matt. 6:12). The Lord adds in Matthew 6:14, 15, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Blessed are the merciful: All this should teach us to show a forgiving, merciful spirit. We have been shown great mercy, and we should certainly show it to others. The purpose of the Gospel is not only to redeem people from going to hell, but to make them more Christ like. If we see one who is hard, unkind, unforgiving, we can conclude that one main purpose in his life has been missed, and we might even be inclined to question his salvation. Can one, having been forgiven millions take a fellow servant by the throat for a few dollars? It would seem quite impossible. We can almost conclude that the hard, unmerciful man is unfaithful, and will receive no mercy. "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy" (Matt. 5:7).

"... mercy rejoiceth against judgment." The last expression in our verse, "mercy rejoiceth against judgment," has been variously rendered and variously understood. One has translated it, "and mercy applauds such judgment." Probably it is a cry of triumph. "And mercy glorieth against judgment" (R.V.). The NIV renders this: "mercy triumphs over judgment." If a Christian has been kind, tenderhearted and merciful, he need have no fear of judgment. He will be able to lift up his head with joy at the judgment seat of Christ. And certainly, beloved, if we have trusted and obeyed Christ, and lived Christ-like, we need have no fear of meeting Him. We will hear that, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: ... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Matt. 25:21).

God's mercy in Christ: While God's righteousness demands strict justice, He delights in mercy (Micah 7:18). His righteousness demanded that judgment be meted out against sin, but His mercy longed to forgive the sinner. Both His demands for justice and mercy were satisfied at the cross of Christ. The innocent victim was pierced by the sword of judgment, so that guilty sinners might obtain mercy. In God's love toward the sinner, "mercy gloried against judgment." Now God's mercy can go out to any who confess their sins, trusting in and obeying the Lord Jesus Christ.

Show mercy: In our dealings with our fellow man, mercy should glory against judgment. Perhaps someone has treated us badly. Strict justice might demand reparation, but a Christian will resist such. He will always remember that because he has received great mercy, he will show great mercy, even though his object deserves otherwise. Let us be like our Lord, who is rich in mercy (Eph. 2:4).

David's mercy: In David mercy triumphed over judgment. Saul had treated him badly, often seeking to kill him. He had two opportunities to kill Saul, but he showed mercy and would not. No wonder the Lord, in spite of David's failures, called him "a man after my own heart." We also see David's mercy in his treatment of Shimei. Shimei had caused him problem, when he had to flee because of Absalom's rebellion. When David returned to Jerusalem some thought Shimei should be killed, but David showed him mercy.

Christ's mercy: Those wicked men around the cross deserved the strong hand of God's judgment. With a word our Lord could have consigned them all to hell. Instead, He says, "Father forgive them; for they know not what they do." Perhaps some around that cross were later converted, and are now in glory. Mercy gloried against judgment. Let us not be advocates of strict justice, but let mercy have the first place.

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