Blessed Are the Merciful

In James 2:8–13 we read about the blessedness of those who are merciful. We are saved by God’s mercy, and we are to show mercy to our neighbors and brothers and sisters.

James has been speaking against the sin of favoritism and discrimination. Some people feel they are superior to some others, even though that is not true. We are all saved by mercy. It has nothing to do with our righteousness. The Bible says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and the wages of sin is eternal death.

On the basis of God’s great love and rich mercy, believing sinners are shown mercy in Jesus Christ. Those who have received mercy are to show mercy. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy when Christ comes again.

Living by God’s Royal Law

James begins, “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture” (2:8). Believers in Jesus Christ are to live daily in obedience to God’s royal law. The word “law” appears ten times in James, including five times in this passage. James calls the law of God the perfect law of liberty (Jas. 1:25), the royal law (Jas. 2:8), and the law of liberty (Jas. 2:12).

God’s law is called the royal law because it is the supreme law decreed by the King of kings. It is the law belonging to the King; therefore, it is full of authority and we must obey it. Jesus asked, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). As citizens of the kingdom of God, we show our love for King Jesus by obeying his law by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are born of God, and God’s law is written in our hearts. Therefore, it is our nature to delight in God’s law and do it.

The royal law expresses God’s will and his holy character. The essence of God’s law is love. Jesus reduced the Ten Commandments into two and put the law in positive terms: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matt. 22:37–39). Elsewhere, he further reduced these two commandments into one new command: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34–35). He also said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12–13). Christ demonstrated his love for us through his death on the cross.

So James says, “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right” (2:8). Paul speaks similarly: “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Gal. 5:13–14). John said the same thing: “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also [must] love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” (1 John 4:11–12). He also writes, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:20–21).

No one can love his brother unless he loves God. The proof that we love God is that we love our brothers. This commandment that we should love our neighbor as ourselves is quoted in the New Testament nine times. It is from Leviticus 19:18: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” John condemns anyone who hates his brother: “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him” (1 John 3:15).

Ultimately, all the commands of King Jesus can be reduced and summed up in one word: love. So Paul tells us, “The commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not covet,’ and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:9–10). Elsewhere he says, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Gal. 5:6). By this love, one sacrifices oneself for the benefit of others. And who are our neighbors? They are people who truly need our care and attention, especially those belonging to the household of faith.

This royal law was not given to unbelievers; it was given to the redeemed to live by, in the dynamic of love. This law of love gives freedom to all who live within its bounds. A Christianity that does not require obedience to King Jesus is a lie. Jesus is Lord, and he demands our full submission to him.

We read about this obedience throughout the Bible. The apostles declared, “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him” (Acts 5:32). The Hebrews writer says, “Although he was a son, [Jesus Christ] learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Heb. 5:8–9). Jesus himself said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15).

Jesus spoke about this obedience to his disciples before ascending into heaven. First he said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” All authority! He is King of kings and Lord of lords. And everything he created, he owns. He knows every star; he knows every bird; and he knows us. He knows our thoughts, our crookedness, and our perversion. He knows! Jesus continued, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:18–20). We must obey everything he commanded. We cannot pick and choose.

This royal law is also called the law of freedom. Paul declares, “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes” (Rom. 10:4). The law of God is not antithetical to freedom. In fact, it restrains and constrains us from sin even while bringing us to enjoy freedom in serving God. Sin is slavery.

Jesus commanded his disciples to take his yoke upon them and learn from him (Matt. 11:29). Only the one who obeys Christ is truly free. So Paul says, “Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life” (Rom. 6:22). That is true freedom.

We live by grace to do good works to benefit our neighbors and for our own joy. The royal law teaches us to love our neighbors and not regard worldly distinctions. Christianity knocks out and destroys all human distinctions. The royal law does not show favoritism. It does not discriminate. It is the law of love demonstrated by the cross of Calvary.

The Sin of Partiality

James continues his warning about the sin of partiality in this passage: “But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers” (2:9). As believers, we belong to the kingdom of God. We are all God’s children who delight fully in the royal law of love. So if we do not obey God’s law by divine power, we are not saved. We are still rebels. Those born of God will live by penitent, persevering and obedient faith.

As believers in Jesus Christ, as those saved by God’s rich mercy alone, we are not to discriminate. Moses says, “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly” (Lev. 19:15; see also Deut. 16:19-20). In Job 34 we read, “[God] . . . shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?” (Job 34:19).

James 2:8–13 tells us that those who show partiality are transgressing God’s royal law (vv. 9, 11). But we cannot pick and choose which parts of God’s law to obey. We cannot say, “I like this law, but I don’t like that one.” God authored the entire law, which expresses his will and character. (PGM) The law is an interdependent whole, an indivisible whole that is many-faceted yet single.

The law is authored by one God for his glory and for our eternal happiness. So by the dynamic of divine love, we will joyfully obey all God’s laws, which Jesus said he came to fulfill: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matt. 5:17). When we show favoritism and discriminate, we are guilty of committing a sin. What, then, shall we do? We need to repent and forsake our sins, receive God’s forgiveness, and stop discriminating. We are to love our neighbors and show mercy to them, because we are shown mercy every day. It is the nature of the citizens of God’s kingdom to love all of God’s children, whether rich or poor, Jew or Gentile (Col. 3:11).

We Are to Be Judged by the Law of Liberty

Then James warns, “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom” (2:12). We are going to be judged by the royal law when Christ comes again. James tells us to live our lives in obedience to God’s law of love with an eye to the coming judgment, at which time we will be judged by this law of liberty.

We are to “speak and act.” All of life is summed up in these two imperatives: speak and act. Our King commands us both to speak the word of God and to do the word of God. So we say, “Jesus is Lord,” when we are baptized, and that is a good confession. But do we obey him as Lord in our daily lives? If you are a husband, you agreed to love your wife and support your family. If you are a wife, you agreed to submit to your husband in everything as to the Lord. If you are parents, you agreed to raise up your children in the knowledge of God. Are you doing what you promised and are promising?

As Christians, we are to speak biblically and act biblically. Ask yourself: Am I living daily such a good life that I will not be ashamed in the day of judgment when God will judge on the basis of my good works? Paul writes, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has foreordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). Obedience is not an option. God’s eternal plan is to have a covenant people who will abound in good works.

Paul says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, “What is the chief end of man?” The answer is, “To glorify God and to enjoy him forever.” Obedience to God is the pathway to everlasting joy.

Paul declares, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). There will be a future judgment by the Lord Jesus Christ. The Hebrew writer says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.” Achan thought that God could not see through the tent. Beyond that, he dug a hole, put in the gold and silver and Babylonish garment, and covered it up (Josh. 7). We all do this type of thing. We think no one sees what we do. But that is not true: “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:13). Paul also exhorts, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Tim. 4:1–2).

Let us, therefore, work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Then we will have great confidence on the day of judgment when we face King Jesus, who gave us his law. The questions will be, did we live by showing mercy? Did we live by the law of love?

That is what will happen when Jesus Christ comes again:

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on this throne in heavenly glory. . . .Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matt. 25:31, 34–40)

Our good works prove our salvation based on the righteousness of Christ alone. If we do not show mercy in our relationships, especially with God’s people, we will not be shown mercy in the final judgment. Those who lack good works (i.e., works of mercy) are false confessors who will be told to go away from Christ’s presence to eternal punishment (Matt. 25:46).

James gives us a severe warning: “Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful” (2:13). All who sin, all who discriminate, all who are merciless, beware of the coming judgment! Judgment without mercy shall be meted out to you on the last day by the divine Judge, even Jesus Christ.

You received mercy; therefore, show mercy to others—your wife, your husband, your neighbors, your brothers and sisters—just as God showed mercy to you. Paul writes, “For [God said] to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion’” (Rom. 9:15). Thank God, he showed compassion to us! He didn’t have to. Paul continues, “Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden” (Rom. 9:18). And listen to these profound, mysterious verses: “What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory” (Rom. 9:22–23). This is speaking about us. We are objects of God’s mercy, prepared in advance for glory. What a blessed destiny! We are predestinated to glory.

Jesus spoke about a publican who prayed biblically, “Have mercy upon me, a sinner.” This publican understood the sacrificial system. The blood was shed every year on the day of atonement, upon the cover of the ark called the mercy seat. In other words, he was saying, “I believe in the Messiah who will die for my sins. Please forgive me.” And he went home justified (Luke 18:13–14).

What about Paul? He writes, “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy.” That puts our pride down. He continues, “because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life” (1 Tim. 1:13–16).

We are forgiven and have been shown mercy, and now the forgiven must forgive. Jesus taught, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matt. 6:14–15). Paul exhorts, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Col. 3:12–13). Jesus said, “So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him” (Luke 17:3–4). We must practice unlimited forgiveness. And we read, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic. 6:8).

Merciful saints do not fear any future judgment. Their merciful deeds in life evidence their justification. But the merciless will be judged. Remember the story of the unforgiving servant, whose infinite debt (which stands for sin) was canceled. But then he refused to forgive the one who owed him only a few dollars and Jesus condemned him (Matt. 18:32–35).

Note that the law of retribution is found, not only in the Old Testament, but also in the New: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:7–8).

God is not obligated to show mercy to anyone. He chooses to do so to those who merited his wrath. On Calvary, God’s mercy triumphed over God’s justice, yet not at the expense of God’s justice. God the Father poured out his wrath that was against us upon his beloved Son. He cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The answer is that God the Father so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to the death of Calvary’s cross, that whosoever, whether Jew or Gentile, believes on him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

On the cross, God’s justice and mercy kissed each other (Ps. 85:10). This happened so that God may be just and the Justifier of those who believe in Jesus (Rom. 3:26). So Paul states with great theological precision, “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.” But he did count them against someone. That was Jesus Christ, his Son. So Paul continues, “And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:19–21).

May we let mercy triumph over judgment as we live out our lives, which will soon come to an end! Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Christ died for our sins and was raised for our justification. Let us, therefore, work out our salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in us to will and to do according to his good pleasure (Phil 2:12–13). Let us “serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling” (Ps. 2:11), for our Lord Jesus Christ is coming soon.