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James 2 – The Law of Liberty
The phrase “the law of liberty” (James 2:12) has always intrigued me, possibly because of being unsure what it meant. Contextually it is connected to several thoughts (James 2-13):
1. The law of liberty is chiastically connected to “the royal law”.
2. The royal law is the 2nd Great Command.
3. Emphasis on “royal” shows this humanly focused behavioral law was practiced by our divine royalty, King Jesus.
4. Loving our neighbors as ourselves is done by not showing partiality, because we ourselves would want fair treatment.
5. Sin is sin, whether socially acceptable and deemed necessary within society – such as favoritism; or socially damaging and punishable such as adultery or even murder. Who would want those done to themselves?
6. The royal law emphasizes equality, which ironically is how the law of God views sinners.
7. This brings us back around chiastically to “the law of liberty.”
8. What is the liberty? Freedom from judgment. Judging righteously is done by not showing partiality.
9. How do we receive this freedom? It is through mercy even though we are lawbreakers showing mercy to fellow lawbreakers.
10. Who among us want this freedom? All of us including our neighbors.
11. Therefore the law of Liberty is seen by me treating my neighbors as I would myself, and by specifically showing mercy because I want mercy.
12. Love and mercy triumph over condemning one another because all – rich and poor – are equal in being lawbreakers and equal in needing and wanting mercy.
The conclusion is, we are only free when we show mercy; because we are only free when we receive mercy.
A – ROYAL LAW – 8) If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well.
B – SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE TRANSGRESSORS OF LAW 9) But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
C – ALL EQUALLY TRANSGRESSORS OF LAW 10) For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
B’ – SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE TRANSGRESSORS OF LAW 11) For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT COMMIT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
A’ – LAW OF LIBERTY – 12) So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13) For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
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