James 2:10: Guilty of the Whole Law

Whoever keeps the whole Law, yet offends in one point, he is guilty of all. – James 2:10

Okay, I promised that I’d put up a second blog today on what James 2:10 means (rather than what it doesn’t mean).

This is one of the verses where context is important.

Context is not always important, you know. “A text without a context is a pretext” is not a true saying when it comes to the Scriptures.

We all use Isaiah 7:14 out of context–and even out of the original language–as a prophecy of the virgin birth. The writer of Hebrews constantly pulled verses out of context. Paul did, too.

That’s how prophecy works. It’s spiritual.

James is talking in the verses leading up to 2:10 about preferential treatment being given to persons of stature, specifically rich people. Such behavior infuriated Jesus. His most explosive tirade is after a talking about how the scribes and Pharisees love position, honor, and titles.

Most of us, however, excuse those sort of sins. Adultery is terrible, murder is even worse, but a little bit of preferential treatment; hey, no big deal.

James is saying, oh, yes, it’s a big deal. Don’t think you’re better than a murderer. You’re a breaker of the Law, just like them.

No Excuses

Do you want to follow God? You’d better get used to cold, blunt honesty.

God doesn’t like to beat around the bush. He doesn’t say “shy.” He says “coward,” and he says your cowardice will keep you out of the kingdom. He includes us shy people–yes, people like me–with the unbelieving, abominable, murderers, and idolaters (Rev. 21:8).

In fact, he lists us first.

I decided I’d better get over being shy.

“I’m shy,” you say. Yeah, well, you have a number of brothers that, left to their own, would want to sleep with your daughter or wife. That’s just the way they are!

I’ll bet you’re grateful they’ve decided that’s no excuse to do such a thing.

Jesus expects you to get over being shy because if you don’t stand up for him before men, he won’t stand up for you before God. And you’ll be cast into the lake of fire.

Doing the Hard Stuff

The fact is, it’s often easy to get over the desire to sleep with someone else’s spouse. The idea is repulsive to us.

If repugnant, awful desires like that rise up in us, we abhor ourselves and drive such thoughts away.

But if I’m shy? A little quick-tempered? Not polite by nature? Don’t tend to think about others? Hey, that’s just the way I am!

Outside the gates of the city are those who thought that only murderers and adulterers would be outside the gates. Outside the gates are those that thought they were more righteous than those other sinners and that they didn’t need to repent for the minor evils they did.

We need to hear that because most of the time it’s those minor things that are the hardest for us to repent of.

We say that it’s just the way we are.

Exactly. Be different!!

Repent, obtain the grace of God. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God so that he may exalt you in due time. Confess your faults to your brothers or sisters and confess your sins before God so that God can give you grace and your brothers and sisters can pray for you.

Oh, did you think that only that awful adulterer over there had to lament, mourn, and weep?

Majoring on the Minors

James, the apostle and Lord’s brother, spends his time majoring on the things we call minor.

And that’s what James 2:10 means.

Stop calling your preferential treatment of people minor. Actually, what’s worse, stop calling your ill treatment of people who are “beneath” you minor.

God will send you to hell for not taking care of the least of these.

Really.

Your tongue (Jam. 3). Your desires for worldly friends and possessions (Jam. 4). Your jealousies (Jam. 4). Even your happy-go-lucky attitude! (4:13-16). James calls it “evil”!

All of a sudden there’s some work to do, isn’t there?

If you’ll excuse me, I need to go lament and mourn and weep.