James 2:13

James 2:13

11 For He who said, ^a“Do not commit adultery,” also said, ^b“Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by ^athe law of liberty.

13 For ^ajudgment is without mercy to the one who has shown ^bno ^cmercy. ^dMercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

14 ^aWhat does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

15 ^aIf a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

16 and ^aone of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” ^aShow me your faith without your works, ^band I will show you my faith by² my works.

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is¹ dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works ^awhen he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22 Do you see ^athat faith was working together with his works, and by ^bworks faith was made perfect?

23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ^a“Abraham believed God, and it was¹ accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called ^bthe friend of God.

24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, ^awas not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Commentaries:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

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The converse of, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7). Translate, "The judgment (which is coming on all of us) shall be without mercy to him who hath showed no mercy." It shall be such toward every one as every one shall have been [BENGEL]. "Mercy" here corresponds to "love," James 2:8.

mercy rejoiceth against judgment—Mercy, so far from fearing judgment in the case of its followers, actually glorifieth against it, knowing that it cannot condemn them. Not that their mercy is the ground of their acquittal, but the mercy of God in Christ towards them, producing mercy on their part towards their fellow men, makes them to triumph over judgment, which all in themselves otherwise deserve.

**Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing James 2:13:**

Job 6:14
Isaiah 28:17
Isaiah 34:11
Jeremiah 34:17
Ezekiel 25:15
Ezekiel 35:11
Matthew 5:7
Galatians 5:6
Galatians 6:1
Philippians 4:5
James 2:12

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James 2:14 >>

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