Blessings Upon the Merciful

July 24th, 2026
by Lance Waldie

James 2:12-13 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.

Active, ongoing love for both God and man is the command of Jesus Christ to all of His followers (cf. John 15), distinctions between classes and races of people notwithstanding. This is James’ point, for apparently within the early Church distinctions between the rich and the poor were being made, favoritism being shown to the rich (2:1-4). Having pointed out the sinful nature of favoritism, James uses two imperatives—“speak” and “act” in v. 12—both of which stress ongoing behavior. They could be translated as “continually speak and always act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.” As already noted, the “law of liberty” (cf. 1:25) is the perfect law of both the old and new testaments, the law that Christ fulfilled and that set His people free from the penalty of sin. In James’s context, the dual imperatives to both “speak” and “act” concern ongoing love for both God and man as the law of liberty.

Verse 13 comments on v. 12 by adding the reason, specifically judgment, as to why Christian behavior should follow faith in Christ. The Greek text literally says, “Speak in such a way and act in such a manner as those who are about to be judged by the law of liberty.” What this shows is that James is still commenting about the necessity of doing the word of God as opposed to just hearing it and deceiving oneself about what it means to be in Christ (1:22). But James, for the first time, adds a caveat about future judgment, a judgment based upon the law of liberty. In the following section, vv. 14-26, James will argue that “doing” the will of God (i.e., works) is necessary if one wants to experience God’s final approving verdict on their lives.

The future coming of Christ will be a time of judgment upon all those whose works were not in accordance with their faith (Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 19). Paul speaks of those who knew the Law, saying, “All who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law” (Rom 2:12b). Christians of course will not be judged to hell, but their behavior will be scrutinized (2 Cor. 5:10). God has set us free from the Law and has placed us on new ground, that of mercy and grace—the law of liberty. Moreover, He gives us the Holy Spirit who provides us with the ability to choose to obey Him. This is James’ point, for his teaching is meant to separate those who only claim to be Christians from those who truly are—those whose judgment is in Christ.

The coming judgment for those who do not show mercy—those who are merciless to the poor—will be judgment without mercy. This teaching clearly connects James’ words with the OT, for Zechariah says, “Thus has the Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another’ ” (Zech. 7:9-10). Jesus’ own parable of the merciless servant also speaks to this issue (Matt. 18:21-35) as well as the beatitude, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matt. 5:7). Here James teaches the same thing in reverse: “Cursed are those are not merciful, for they will not be shown mercy.” Clearly mercy, like love, is an action—an ongoing deed that is the fruit of true salvation. It manifests itself to those in need and shows itself to be “true religion” (1:27). The mercy James himself demonstrates is that of merciful teaching, for in simply teaching the truth about God’s coming judgment upon those who show no mercy to those in need, God is able to work through him to remind all people everywhere that He is a good and just God.

God’s mercy, working through us—based on the finished work of Christ— “triumphs over judgment.” This means that those who are merciful, revealing the fruit of their faith in action, will be safe on the day of God’s judgment and will escape His wrath. For a Christian’s mercy is the fruit of their faith. And God’s mercy will overcome His judgment of them.