James 2:9-11‏

"But if you show servile regard (prejudice, favoritism) for people, you commit sin and are rebuked and convicted by the Law as violators and offenders." James 2:9

James sums up the issue now, over our regard for people, as we move away from the example of two types of people and focus now on the whole purpose and direction of the law... LOVE.

10. "For whosoever keeps the Law [as a] whole but stumbles and offends in one [single instance] has become guilty of [breaking] all of it."

God still wants us to obey the ten commandments... it's true. But, here is one warning for those focused more on keeping them. The whole OT is a picture of man's history at trying to keep them and failed miserably. Even though God has given us a New Covenant (a new plan to achieve meeting God's requirement for the law), MANY today are still more focused on the "law" instead of the only way to keep it, which is our acceptance of Christ and focus on Love. We'll look at this deeper, as we move through James.

11. "For He Who said, You shall not commit adultery, also said, You shall not kill. If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become guilty of transgressing the [whole] Law."

It is interesting James selects these two commands in this "obey one, but commit another" attempt at trying to keep the law. Jesus broke these two sins down even further to reveal just how much more complicated the law is... listen...

"You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that everyone who so much as looks at a woman with evil desire for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:27-28

Now let's look at murder...

"You have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court. But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, You cursed fool! [You empty-headed idiot!] shall be liable to and unable to escape the hell (Gehenna) of fire." Matthew 5:21-22

Jesus really breaks deep into these two sins and reveals how much more complicated the law really is. He makes us look behind the very committing of the sin, to where our evil hearts hold lust and contempt just as wicked as if we fornicated and murdered. We will look more deeply into the "law of liberty", later in James.

Are you more focused on trying not to break God's commands than you are in making your relationship personal with God, through Christ. Try getting closer to God, and communicating more personally with Him. As we get closer, and more aware of His presence in our life, you will find that we will sin less and less.

Let's pick up with James verse 2:12 next time.

I love you.