I suppose most of us have played paper, scissors, rock. It is a simple game where two people synchronise their hand movements and on the count of three they form their hand into the shape of either paper, scissors or a rock. In the rules of the game, paper always wins against rock, scissors win against paper and the rock wins against scissors.
Many might think in God’s version of this game, judgement is the big winner when in fact mercy always wins over judgement. This is because God delights to be merciful. However important judgement might be, God in love offers mercy. Indeed, if you love your neighbour as you love yourself, you are more likely to be merciful than judgemental.
Many might think in God’s version of this game, judgement is the big winner when in fact mercy always wins over judgement. This is because God delights to be merciful. However important judgement might be, God in love offers mercy. Indeed, if you love your neighbour as you love yourself, you are more likely to be merciful than judgemental.
The Royal law at the heart of our reading today is - love your neighbour as yourself. This law was given by God (Lev 19.18) and prioritised by Jesus (Matt 22.37 & Luke 10.27). The Pharisees of Jesus day mainly focused on the great command to love God but tried to fudge their responsibility to love their neighbours. One trying to justify himself asked Jesus, who is my neighbour? In response Jesus told the wonderful parable of the Good Samaritan. In this story the two legalists, a priest, and a Levite, fail to help a man in need while the unlikely Samaritan stops and cares for him. Jesus then asked, Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’ Note, in the answer of the legal expert, the neighbour is described as, The one who had mercy on him. Perhaps the most powerful, pithy saying in the letter of James is, Mercy Triumphs over Judgement (James 2.13) We should take these words to heart. In the economy of the kingdom of God, mercy triumphs over judgement. This is how God acts toward us. Jesus went to the cross and took our punishment so God could deal with judgement and offer us mercy. The fault of the pharisees in Jesus’ day was they wanted judgement to triumph over mercy. Sadly, even today humanity tends to put judgement above mercy. As God is merciful, he wants us to be merciful stating, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice ...” (Hosea 6:6). Keep in mind the biblical principle, mercy triumphs over judgement as we consider the teaching in James.
James describes a situation where two people come to church. One is clearly wealthy, and the other is dirt poor. James tackles the issue of favouritism saying if you show special attention to the rich man giving him a place of honour, while consigning the poor man to sit on the floor, it is discrimination. James asks, when you do this, have you not … become judges with evil thoughts? Favouritism and discrimination are judgements we make, when really mercy should triumph over judgement.
This earthly discrimination against the poor stands in contrast to the attitude of God who has chosen the poor to be rich in faith. Jesus taught, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20) We may tend to think of discrimination or favouritism as a minor issue, but James will not let us do so. He states those who show favouritism are law breakers, akin to murderers, For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. There is no small sin, because even the smallest sin makes us law breakers and separates us from God. This understanding of the seriousness of sin is important to James as he highlights their sins of favouritism and discrimination. They should be ashamed of their behaviour and instead they should have been motivated by love to serve and honour the poor among them.
What difference does this make to us? If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself,’ and act lovingly so mercy triumphs over judgment, then our lives will become more Christ‑like. By emphasising the royal law and stressing the need for mercy – James gets down to the nitty gritty of spiritual living. When we decide to love our neighbour as ourselves, we begin to make room in our lives for those we might previously have disregarded or discriminated against.
For reflection:
Do you tend more towards judgement of others or showing mercy to them?
Ask God to open your eyes in the week ahead to see opportunities to act with love and mercy.
Rev John Malcolm
James describes a situation where two people come to church. One is clearly wealthy, and the other is dirt poor. James tackles the issue of favouritism saying if you show special attention to the rich man giving him a place of honour, while consigning the poor man to sit on the floor, it is discrimination. James asks, when you do this, have you not … become judges with evil thoughts? Favouritism and discrimination are judgements we make, when really mercy should triumph over judgement.
This earthly discrimination against the poor stands in contrast to the attitude of God who has chosen the poor to be rich in faith. Jesus taught, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20) We may tend to think of discrimination or favouritism as a minor issue, but James will not let us do so. He states those who show favouritism are law breakers, akin to murderers, For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. There is no small sin, because even the smallest sin makes us law breakers and separates us from God. This understanding of the seriousness of sin is important to James as he highlights their sins of favouritism and discrimination. They should be ashamed of their behaviour and instead they should have been motivated by love to serve and honour the poor among them.
What difference does this make to us? If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself,’ and act lovingly so mercy triumphs over judgment, then our lives will become more Christ‑like. By emphasising the royal law and stressing the need for mercy – James gets down to the nitty gritty of spiritual living. When we decide to love our neighbour as ourselves, we begin to make room in our lives for those we might previously have disregarded or discriminated against.
For reflection:
Do you tend more towards judgement of others or showing mercy to them?
Ask God to open your eyes in the week ahead to see opportunities to act with love and mercy.
Rev John Malcolm