For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. [James 2:10-11, ESV]
In the previous part of this study, we studied the way James tells us to treat people equally, and how we would be violating the most important commandment by not treating all people with love. In this essay, we will examine two verses that have to do with the previous nine verses, but we will focus more on what this passage says about the difference between the Mosaic Law and the liberty that we have received through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This passage is very satisfying to me, since it is a really strong, logical argument against strict adherence to the Old Testament Law, without condemning those who adhere to it. Instead of making statements about the adherents to the Mosaic Law, James chooses to point out man’s inability to live up to all that the Law requires.
For the sake of brevity, allow me to summarize the issue that is being discussed in this passage:
In the Old Testament, we were given the Mosaic Law. The Law consists of 613 commandments, covering a wide range of topics, such as what foods to eat (or not eat), how to handle theft, the Sabbath, and many more. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the Law [Matthew 5:17-20]. His death was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, and His death on the cross paid the price for all sinners, so that salvation is made available to anybody who desires to have it. The Old Testament Law pointed to the coming of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Christ brought with Him a new covenant. The Law required perfection, sinlessness, and righteousness. Jesus Christ was the only One without sin, and no man before Him, nor man after Him, has been able to live up to the righteousness and sinlessness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In short, the Old Testament Law was designed to lead to the coming of the Christ, and Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law of the Old Testament. Therefore, we are brought into the new covenant, through Jesus Christ.
There are still groups that claim that Christians must adhere to the Law of the Old Testament. I try to remain neutral on debates between Christians, but I must make things very clear for all who read this: we are not bound by the Law of the Old Testament. We cannot live up to the Mosaic Law, so we must receive the grace that Jesus Christ has given to us. Again, we do not need to adhere to the Old Testament Law in order to go to Heaven. Many people will disagree with my previous statement, but I would like to point out that my position is upheld by numerous parts of the New Testament, including Hebrews, Romans, Galatians, and James.
With all that in mind, let us examine what James tells us in chapter 2, verses 10 and 11.
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
Verse 10 lays out the central point of James’ argument. God gave the Israelites the Law, consisting of 613 commandments. If we break one of those commandments, we may not have broken the other 612 commandments, but we have broken the Law, thus making us guilty of breaking the Law. If I go out and steal something from the store, I may not be a murderer, but I am a thief, and I have violated the law.
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Verse 11 explains the meaning of verse 10, using an example of a person who is guilty of murder, but not of adultery. In the example, by committing murder, it does not matter if he also commits adultery or not, he has become a transgressor of the Law. We either keep the Law, or we fail to keep the Law. Jesus Christ was the only One to keep the Law, and we will never live up to the righteousness of Christ. We all sin, and we all fall short of the glory of God.
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