James' words that, by breaking something in the Torah, a person thereby breaks the whole Torah may seem somewhat strange. The laws differ, and breaking a law is a very specific act. That would indeed be so if the Torah...
James' words that, by breaking something in the Torah, a person thereby breaks the whole Torah may seem somewhat strange. The laws differ, and breaking a law is a very specific act. That would indeed be so if the Torah were viewed only as legislation or a moral code. But the apostle is speaking primarily of what was then called the inner Torah, and here the situation was different.
The inner Torah was understood as a system of God's intentions, embodied in commandments and addressed directly to the person. Ideally, it was to determine a person's entire life. This meant that the person had freely and willingly to bring their own life-shaping intentions into accord with God's, that is, with the commandments.
Such alignment cannot be a single act accomplished in a single moment. Our whole life consists of successive intentions, whether we are aware of them or not, and each must be brought to awareness and related to the commandments. Only in this way can our entire life become conscious and conform to the Torah. If this process breaks down, our spiritual life is destroyed, and it no longer matters exactly where the breakdown occurred. One thing is violated, and the whole inner Torah collapses, although from the standpoint of the external Torah, only one particular commandment may have been broken.
Such violations may also concern relationships with our neighbors, as the apostle reminds us. It is enough to stop seeing a person as the image of God and begin focusing on their wealth or social status for the church community to come to an end. The person immediately disappears from view, and normal relationships with someone thus hidden behind their wealth or social status are no longer possible.
But as a person ceases to notice God's image in their neighbor, they gradually cease to see it in themselves as well. Willingly or not, a person begins to judge themselves as they judge others, from the same standpoint and by the same criteria. Their own spiritual life then goes downhill too. These are the simple things the apostle reminds his readers of, for the whole of spiritual life consists precisely of such simple yet utterly important things.
2
2:1 My brethren - The equality of Christians, intimated by this name, is the ground of the admonition. Hold not the faith of our common Lord, the Lord of glory - Of which glory all who believe in him partake. With respect of persons - That is, honour none merely for being rich; despise none merely for being poor.
2:2 With gold rings - Which were not then so common as now.
2:3 Ye look upon him - With respect.
2:4 Ye distinguish not - To which the most respect is due, to the poor or to the rich. But are become evil - reasoning judges - You reason ill, and so judge wrong: for fine apparel is no proof of worth in him that wears it.
2:5 Hearken - As if he had said, Stay, consider, ye that judge thus. Does not the presumption lie rather in favour of the poor man? Hath not God chosen the poor - That is, are not they whom God hath chosen, generally speaking, poor in this world? who yet are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom - Consequently, the most honourable of men: and those whom Godso highly honours, ought not ye to honour likewise?
2:6 Do not the rich often oppress you - By open violence; often drag you - Under colour of law.
2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name - Of God and of Christ. The apostle speaks chiefly of rich heathens: but are Christians, so called, a whit behind them?
2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law - The supreme law of the great King which is love; and that to every man, poor as well as rich, ye do well. Lev 19:18.
2:9 Being convicted - By that very law. Exo 23:3.
2:10 Whosoever keepeth the whole law, except in one point, he is guilty of all - Is as liable to condemnation as if he had offended in every point.
2:11 For it is the same authority which establishes every commandment.
2:12 So speak and act - In all things. As they that shall be judged - Without respect of persons. By the law of liberty - The gospel; the law of universal love, which alone is perfect freedom.For their transgressions of this, both in word and deed, the wicked shall be condemned; and according to their works, done in obedience to this, the righteous will be rewarded.
2:13 Judgment without mercy shall be to him - In that day.Who hath showed no mercy - To his poor brethren. But the mercy of God to believers, answering to that which they have shown, will then glory over judgment.