James 2:1–13 ¹ My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. ² Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. ³ If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? ⁵ Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? ⁶ But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? ⁷ Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? ⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. ¹¹ For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. ¹² Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, ¹³ because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Judgment without mercy sounds terrifying to me. If I got what I deserve, I would stand condemned and deserve nothing but punishment in hell for all eternity. That is why I delight in those last four words of the reading above: Mercy triumphs over judgment.

A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense not onec, but twice, and justice demanded death. “But I don’t ask for justice,” the mother explained. “I plead for mercy.” The emperor replied “Your son does not deserve mercy!” “Sir,” the woman cried, “it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for.” “Well, then,” Napoleon said, “I will have mercy.” And he spared the woman’s son.

We deserve justice, not mercy. But God has shown us mercy. He came down here to take our place in punishment, paying the penalty our sins demanded, and gives us the benefit of His righteous life instead. Mercy triumphs over justice for those who put their faith in Jesus.