James 2:13

“For he shall have judgment without mercy, etc.] Strict justice, and no mercy shown him: that hath showed no mercy; to the poor brethren, and distressed members of Christ, but has shown respect of persons to the hurt of the poor, and has despised and oppressed them, instead of relieving and comforting them; so the rich man, that neglected Lazarus at his gates, is refused a drop of water to cool his tongue; and the servant that cruelly insisted on his fellow servant's paying him all he owed, justly incurred the displeasure of his Lord, and was by him delivered to the tormentors; and that servant that beats his fellow servants will be cut asunder, and, have his portion with hypocrites; and such…”

“The converse of, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Mat 5:7). Translate, "The judgment (which is coming on all of us) shall be without mercy to him who hath showed no mercy." It shall be such toward every one as every one shall have been [BENGEL]. "Mercy" here corresponds to "love," Jam 2:8. mercy rejoiceth against judgment--Mercy, so far from fearing judgment in the case of its followers, actually glorifieth against it, knowing that it cannot condemn them. Not that their mercy is the ground of their acquittal, but the mercy of God in Christ towards them, producing mercy on their part towards their fellow men, makes them to triumph over judgment, which all in themselves…”

“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy - This is obviously an equitable principle, and is one which is everywhere found in the Bible. Proverbs 21:13. “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself but will not be heard.” 2 Samuel 22:26-27, “with the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful, and with the froward thou wilt show thyself unsavory.” Compare Psalms 18:25-26; Matthew 6:15; Matthew 7:1-2. The idea which the apostle seems to design to convey here is, that there will certainly be a judgment, and that we must expect that it will be conducted on equitable principles; that no mercy is to be shown when the character is not such that…”

“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. James 2:14”

“2:13 James concludes this section (2:1-13) by correlating divine mercy with human mercy (see also Matt 6:14-15; Eph 4:32).”

“he: Jam 5:4; Gen 42:21; Jdg 1:7; Job 22:6-10; Pro 21:13; Isa 27:11; Mat 5:7; Mat 6:15, Mat 7:1, Mat 7:2, Mat 18:28-35, Mat 25:41-46; Luk 16:25 and: Psa 85:10; Jer 9:24; Eze 33:11; Mic 7:18; Eph 1:6, Eph 1:7, Eph 2:4-7; Jo1 4:8-16, Jo1 4:18, Jo1 4:19 rejoiceth: or, glorieth James 2:14”