The Nugget:
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
My Comment
Jesus responded to a man who asked what he must do to inherit eternal life that surely he knew the Commandments, referring to the Ten Commandments. Jesus then named some of them. Of course you know that when Jesus listed the Ten Commandments He never includes the Fourth Commandment about keeping the Sabbath Day holy. Yet we know that even the Old Testament teaches no one has kept the Ten Commandments. This fact is reflected in Proverbs 20:9 and Ecclesiastes 7:20, two of the Bible Nugget passages I’ve already given pertaining to the plan of salvation. Yet in Leviticus 18:5 God states that if a person keeps the law, he will live. Therefore, that is an option or one way to receive everlasting life or salvation, if a person could do it. Jesus did it. But no one else has done so. The problem with that means of receiving eternal life is that it is unachievable. James tells us that if we keep all the commandments, but violate just one, we are guilty of all. So for any who may think that because they keep the Ten Commandments as best they can that this will qualify them for heaven and eternal life, clearly this is a very mistaken opinion–though that is what many people believe if you ask them. Rather than keeping the Ten Commandments to deserve eternal life, we are taught by both the Old Testament (Genesis 15:6) and the New Testament (Romans 10:13) that it is faith in the promise of God, not what we do for God, that brings eternal life.
For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:
(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1449 for James 2:10.
(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1467 or in Logos 5 Bible software for James 2:10.
(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:
James 2:10. For. While the Jews taught that “he who transgresses all the precepts of the law has broken the yoke, dissolved the covenant, and exposed the law to contempt; and so has he done who has only broken one precept;” they also taught, “that he who observed any principal command was equal to him who kept the whole law,” and gave for an example the forsaking of idolatry. To correct this false doctrine was the object St. James has in view. whosoever. Dt *27:26. Mt 5:18, 19. Ga 3:10. shall keep. Le +*18:5. Dt 27:26. 2 K *22:13. offend. Ja 3:2. 2 P 1:10. Ju 24. in one. Ec +*7:20. Lk *18:22. he is. Mt 5:19. Ga 3:10. guilty. 1 C +11:27.
isa 25.1 o lord, thou art my god: i will exalt thee, i will praise
thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of
old are faithfullness and truth.
james 2.10 for whosever shall keep the whole law, and yet
offend in one point, he is guilty of all. real good cross rfs on this vs.
1. dt 27.26 cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do
them, and all the people shall say, amen
2. mt 5.18 for verily i say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or
one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled
3. mt 5.19 whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments,
and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but
whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of
heaven.
4. gal 3.10 for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is
written, cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in
the book of the law to do them.
5. lev 18.5 ye shall th4 keep my statues, and my judgments; which if a man do,
he shall live in them; i am the lord.
6. 2 ki 22.13 go ye, enquire of the lord for me, and for the people, and for all judah,
concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the lord
that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words
of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
7. ec 7.20 for there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
8. lk 18.22 now when jesus heard these things, he said unto him, yet lacketh thou
one thing; sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have
treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.
psm 107.8 oh that men would praise the lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.