James 2:13

For he shall have judgment There is something more emphatic in the actual structure of the sentence. For the judgment shall be merciless to him that wrought not mercy. The axiom presents one aspect of the great law of divine retribution, and, like so much of St James's teaching, is an obvious reproduction of that of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:1). The reference to that discourse suggests the thought that the "law of liberty" of which St James speaks is not the law given by Moses, but the new Law, full of grace and truth, which was given by Christ. See note on James 2:8. On this assumption the supposed contrast with St Paul dwindles into nothing.

mercy rejoiceth against judgment The verb is found in Romans 11:18. The abruptness of the original, where the maxim stands with no connecting particle, is singularly forcible, mercy glories over judgment. The law holds good universally. It is true of man's judgment, but also of God's, that mercy triumphs over severity, when it finds a willing object. The truth has seldom found a nobler utterance than in the familiar words which remind us that

"Earthly power doth then shew likest God's,

When mercy seasons justice."

Shakespeare. Merchant of Venice, iv. 1.