Albert Barnes Commentary James 2:25

"And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?" — James 2:25 (ASV)

Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works? She was justified in the same sense as Abraham, as explained above—showing by her act that her faith was genuine, and that it was not merely a cold and speculative assent to religious truths. Her act showed that she truly believed God. If that act had not been performed, it would have shown that her faith was not genuine, and she could not have been justified. God saw her faith as it was; he saw that it would produce acts of obedience, and he accepted her as righteous. The act she performed was the public manifestation of her faith, the evidence that she was justified. See the notes on Hebrews 11:31 for a full explanation of Rahab's case.

It should be noted here that we are not to suppose that everything in this woman's life and character is commended. She is commended for her faith and for its proper expression. This faith, which induced her to receive the messengers of the true God and send them out in peace, and which led her to identify with the people of God, was also influential—we have every reason to suppose—in leading her to abandon her former way of life.

When we commend the faith of a man who has been a profane swearer, an adulterer, a robber, or a drunkard, we do not commend his former life or condone it. We commend what has led him to abandon his evil course and turn to the ways of righteousness. The more evil his former course has been, the more wonderful and worthy of commendation is the faith by which he is reformed and saved.