Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary James 2:13

"For judgment [is] without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment." — James 2:13 (ASV)

The reason for responding to the exhortation of v.12 is that “judgment without mercy” will be the lot of the unmerciful. No doubt “mercy” is singled out because James has the poor man of v.2 in mind. Instead of the mercy the man needed, he received cruel discrimination—and that at the hands of professing Christians. The basic principle that underlies v.12a was stated by Christ himself in Mt 18:33: The recipient of mercy should likewise be merciful. Mercy should be the mark of the regenerated person. If it is present in the believer’s life, he or she will have nothing to fear at the judgment. It is in this sense that “mercy triumphs over judgment.” The believer will be able to smile triumphantly in the time of judgment (cf. also 1Jn 4:17).