John Calvin Commentary James 1:25

"But he that looketh into the perfect law, the [law] of liberty, and [so] continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing." — James 1:25 (ASV)

The perfect law of liberty. After speaking of empty speculation, he now comes to that penetrating intuition which transforms us into the image of God. And as he was dealing with the Jews, he uses the word law, familiar to them, as encompassing the whole truth of God.

But why he calls it a perfect law, and a law of liberty, interpreters have not understood, because they have not perceived that there is a contrast here, which can be gathered from other passages of Scripture.

As long as the law is preached by the external human voice, and not inscribed on our inward parts by the finger and Spirit of God, it is only a dead letter and, as it were, a lifeless thing.

It is no wonder, then, that the law is considered imperfect and that it is the law of bondage. For, as Paul teaches in Galatians 4:24, when separated from Christ, it produces condemnation; and, as he also shows us in Romans 8:13, it can do nothing but fill us with a lack of confidence and fear.

But the Spirit of regeneration, who inscribes it on our inward parts, also brings the grace of adoption. It is, then, as if James had said, “The teaching of the law, let it no longer lead you into bondage, but, on the contrary, bring you into liberty; let it no longer be only a schoolmaster, but bring you to perfection: you ought to receive it with sincere affection, so that you may lead a godly and holy life.”

Moreover, since it is a blessing of the Old Testament for the law of God to reform us, as appears from Jeremiah 31:33 and other passages, it follows that this blessing cannot be obtained until we come to Christ.

And, undoubtedly, He alone is the end and perfection of the law. James adds liberty as an inseparable associate, because the Spirit of Christ never regenerates without also becoming a witness and an earnest of our divine adoption, so as to free our hearts from fear and trembling.

And continueth. This means to persevere firmly in the knowledge of God. And when James adds, this man shall be blessed in his deed, or work, he means that blessedness is found in doing, not in cold hearing.