Every Command to be Observed
T. Manton. James 2:10-13 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.… 1. It showeth how tender we should be of every command: wilful violation amounteth to a total neglect. The least dust offendeth the eye; and so the law is a tender thing, and soon wronged. 2. Partial obedience is an argument of insincerity. 3. It is a vain deceit to excuse defects of one duty by care of another. 4. Upon any particular failing we ought to renew our peace with God. I have done that now which will make me guilty of the whole law; therefore, soul, run to thy Advocate (1 John 2:1). 5. We must not only regard the work of duty, but all the circumstances of it; and so proportionably, not only the acts of sin, but the vicious inclinations of it. 6. Former profession will do no good in case there be a total revolt afterward. A little poison in a cup, and one leak in a ship, may ruin all. A man may ride right for a long lime, but one turn in the end of the journey may bring him quite out of the way. 7. The smallness of sin is a poor excuse: it is an aggravation rather than an excuse: it is the more sad, that we should stand with God for a trifle. (T. Manton.) Parallel Verses KJV: For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. WEB: For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.