Breaking God’s Law, Essay Example

The below analysis will cover two passages of the Bible: James 2:8-11, and Hosea 11:1-3. Both of the sections are warning humans to listen to God’s guidance: one explains the consequences of it, the other one explains the law through parables and examples.

Sentences and Paragraph

The sentences of Hosea 11:1 tell the reader a story. God talks to his people and they do not listen. People were seeing God’s work, but they failed to recognize him. He healed his people, but they were still ungrateful. The passage says: “they did not realize it was I who healed them” (Hosea 11: 3).

In James 2:8-11, the author states that breaking one law of God is like breaking them all. The passage tells the reader that by showing favoritism, people break the Royal law, and they become sinners. Even if they keep one law but neglect the rest, they are not following God’s words.

The first passage relates to generally not listening to God, and the other highlights the importance of keeping all orders given by the Creator, instead of picking those that are easy to keep.

Words

There are some interesting word choices in Hosea 11:1. The author calls people of God Israel, and calls the nation God’s son. The fatherly love is expressed by the images that the passage uses: “taught Ephraim to walk” and “healed them”. Both of the expressions symbolize the fatherly caring love of God towards his people.

In the passage of James, (2:8-11), shows God’s people what the right way is through the words of the Bible. The teaching of “ “Love your neighbor as yourself”, referring to  Lev. 19:18. The passage calls God’s orders “law”. Not orders, rules, but law that needs to be kept without exception. The author does not call people who do not follow God sinners, but “lawbreakers”.

Historical and Sociological Context

God’s passionate love for his nation is in the focus of the book of Hosea. The story of Hosea tells us that even though his wife is unfaithful to him, God makes him stay in the Covenant. It is a reflection to the unfaithfulness of Israel towards God. He, just like Hosea decided not to break the covenant. (God’s Everlasting Covenant, 2).

James’ book is addressing the scattered early Christian communities. Described as “brother of Jesus”, the author is likely to be one of the early followers of Christ (The Bible Gateway,  3).

Literary Context

The complete book of Hosea is an allegory of Israel’s unfaithfulness. It talks about the gentle and forgiving love of God. The whole book is about “a long-suffering husband, who keeps covenant with a nation who continually prostitutes herself by following other gods”, as God’s Everlasting Covenant (3) confirms.

In James’ book, according to The Bible Gateway, the author’s aim is “to instruct and encourage them in the face of hardship at the hands of rich unbelievers”. Early Christians were in a difficult and vulnerable situation, and they had to find ways to follow God in secret and make sense of Christianity. James simply explains the main passages of the Bible and the new meaning of God’s love that Jesus delivered.

Literary Aspects

The genre of Hosea’s book is based on a narrative monologue from God. It describes the despair of God over his people’s unfaithfulness. The Old Testament, according to Cachia (3) is full of references to a “listening heart”, starting with the book of Solomon. The book also uses a story, history of the nation to create a connection with the reader. On the other hand, James’ book is based on clarifying instructions directly addresses people of God, in the universal sense: the followers of Jesus, not only Jewish believers.

Preliminary Summary

The main idea of the passage from Hosea’s book is that God loves people, even if they stop listening to him. He loves everyone, despite their faults and trespasses, so people should forgive sinners, too. In James’ book, the writer talks about favoritism; loving every person equally, and the fact that all of God’s law should be kept, not only selected ones.

Theological Exegesis

The two passages can be connected based on the idea of God’s universal love. Both James and Hosea’s book confirm that love should be unconditional, just like God’s love towards his creatures. Further, by forbidding favoritism, the author talks about the sin of being selective of which law to keep.

Summary Exegesis

The two different passages from various parts of the Scripture highlight the fact that God’s love is universal. Just like God’s law is universal. People should not be selective of which person to love, or which commandment to keep. If God was able to forgive those who stopped listening and offered to Baal ( Hosea 11:1), he kept the covenant despite the unfaithfulness of people. Therefore, people should not judge sinners, but love them as “neighbors”: equally.

Application/Significance

The two passages analyzed above can be used to explain Christians why it is the responsibility of the church to welcome everyone and show no favoritism. If God kept on loving his people, we should welcome sinners. While favoritism is not expressed in churches today based on wealth or social status, those considered to be “sinners” are often prejudiced against. If God did not turn his back on Israel when they stopped listening to him, Christians should follow his example.

Works Cited

Cachia, N. “Receiving And Forming Towards A Listening Heart” Acta  theol. vol.33  supl.17 Bloemfontein Nov. 2013. Web.

God’s Everlasting Covenant. “God’s Special Identification with Israel” n.d. Web.

“The Holy Bible” New International Translation. James 2: 8-11. New International Version (NIV)

Ibid.  Hosea 11:1-3

Ibid. Lev. 19:18.

The Bible Gateway.  “James 5 New Testament Commentaries” n.d. Web.