Fulfilling the Royal Law
FULFILLING THE ROYAL LAW
INTRODUCTION
Verse 8 begins with “If” which connects with what has been previously said
“If” you are guilty of showing partiality and favoritism toward the earthly rich and wealthy
“If” you favor the rich man because of his riches what law have you fulfilled?
It is the “law of selfishness” which desires the wealth of the rich man
“If” you neglect the poor man, what law have you fulfilled?
The law of neglect which is in the form of thoughtlessness and indifference
James says, instead there is a law which you must fulfill and he quotes from, Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD.
James calls that law, the “royal law”
Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:
“If you fulfill” does not mean to put an end to it, but to bring it to perfection
Christians must continually obey it so that it attains God’s purpose for the law
It is “royal” because of its source, fulfill this law and you will be obeying God
No higher law can be given, fulfill this law and there is no need for any other laws
One day a lawyer asked Jesus about the law, Mat 22:35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a
question, tempting him, and saying, Mat 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Jesus answered his question, Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Our first responsibility is toward God, Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
And then comes our responsibility to man, Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself.
If we fulfill our first responsibility, we will have no problem with our second responsibility
In fact, we will then have no problem obeying any or all of God’s commandments, Mat 22:40 On these two
commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Paul spoke of this “royal law,” Rom 13:8 Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another
hath fulfilled the law. Rom 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal,
Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly
comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his
neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Love will not bestow evil of any kind toward others, love will not break any laws
James said that this royal law is according to the scripture,
That is what makes it the “royal law,” it is a written commandment of God
It was given in the OT, it was brought to light in the NT by Jesus, emphasized by Jesus, Joh13:34 A new
commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
This OT commandment is new because of Jesus’ example of sacrificial love for others
NT believers have received new power through Christ and the Holy Spirit to fulfill this law, Joh 13:35 By this shall
all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
There can be no greater witness to the world concerning God than the example of Jesus’ love
Because it is Scripture it is to be obeyed, it is the standard of life for Christian living
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,
“Thou,” it is the individual duty of each Christian, the way of life for every Christian
Israel was told why they were to fulfill this royal law, “I AM THE LORD,” Lev 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and
down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am the
LORD. (Do nothing that will bring harm unto your neighbor)
Lev 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer
sin upon him. (Hate is not the correct way to correct sin in others)
The next verse is the most often quoted OT text in the NT, Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge
against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD.
Jesus called it the second great commandment
Paul quoted Lev. 19:18 and told us how to fulfill this royal law, Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word,
even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
That is how we fulfill the “royal law,” Paul gave us an example and a lesson, Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their
wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
He means to love the wife as though she is your “own body”
Consider the concern that people have for the comfort and appearance of the body, Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet
hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
In the context of Ephesians 5, husbands should do the same for their wife
Our example, our pattern to follow is the love that Christ has for us
Has the Lord neglected you? You have never been neglected or forgotten by the Lord
Has the Lord ever said to you, “I don’t have time for you?” The Lord has always been there with you and for you
How often has the Lord put His hand upon you?
How often has the hand of the Lord, guided, directed, and protected you?
Has the Lord told you that He loves you? How often has the Lord shown you that He loves you?
God is also telling us that we should have the same concern for others, Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or
vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Php 2:4 Look not every man on his
own things, but every man also on the things of others.
James said, “love thy neighbor,” but “who is my neighbor?”
That is a question that has been asked before, Luk 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who
is my neighbour? Luk 10:30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and
fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
Luk 10:31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the
other side. Luk 10:32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on
the other side. Luk 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him,
he had compassion on him, Luk 10:34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set
him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Luk 10:35 And on the morrow when he
departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever
thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Luk 10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was
neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
Jesus gives a command based upon learning the lesson of the parable, Luk 10:37 And he said, He that shewed mercy
on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
The point is that our neighbor is anyone in need that we have the-opportunity to help
Our neighbor is whoever we come-in contact with that needs our help
To meet their needs through “love” does not mean that we love what they are doing
It is God loving others through us the way that He loved us, and how was that, Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ
also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
If we help others with the love of Jesus, then we have fulfilled the “royal law”
James gives us a check point, a comparison to go by in order to evaluate our love for others
as thyself,
We do not have to be taught to love ourselves, it is within our nature, we are born with that desire
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
But it is not within our fallen nature to “love your neighbor as yourself”
We know how to love self, we must learn from God’s Word and the Spirit how to love others
Only through our new nature can we obey it, obedience is through the Holy Spirit, Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not
ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
When that love flows through us into the life of others it is known as the “fruit of the Spirit,” Gal 5:22 But the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
When we are filled with the Spirit and bearing the fruit of the Spirit, James says, “you do well”
ye do well:
One day you will hear “Well Done,” Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant:
thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
James plainly states two things that are the result of showing favoritism or partiality:
(1) You are committing a sin (2) You are guilty of breaking the law
To “commit” has the thought of work, effort, labor, you are putting forth an effort to sin
“Sin” means that you have missed the true purpose of our God-given life
You have gone against God’s purpose for your life, 1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:
for sin is the transgression of the law.
So, your action is against the will of God and it is therefore “sin” according to God
and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
“Convinced” means to convict or show to be wrong, the result of which is shame
The verdict is, you have “transgressed” the law, you have deliberately violated the royal law
A transgression is a willful sin against the standard set by God
The royal law sets the boundary for the Christian life and showing partiality is out of bounds
Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
“Whosoever” identifies that there is no exception to this principle of life, it includes all of us
“Shall keep” speaks of anyone who carefully guards against violating the Law of God
You normally obey the law-as a whole, obedience is your normal way of life
You do your best not to be a violator of the Law of God---
and yet offend in one point,
“Yet offend” means to stumble or to be tripped up, the thought is also “going astray”
If you stumble in just this one point, even if you disobey just this one thing, you are guilty
This “one point” of “partiality” causes you to trip over the boundary line
he is guilty of all.
“Guilty” does not mean that you have violated all other parts of the Law
It means that you made the choice to disobey God and are therefore “guilty” before God
You are therefore a “transgressor of the law” by breaking one law, the royal law
Disobedience in one area of the Law will lead to other steps of disobedience
The Law of God is the Will of God for His people, it is a whole Law, a single unit
To violate any one part is to transgress the Law, one violation makes you a lawbreaker
One transgression brings about the sentence of “guilty,” James describes why what he just said is true---
Jas 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet
if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
The same God gave all-of the commandments, it is the One and Only God who said, “Do not commit adultery,”
God is also the one who said, and with the same authority, “Do not kill,” murder violates the “Law of Love”
Just like “adultery,” just like “murder,” partiality violates the “Law of Love”
Don’t think that if you keep all but one of the commandments you can break that one
The result is still the same, not one single act of sin is permissible
Jas 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
“So” is an appeal for the “royal law,” an appeal for the Christian to show love
We have a duty to “speak” according to the royal law we have a duty to “do” according to the royal law
There is equal emphasis upon “saying” and “doing,” 1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in
tongue; but in deed and in truth.
“They that shall be judged” refers to Christians and a future judgment that will happen
James will later give Christians a warning to that fact, Jas 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be
condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
Christians are accountable for all that we say, Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall
speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
We will be justified by the words that are spoken from a heart filled with God’s love, Mat 12:37 For by thy words
thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Words of favoritism and partiality will be condemned
Christians are accountable for all that we do, Col 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he
hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Remember that all we say and do will be judged according to “the law of liberty”
The “Law of Liberty” is the standard of judgment, the means by which God shall judge
The “Law of Liberty” is the Word of God that sets us free to live, it is not burdensome, 1Jn 5:3 For this is the love
of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
What a joy and a privilege it is to obey God’s Word, Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and
continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Love for God and His Word sets us free to live according to the will of God, Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the
liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Our freedom is not the right to do as we please, it is not the desire for worldly pleasures
Our freedom is the power to do what we should, it pleases us to do that which pleases God
The day will come when what is done for God will be explained, all will be revealed
One day the truth will be known by all, all will not be saved but all will know the Truth, Php 2:9 Wherefore God
also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Php 2:11 And that every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as
ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling.
Notice “Wherefore God” verse 9, notice “Wherefore, my beloved” verse 12
Based upon what God has done and will do we are to obey God’s Word
Obedience to the Word of God is “working out” our salvation
“Working out” salvation is preparing for the future Judgment Seat of Christ, 2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
Jas 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against
judgment.
The Law of Liberty extended “mercy” to us as Christians that we might have the freedom to be merciful
We are accountable for the opportunities that God has given us to serve others
Remember the parable of the “Good Samaritan” and the question Jesus asked, Luk 10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? Luk 10:37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
The unmerciful will receive judgment, but Jesus said, Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
“Blessed” means receiving only that which God can give
We are to be filled with confidence as we face the Judgment Seat of Christ, 1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
All believers have been gifted by the Holy Spirit in order to minister to others, 1Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
We receive “God’s Grace” in order that we might be “Graceful”
We receive “God’s Mercy” in order that we might be “Merciful”
We receive “God’s Love” in order that we might be “Lovable”
A believer who ministers to others is a servant taking care of the “Masters” business
Which Peter explains, 1Pe 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
To “minister” is to serve others, to wait upon them as a table waiter, to help others
It covers all areas of Christian service and all areas of Christian work
Every Christian has the responsibility of serving others and there are many ways to serve
God does not forget “your work and labor of love,” ministry is not always easy
Ministry may call upon you when you have something else planned, something you want to do
So, what motivates us to take the time to minister to others?
James called it the “Royal law,” Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: