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James 2:8-13
James speaks of the royal law, which is found in Leviticus 19:18 (NKJV), “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” He goes on to say that if his readers/hearers show partiality, they are committing sin and are convicted by the royal law (James 2:8-9). James goes on to explain that if one obeys one part of the law and not another, that person is guilty of sin. James instructs his readers/hearers in the way of the Lord in verse 12 stating, “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.” James ends this passage with a very real truth as he states in verse 13, “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
This is a command to follow the royal law, which is to love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18).
For those of you who may believe that James and Paul were at odds in their teachings, this is a great place to show just how much their teachings are in support of one another. In Romans 13:8-10 (NIV) Paul states, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Jesus stated that He came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17); knowing that love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10), and that God is love (1 John 4:8, 16), God is the fulfillment of the law through His one and only Son Jesus whom He sent to save the world from sin because of His great love (that He is) for the world. This is stated more clearly in John 3:16-17. We cannot accomplish loving our neighbor as ourself without having the love of God dwelling within us that surpasses all understanding but reigns supreme in God, of God, and through God. We love our neighbor as ourself by first inviting God’s love through His Son Jesus to live within us by opening our hearts to be filled with His Holy Spirit. This is true love. This is salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Dear LORD,
We are living in a sinful world that is selfish and arrogant, but You sent Your Son Jesus to save us from the ways of this world that You would be glorified through those who put their faith in You. Please speak to our hearts that we would invite Your Holy Spirit to fill us each day and love our neighbor as ourselves. In Jesus name I pray, amen.