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James 2:8–9
“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”
Of special importance to James is that Christian profession and Christian practice go hand in hand. So, for example, if we profess that God is the source of wisdom, our practice must be to avoid double-mindedness when we ask Him for it (James 1:5–8). If we ask for wisdom while doubting that the Lord will give it or while secretly wanting to live by the wisdom of the world, our profession does not match our practice. Similarly, if we fail to bridle our tongue, to care for the widow and the orphan, or to keep ourselves undefiled by the world, then our profession of faith is hollow (vv. 26–27). This is because authentic faith leads to transformation into the image of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 1:15). Thus, true faith will make us reflect the character of God, who patiently exercises perfect self-control, cares for the needy, and is not of the world (Deut. 10:18; John 17:16; 2 Peter 3:9).
James’ concern that Christian profession and practice must go hand in hand is also evident in today’s passage. Further developing his teaching on partiality, the Apostle encourages us that we are doing well if we fulfill the royal law to love our neighbors as ourselves and states that showing partiality based on wealth violates this law (James 2:8–9). This “royal law” is the same “law of liberty” mentioned in James 1:25, as seen in the reappearance of that phrase in this context (2:12). The qualifier “royal” means “belonging to the king,” and its Greek root is also found in the Greek word normally translated as “kingdom.” We are to understand this “royal law,” then, as the law of the King, specifically the law of Jesus, who is the King of the kingdom of God and whose own teaching during His earthly ministry frequently referenced this kingdom. The “royal law” or “law of liberty” is the moral law of God given to ancient Israel and fulfilled, expanded, and intensified by Jesus. Our Lord summarizes this law as love of God and neighbor (Matt. 22:34–40), so it makes sense that James calls our attention to love of neighbor when speaking of this royal law.
Loving our neighbors as ourselves summarizes the royal law, but it is also a specific command within the law of God (see Lev. 19:18). Note that in the same context, showing partiality to rich or poor is also condemned (v. 15). Not being partial to others based on their socioeconomic level is one key way to love our neighbors as ourselves. If we show partiality, we do not love our neighbor.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
J.A. Motyer writes in his commentary on James that “the essence of the royal law is that wherever there is a need there is an obligation to extend the sort of love we lavish on ourselves; the essence of partiality is to select the recipients of our care on some ground other than that they are in need.” If we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, we should show care for others based on their needs, not on our own preferences.
For further study
- Leviticus 19:34
- Mark 12:28–34
- Romans 13:8–10
- 1 John 3:10
The bible in a year
- Exodus 13–16
- Matthew 19:1–15