01/08/11

The Royal Law

James 2:8 - Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:

In today's message James calls one of the two commandments which Jesus summarized all commandments into, as a Royal Law.

These two commandments do not replace the Law but by fulfilling these two one lands up fulfilling all commandments in the Law. The Ten Commandments, which were given were written on 2 tablets and they can be grouped also into 2 categories, one towards God and other towards people. The Royal Law also has 2 commandments one concerning God and other people.

James goes on to state if one breaks any commandment he or she transgresses against the one Who gave the Law and thus becomes a transgressor. Thus it does not matter which commandment we break we still become a transgressor.

The second Royal Law however specifies a category of people and thus James put as 'you do well'. When Jesus used the term 'neighbor', He specified a specific lot of people, and tried to explain it through His parable of the Good Samaritan. There was a priest, a Levi and a Samaritan who passed the injured man on the road but only the Samaritan showed the nature of God in him and proved to be a child of God. Even in the case of Paul when he was Saul although he was among those or even led them to persecute the Christians; he himself did not stone or hurt the Christians but arrested them and handed them over to the authorities.

We as Christians are called to love all people irrespective of what religion except for those who with knowledge worship Satan, these we need to keep far away. But when it comes to Children of God we need to not just love them but love them as we love ourselves. Jesus explained this quantity of love saying as much He loved us and we all know He even gave up His life for the purpose of His love.

James also points out if we show partiality between one brethren and another we are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. This is one area where we all fail in one way or another. When we say we love one child of God more than another than we transgress against the second Royal Law.

Let us remember we may have more or else responsibility with one or another but our love for every child of God should be the same.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You gave us the Law so that we may walk on the path of Truth and know You. By your sacrifice You gave us abundant mercy by which the consequence of the Law which is death was taken away from us. But we cannot take your sacrifice for granted every time and make it valueless. Lord, help us understand your plans and purpose in our lives and help us love like You loved. Help us be more and more of You and less of us...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
James 2:8-11
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;
9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Luke 10:25-37
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
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.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
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.
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.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

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