What is the Command? Love or Law?

James 2: 8-14 The Royal Law

Let’s face it; we love ourselves more than anything. We are always drawn towards anything that will build us up and make us look better than others. People truly care about them selves more than anyone. This is contrary to: THE ROYAL LAW. Jesus said this is the second greatest law, the first being to “Love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. ( Matt 22:39 )
Jesus instructed us in Matthew 19: 19 to “love your neighbor as yourself”
For the last two weeks we have been looking at the issue of showing partiality. It is incredible that this type of behavior has slipped in unnoticed by the Church. The enemy will do anything he can to distract us from what is truly important. The call of God is very different than putting yourself first, and if we plan to fulfill the call of God we must think of others before ourselves.

James 2:8-14
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. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Obeying the Law was at the top of the Jewish community. People would go to every extent to try and be a doer of the law, because they thought their relationship with God depended on it. Our culture is a little different. We don’t necessarily think that doing is important at all, unless the doing is doing for ourselves. When we obey the Royal law, God says we DO WELL.

- Anytime we put others first we are fulfilling God’s greatest commandment

- Anytime we show partiality we commit sin

God shows us that if we strive to perform any other task we will always fail because the law has many parts.

10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

- The law brings judgment because we are guilty ( Gal 3:10 )

12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

God has ensured us that through the Gospel we are given freedom. We are now, because of Christ work on the cross, given the right to live and speak freedom. It is for freedom that we have been set free. Before Jesus came to save mankind there was only the expectation of judgment because everyone knew that living out Gods law was impossible.


Now, God has given us the Royal law and said that if we really want to fulfill the Royal law “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”, we understand how this applies in our daily lives and how we treat others, but what about judgment?

- We want mercy

- Others receive judgment

13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.


So God shows us that with the law there is judgment, but with the Law of liberty of life there is freedom to live and love others. With this law comes Mercy! This is the Gospel!