THE ROYAL LAW
The apostle James wrote, “If you really fulfill the Royal Law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The Royal Law is a law given by the King of Kings and therefore must receive our attention. When the apostle Paul wrote a similar condensing comment on the law, he said, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
This Royal Law is based on the Law from Leviticus, which states, “You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” We are to follow in a long line of neighbor lovers… following the Royal Law.
This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus