For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.
- Why is this a “royal" law? It's the Law of the kingdom, law of king for his people.
- It's "Love your neighbor as yourself."
- James's readers / hearers are called to stop showing partiality.
- This is not mere suggestion, but a law! It’s a law of love, the perfect law of freedom.
- It dictates the sort of people we are, and how we treat one another—not just outsiders, but fellow subjects of the king.
- Mercy flows out through us. We are embodying the attitudes / behaviors of Matt 5:21-48.
- Re: v.2:8:
- niversal human teaching? Usually it's the silver rule that prevails, not the golden rule. Rabbinic Judaism: “What you hate do not do to your neighbor. That is the essence of the Torah; the remainder is commentary” (Hillel, b. Shabbath 31a). Classical Buddhism: “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.”— Udanavarga 5:18 [Silver Rule]. Confucius: “Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself.” — Analects XV.24 [Silver Rule]. For more examples from among the religions and philosophies of the world, click here.
- Paul teaches the same in Gal 5:14 and Rom 13:8-10.
- Lev 19:18. Is this a u
- Re: v.9, the sin in question is favoritism.
- Re: vv.10-11:
- Deut 27:26.
- We are lawbreakers even if we break only one commandment. (Think of one crack/hole in the windshield.)
- Re Vv.12-13:
- Christians are judged by the supreme law, the law that sets us free: the law of love.
- A failure to love the poor makes us transgressors—showing favoritism to the rich—we are actively violating God’s law.
- Here is an echo of Matt 5:7.
- Judgment without mercy!
Finally
- Looking into the mirror has not led to repentance—hence the severity of James’s scathing rebuke. They have failed to live by the royal law in their Christian community.
- Nor was his rebuke given hypocritically. He was, after all, “James the Just” (widely respected by Jews and Christians alike for his compassionate care for the needy).
Next: Cold Deeds with Warm Words
