The Royal Law
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
As I study further in the Epistle of James, I am so blessed.
He is so practical, and as I read this passage, I see several questions arising from it.
In verse 6 James says, do we despise or look down on the poor.
We can from our comfortable vantage point, look down with disdain to the poor instead of obeying scripture and helping them. In China, millions have been taken out of poverty by the government, you may say that this is their job, but in James 1, we are told that pure religion is to visit widows.. when was the last time you did that?
That is their job, but the church has a responsibility to the poor and widows of its community Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 5
Verse 6 says, why do we put wealthy people on a pedestal, after all it is often they, that are the chief persecutors of the church.
Verse 7 says they blaspheme and curse the good name of Christ, many Christians want to make friends with rich people, but this is a slippery slope.
The Royal law of God is God’s supreme law. Are you doing well, by loving your neighbour as yourself? Treating those around you, the same way you treat yourself.
Are you showing partiality? vs 9
Do you think better of rich people than of poor people see verses 1-5
The religious leaders of the day were meticulous in the keeping of the law, but if you fail in one small point, you are guilty of breaking it all. If we say, do not kill and then we steal, this means we are completely guilty?
Are we telling people it is wrong to steal and then we steal ourselves? see Romans 2
In verse 13 the question is asked.
Do we say something and do another?
Basically are we two faced?
Are we saying that swearing and lying are wrong and then are we doing them ?
These are all searching questions, we must all answer.
We need to look into the royal law and see if we are committing any of these sins and come to the foot of the cross in repentance.
God bless you
Keith