Jump to content
JesusWalk Bible Study Forum

Q11. Royal Law


Recommended Posts

  • 4 months later...
  • Replies 94
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...
  • 8 months later...
  • 3 months later...

Q3. (2:9-11)

Why does James refer to the Great Commandment as the "Royal Law"?

How is it more "royal" than the Mosaic Law?

How does showing favouritism toward a rich person break the "Royal Law" towards that rich person?

How does it break the "Royal Law" in regard to a poor person?

It is called the royal law because it belongs to the King of kings and because it is the king of all laws. When comparing it to the Law of Moses we note that both required us to love our neighbour, but only the Royal Law gave us the power to do it, and did not condemn us if we failed. It is only under grace, that we are given the power to love our neighbour and are rewarded when we do it. We don't do it in order to be saved but because we are saved. We do it, not through fear of punishment, but through love for our Lord Jesus who died for us and rose again. If we really loved our neighbours as ourselves, we would treat them all the way we would want to be treated. We would not want to be despised simply because we were poor, or to be shown favouritism simply because we were rich. It is because we are self-centred, that we cater to the rich because of the hope of reward, either socially or materially. At the same time we neglect the poor because there is little prospect of their benefiting us in any way. The royal law forbids such selfish exploitation of others, and teaches us to love our neighbour as ourselves.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
  • 5 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 3 months later...

james refered this is the royal commandment because it proceeded from the mouth of the King of kings and Lord of lords. it is more royal law than the mosaic because it instructs love for God and love for our neighbours whereas mosiac law is more generally for detering of sin. favoritism does not perfect our love for our neigbours but inclines towards selfish gain rather than sacrificial which we might give without gaining.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Q3. (2:9-11) Why does James refer to the Great Commandment as the "Royal Law"? How is it more "royal" than the Mosaic Law? How does showing favoritism toward a rich person break the "Royal Law" towards that rich person? How does it break the "Royal Law" in regard to a poor person?

Its THE commandment of how we should relate to one another, and it was given and modelled to us by our "King" Jesus Christ. All the other laws hang off the Royal Law.

If one law is broken then all are... however favoritism is not loving as God intended, it is using our own selfish very flawed bias rather than God's unconditional love. It puts us at the centre and is self serving. Therefore we are not "loving" we are judging. So we are not serving God and we are not loving our neighbor so we are breaking the laws... Jesus modelled the Royal Law in that he was a servant.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q3. (2:9-11) Why does James refer to the Great Commandment as the "Royal Law"? How is it more "royal" than the Mosaic Law? How does showing favouritism toward a rich person break the "Royal Law" towards that rich person? How does it break the "Royal Law" in regard to a poor person?

The reference to Royal law makes clear it is the law of our King, Jesus. We know He came not to do away with

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 11 months later...

Q3. (2:9-11) Why does James refer to the Great Commandment as the "Royal Law"? How is it more "royal" than the Mosaic Law? How does showing favoritism toward a rich person break the "Royal Law" towards that rich person? How does it break the "Royal Law" in regard to a poor person?

Answer:

1 . Why does James refer to the Great Commandment as the "Royal Law"?

LOVE is the center of God

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 7 months later...

James refers the Great Commandment as the royal law for the same reason that it is more royal than the Mosiac Law. It is because it is spiritual, and comes from the heart and takes precedence over the physical law of Moses. Showing favoritism to a rich person breaks the law because when you show favoritism to whomever or whatever you are being selfish, looking out for yourself and that is not what the royal law of love is. The royal law of love is loving your neighbor as yourself and if you are favoring that person for the way he looks or what he has it is simply because you think you can benefit from him in someway, not judging or loving that person for his moral character. You break the law in regard to a poor person in that you think that this person is not worth your consideration because this person doesn' t look a certain way or does not have riches and cannot offer you anything or benefit you in someway. This is definetly not showing love or respect for the individual and judging and loving him for his moral character.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

James refers to the Great Commandment as the Royal Law because it comes from Christ the King. The Royal Law summarizes the Mosaic Law and the prophets. If you keep the Royal Law, you will not break Mosaic Law. You cannot “love your neighbor as yourself” and show favoritism toward a rich person or a poor person. Loving your neighbor means reaching out to him for the cause of Christ regardless of his status. Favoritism pre-judges and shows hatred not love.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

I think that James referred to the Great Command as the “Royal Law” is because it is the most important law that there is. If you keep this law you are abiding in all the commandments. The law is more “royal” than the Mosaic Law because if you keep the royal law then you are keeping the Mosaic Law.

The way that showing favoritism toward a rich person break the “Royal Law” is that you have pre-judged that person. You are looking down at the poor and not treating them with respect.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 months later...

Q3. (2:9-11) Why does James refer to the Great Commandment as the Royal Law? How is it more royal than the Mosaic Law? How does showing favoritism toward a rich person break the Royal Law towards that rich person? How does it break the Royal Law in regard to a poor person?

I'm not sure why this is called the royal law. It was given in Lev. 18, and reinstated by the Lord Jesus (the King of Kings) so maybe that is why it is the "royal law." The royal law encompasses many of the 10 commandments because it is more general. If we genuinely loved others we wouldn't lie, steal, murder, commit adultery, dishonour parents or covet.

By showing disproportionate regard for either rich or poor people we are not showing love. Instead we are either flattering with wrong motives or oppressing, both of which are sin, making us guilty of breaking the whole law.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...

Q3. (2:9-11) Why does James refer to the Great Commandment as the “Royal Law”?

 

Because Jesus Himself quoted it as the most important law, and because it covers everything. Doing things and living your life out of a spirit of love will ensure you don't break the law.

 

 

 

How is it more “royal” than the Mosaic Law?

 

The Mosaic Law took up many books to cover every contingency. People who lived according to the Law of Moses were legalistic and very often self-righteous if they considered themselves good in their own eyes for doing so. Jesus gave us a new commandment to love one another. That was a radical move during His time on earth when the Pharisees were the keepers and instructors of the way to live righteously.

 

 

 

How does showing favoritism toward a rich person break the “Royal Law” towards that rich person?

 

By doing that we see the rich person through worldly eyes and not from God's viewpoint. We give them favorable treatment often at the expense of people God values just as highly but who in our world-influenced view don't warrant it.

 

 

 

How does it break the “Royal Law” in regard to a poor person?

 

We become guilty of treating as second class someone Jesus died for.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Akkjl

Jesus is the King.  He said this was the most important thing, and covered everything we need to know.    Love honors, does not steal, does not murder, does not break commitments, cannot wish for harm to befall anyone.  God is Love and as his children we are to show extravagant love to others and is a byproduct of knowing we are so loved.   For James to call this the Royal Law helps make this see the urgency and value of it understanding and let God's grace more through me.  

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Q3. (2:9-11) Why does James refer to the Great Commandment as the �Royal Law�? How is it more �royal� than the Mosaic Law? How does showing favoritism toward a rich person break the �Royal Law� towards that rich person? How does it break the �Royal Law� in regard to a poor person?

 

God is love.  Love places the needs of others before my own.  Genuine love connects me with God and those around me.  Jesus said:  "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but everlasting life." John 3:16.  So, if God so love the world how can I as a follower of Christ not love others.  When you love God and others you don't sin against them.  You truly do unto others so you would want them to do unto you.  You truly care.

 

Love is not real if it is selectively given.  Royal law is the King's law.  That King is God and he is love.  If we are to be his people we need to love.  See I Cor. 13 for a definition of applied love.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...