Theme: COMMENTARY ON JAMES CHAPTERS 1 – 2
Text: If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 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. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” – James 2:8-12.
Comment: This positive rendering of the golden rule as stated in the gospels enjoins us to do good to others just as we would want good things to be done for us. In other words, we should treat our fellow human beings like ourselves. Apostle James called it “The Royal Law”, as the text for today shows. It could be seen that true devotion lies in doing good to our fellow men whenever we have the opportunity. – Galatians 6:9,10; 1 John 3: 17,18.
The Royal Law emphasizes love for God and for one’s neighbour, as stated in Deuteronomy 10:12 and Leviticus 19:18. From a spiritual standpoint therefore, it is impossible to claim to love God sincerely and yet habour ill-will against any other person. Certainly, it is when one appreciates the fact that man is created in the image and likeness of God and that one is accountable to His Maker that one can strive to do the will of God and cultivate high regard for his fellow man. “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar” declared Apostle John, who further explained: “for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” – 1 John 4:20, 21.