“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well” (James 2:8).
Loving your neighbor as yourself is not an idealistic platitude found in Scripture. It is not solely a New Testament concept (see Leviticus 19:18). It is God’s unceasing expectation for His people and is of such magnitude that it is called “the royal law”. Such a lofty moniker deserves thoughtful consideration of why it has been given such a designation.
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” can rightfully be called the royal law because of its author. This commandment did not originate in a human’s mind; it comes from the Lord of hosts, who is a great King (Malachi 1:14). There is no loftier authority for any legislation of human behavior.
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” can rightfully be called the royal law because it elevates everyone who lives in harmony with it. Some people choose to live like animals; others may live like paupers. Such is unnecessary because all can live like kings. There is no better, more noble way to live than by the royal law.
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” can rightfully be called the royal law because of its inseparable connection to the great and first of all the commandments (Matthew 22:37-40; Mark 12:28-31). It is the summation of the Decalogue’s sixth to tenth commandments (Romans 13:9) and is an essential trait of a child of God living today (1 John 3:10-18, 23; 4:7-11, 16-21).
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” rightfully deserves to be called the royal law.
