James Expounds on Faith Volume 21

 Avoid, Abstain, & Abhor the Sin of Partiality Part 4

James 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

The Apostle James reminds them and us that our Father in Heaven (although He is Just as well as Holy and will always punish the obstinate sinner and the transgressions of His children) is love 😍 and wants His sons and daughters to love one another just as He 😍 loves us, therefore, we read these words from James, "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:" (James 2:8) (KJV). Loving one another does not mean spying on one another or vandalism or sabotage against one's property or coveting your neighbors wife or maid servant nor 🐂 oxen nor donkey nor anything that is your neighbors (Exodus 20:17), but instead you shall treat your neighbor with the same respect that you desire to be appropriated to yourself, no matter whether he or she is rich or poor. The Apostle calls this law the 'royal' law meaning that it is the preeminent law of God reigning surpreme over all others. I believe that in regeneration, redemption, and resurrection from spiritual death to life that is imparted to every born again son and daughter of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ loves his brother or sister who are truly 'in Christ' as he is 'in Christ' more than he loves his flesh and blood family 👪. The Apostle John said this of us passing from death to life, "In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." (1 John 3:10-15) (NKJV). There we have it once again that Scripture authenticates Scripture, because the Word of God is not of man made origin, but instead it is the eternal, epic, and everlasting Word of Almighty God ✍ written by Him through the hand, hearts, and heads of over 40 different men concluding in one uniform message.

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 2:8, "Lest any should think James had been pleading for the poor so as to throw contempt on the rich, he now lets them know that he did not design to encourage improper conduct towards any; they must not hate nor be rude to the rich, any more than despise the poor; but as the scripture teaches us to love all our neighbours, be they rich or poor, as ourselves, so, in our having a steady regard to this rule, we shall do well. Observe hence, 1. The rule for Christians to walk by is settled in the Scriptures: If according to the Scriptures, etc. It is not great men, nor worldly wealth, nor corrupt practices among professors themselves, that must guide us, but the Scriptures of Truth. 2. The Scripture gives us this as a law, to love our neighbour as ourselves; it is what still remains in full force, and is rather carried higher and further by Christ than made less important to us. 3. This law is a royal law, it comes from the King of kings. Its own worth and dignity deserve it should be thus honoured; and the state in which all Christians now are, as it is a state of liberty, and not of bondage or oppression, makes this law, by which they are to regulate all their actions to one another, a royal law. 4. A pretence of observing this royal law, when it is interpreted with partiality, will not excuse men in any unjust proceedings. It is implied here that some were ready to flatter rich men, and be partial to them, because, if they were in the like circumstances, they should expect such regards to themselves; or they might plead that to show a distinguished respect to those whom God in His providence had distinguished by their rank and degree in the world was but doing right; therefore the Apostle allows that, so far as they were concerned to observe the duties of the second table, they did well in giving honour to whom honour was due; but this fair pretence would not cover their sin in that undue respect of persons which they stood chargeable with." Here also is what Adam Clarke had to say of James 2:8, "This epithet, of all the New Testament writers, is peculiar to James; but it is frequent among the Greek writers in the sense in which it appears St. James uses it. Βασιλικος, royal, is used to signify any thing that is of general concern, is suitable to all, and necessary for all, as brotherly love is. This commandment; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, is a royal law, not only because it is ordained of God, and proceeds from His kingly authority over men, but because it is so useful, suitable, and necessary to the present state of man; and as it was given us particularly by Christ Himself, John 13:34; John 15:12, who is our King, as well as Prophet and Priest, it should ever put us in mind of His authority over us, and our subjection to Him. As the regal state is the most excellent for secular dignity and civil utility that exists among men, hence we give the epithet royal to whatever is excellent, noble, grand, or useful."










If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…