JAMES
Lesson 8: The Royal Law
Study Guide
James 2:8-12 CSB
8 Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.
9 If, however, you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.
11 For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. So if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you are a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.
• Practical Discipleship for Everyone.
• Bible Memorization. Psalm 119:11
o I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
Last Week’s Memory Verse:
James 2:5
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?
This Week’s Memory Verse:
James 2:8
8 Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.
James mentions the law six times in five chapters: 1:25; 2:8; 2:9; 2:10; 2:12; 4:11
Point 1: The King’s Edict
The Kingdom of God, The Royal Law, & the Ruler
Royal (937) (basilikos from basileus = king) means royal, kingly, of a king.
Loving one’s neighbor as the royal law,
In the kingdom of God, royalty means showing
It’s the king’s edict.
Why is “love thy neighbor” called “the royal law?”
Given by the King.
a. God the Father gave it in the Law.
b. God the Son reaffirmed it. (John 13:34).
c. God the Spirit fills our hearts. (Ro 5:5).
d. We are taught to love. (1 Th 4:9)
It rules all the other laws.
a. Love fulfills the Law. (Ro 13:10).
Obeying it makes you a king.
a. love sets us free.
b. It allows you to control what you’re in control of, yourself.
Royalty doesn’t mean you are treated with
Galatians 3:24-26
24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.
The law prohibits
Leviticus 19:15
15 “Do not act unjustly when deciding a case. Do not be partial to the poor or give preference to the rich; judge your neighbor fairly.
The law’s purpose is to
Lawbreaker: Transgressors (3848)(parabates from pará = beyond or contrary to + baíno = to go; cf parabasis) describes one who steps on one side and thus goes beyond or steps across a line.
Write your thoughts about Point 1 here.
Point 2: True Freedom.
True freedom comes from living accountable to the King’s Edict.
Freedom from the law still entails responsibility.
Galatians 5:13
13 For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.
True freedom is
Love
1 John 5:3
3 For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden,
Write your thoughts about Point 2 here.
Key takeaways:
- Acting outside of faith makes life more complicated.
- The law was designed to lead us to Christ, not comfort.
- The Kingdom of God means living by royal standards, not human standards.
- Love simplifies life and leads to freedom.