The Royal Law - James 2:5-13

5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 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.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.


5. Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

James says here; that God has chosen the poor of this world and then describes them of being rich in Faith. Then God recognises those that love Him are heirs of the kingdom. And furthermore; this heir is for those that love him. So; even though poor; we can be rich in faith of our Lord Saviour. And we have a heavenly home that awaits us; because he promised it to those that truely love Him. What an Encouragement!!!

6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

Here in verse 6 and 7; we have a comparison of the rich in this period of time to that of the poor. The rich in hate of the poor. They oppressed them or had a cause to make them suffer or crush them. And they brought them to the judgement seat or a ruling of judement or if you like a tribunal.

Is not there today towards those that love Him; a crushing of our faith in Him. May be it is our provision; our daily bread; or a house; a car. The bible says that the world hates us.

1 Cor 4:10. We [are] fools for Christ's sake, but ye [are] wise in Christ; we [are] weak, but ye [are] strong; ye [are] honourable, but we [are] despised.

1 Cor 1:27. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

So faith can have an adverse affect on those that do not understand our faith in Him. But let us take courage. Although we are crushed by the faithless or those that do not believe; what we receive and our outward appearance of faith is going to confound the wise and the mighty. And we do have an inheritance.

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

James reminds us here, in contrast; of the judgement seat or a tribunal; there is a royal law. A law that has royalty. The royal law is to love your neighbour as your self. and then James says you do well. I would like to say here; let us not do what the unsaved do; that is; crush another believer. If one has a faith in something regarding what the Lord is doing for them; that we do not understand; let us not be like those who have not the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and go about to crush or to pull them down; or as the bible puts it, to oppress them.


9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Here it is very clear; if we hold one person in high regard, as opposed to another; James says that sin is committed. and are convinced of the law; that is; that they want to hold to the law. "as transgressors"; that is; it is evident that by holding one in high regard they have broken there own law. Then James continues in verse 10; if they "keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

James is saying by holding one in high regard is an offense; yet by keeping the law; and commiting this very sin of holding one up higher than the other, then that person is guilty of transgression of all the law.

We need to be careful christian. we need that royal law; of loving our neigbor as our selves.

11 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.

Here in verse 11 is an example of two sins; but if one sin is committed; then that person has become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgement

We need to show mercy; so that mercy can be given to us. Mercy rejoices against judgement.


Let us have Royal Law. Let us love our neighbours as ourselves