11—Forty Days with James: The Royal Law

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/11-forty-days-with-james-the-royal-law/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><ul><li>Why is this a “royal" law? It's the Law of the kingdom, law of king for his people.</li><li>It's "Love your neighbor as yourself."</li><li>James's readers / hearers are called to stop showing partiality.</li><li>This is not mere suggestion, but a law! It’s a law of love, the perfect law of freedom.</li><li>It dictates the sort of people we are, and how we treat one another—not just outsiders, but fellow subjects of the king.</li><li>Mercy flows out through us. We are embodying the attitudes / behaviors of Matt 5:21-48.</li><li>Re: v.2:8:<ul><li>niversal human teaching? Usually it's the silver rule that prevails, not the golden rule. Rabbinic Judaism: “What you hate do not do to your neighbor. That is the essence of the Torah; the remainder is commentary” (Hillel, b. Shabbath 31a). Classical Buddhism: “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.”— Udanavarga 5:18 [Silver Rule]. Confucius: “Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself.” — Analects XV.24 [Silver Rule]. For more examples from among the religions and philosophies of the world, <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/the-golden-rule-the-silver-rule/">click here</a>.</li><li>Paul teaches the same in Gal 5:14 and Rom 13:8-10.</li></ul></li></ul><img src="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/wp-content/uploads/JBL-191x300.jpg" alt="" width="130" /><ul><li>Lev 19:18. Is this a u</li><li>Re: v.9, the sin in question is favoritism.</li><li>Re: vv.10-11:<ul><li>Deut 27:26.</li><li>We are lawbreakers even if we break only one commandment. (Think of <i>one</i> crack/hole in the windshield.)</li></ul></li><li>Re Vv.12-13:<ul><li>Christians are judged by the supreme law, the law that sets us free: the law of love.</li><li>A failure to love the poor makes us transgressors—showing favoritism to the rich—we are actively violating God’s law.</li><li>