Royal Law

Our whole lifestyle should be characterised by not showing any distinction or favouritism and doing to others as we would like done to us (Lk 6:31; Jas 2:1,9). Love is the major theme of the Bible, shown by God to humanity. As recipients of His amazing love and we should be ever grateful and respond in like manner to Him, and extend this to other people. Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself. There are no commandments greater than these” (Mk 12:30,31). He referred to the requirement to “love our neighbour as ourselves” as second in importance only to the command of total love for God. This is in complete contrast to the sinful self-centredness of our human nature that considers self the prime focus.

Expressing a deep practical love and concern for others is first mentioned as part of the law of Moses (Lev 19:18). Jesus referred to it several other times and Paul stressed its profound importance in these words: “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Mt 5:43, 19:19, 22:39; Gal 5:14).

James calls it the royal law as it is rightly ranked the highest, the preeminent requirement above all else, being given by God who was the true King of Israel and the true King of the Christian community (Jas 2:8). If we truly love our neighbour as our self, it will be because we are in right relationship with God and from that position, we minister to Him

Keep this one law, and you will keep all the laws

through serving the people around us (Mt 25:35-45). The ‘love-your-neighbour’ is the king of laws because loving others fulfils all the other laws. Yet how often are our attitudes, thoughts, words and actions contrary to this royal law? Constantly we are given the opportunity to live by this higher law. Do we accept the challenge?