The Royal Law

The Royal Law 

Do you obey the Royal Law? Do you know what it is?

Here’s a hint: According to ancient Jewish sages, Rabbi Hillel and Rabbi Akiba, the Royal Law summarized and fulfills all the Commandments. 

Recently, I did an unscientific survey on Facebook asking this question: ”Without looking it up, do you know what the ‘Royal Law’ is?” At last count, this post received 625 views and of the nineteen who commented, only two said they knew the answer. So, if you’re unacquainted with the term, you’re not alone.

Most of us are familiar with Jesus’ answer to the question, “Which is the greatest commandment?”

He responded: “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV).

A neighbor, according to Christ, is anyone—"irrespective of nation or religion with whom we live or whom we chance to meet.” (1.) 

I don’t know about you, but there are some people in my life whom I find hard to love. One might say, “They rub me the wrong way.”

Side Note: A few days ago, while sitting next to my fifteen-year-old grandson, I asked him if he knew the meaning of rubbing someone the wrong way. He said, “No.”

I then put my hand on the top of his ankle and rubbed upward on his hairy shin to his knee.

He immediately rubbed his leg from the knee downward, undoing my disruption, and tilted his face at me sporting a confused look.

I grinned and said, “That’s what it means to rub someone the wrong way—when you do something that makes the person uncomfortable or annoyed. I just rubbed the hair on your leg the wrong way and you didn’t like it, did you?”

He understood and shook his head.

We all have someone in our lives who rubs us the wrong way. But that person still is among those who Jesus says is our neighbor.  

In the first few verses of The Epistle of James we’re instructed on loving people and treating all individuals respectfully. James doesn’t mince words when he writes, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:8-9).

James encourages us to love like Jesus. He emphasizes that we not place value on a person based on a characteristic or circumstance of that person. In our humanness, this is a tall order, but with the help of the Holy Spirit we can do it.

There it is—the Royal Law. James’ letter is the only place in Scripture where this term is used. He bases his exhortation on the teachings of Jesus as well as his Jewish upbringing in the Torah.

The Royal Law goes all the way back to Leviticus 19:18b: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

Wow—did Yahweh really need to end that directive with, “I am the Lord”? Humm. I believe He meant it. 

Lawn of the Deltaville Maritime Museum, Virginia - Photo by Connie Wohlford

Loving as you love yourself is also a concept worthy of discussion. “’You shall love your neighbor as yourself:’ the word ‘love’ (Hebrew ahav) could be understood as esteem. Love of one’s neighbor begins with self-esteem. Then one esteems his neighbor.” (2.)

 

Do you esteem yourself? Self-respect and self-esteem are essential before we can sincerely esteem and respect others. This brings to mind The Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” an offshoot of Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31.

Referencing the passage from Leviticus, writings of Rabbi Hillel prompted a song titled, “Rabbi Hillel’s Golden Rule.”  Here is part of the chorus:

Treat other people how you want them to treat you
This rule is golden, this rule is true
Don't do to others something that would make you feel bad
Think about other’s feelings, no matter if you’re happy or mad

Are we obeying the Royal Law? We need divine help in accomplishing this objective and it is one of many reasons God put His Spirit in followers of Christ Jesus. Let’s do as James instructed and love others as we love ourselves, even without partiality.

Let us pray. Oh Lord, You know me well and You’re very aware that I often don’t have love in my heart for some people as I should. Yet, You want me to love everyone. I know that with the help of Your Holy Spirit, I can obey the Royal Law. Please help me be mindful of others and yield to the flow of love You wish to pour out to my neighbors through me. Thank You, Father. In Jesus’ name—Amen.

©Connie Wohlford 2018

1.    www.biblestudytools.com; The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon

2.    Spirit-Filled Life Bible; Thomas Nelson Publishing; 1991; Commentary for Leviticus 19:18; page 172

3.    https://www.jewishlearningmatters.com/AC-Rabbi-Hillel-s-Golden-Rule-533.aspx;  "Rabbi Hillel’s Golden Rule" by "Miss" Emily Aronoff Teck