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

What Is Honor?

What Is Honor?

Have you ever been dissed? You know—disrespected, disregarded, disenfranchised, disconnected, or dishonored?

We’ve all been dissed at some time in some way. How does it make you feel? I have certainly experienced it on numerous occasions, leaving me feeling hurt, rejected and even angry.

No one likes to be the target of a diss and it speaks volumes about the perpetrator.

The Bible addresses this topic on many occasions referring to it as honoring and dishonoring. And it’s mentioned by several different writers in both the Old and New Testaments.  

We’re probably all familiar with the Fifth Commandment, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12 NKJV). 

In order to look at honor from a biblical perspective, let’s go back to the origin of the word as it was used at the time God gave the Ten Commandments and in the days of the early church when the New Testament was penned. 

Big Walker Lookout Tower - Photo by Connie Wohlford

Kadab, kabed, and hadar are Hebrew words for honor in the Old Testament days of Moses. Some meanings are: honorable, promote, glorify, ornament with splendor, glorious, majestic, favor, weighty—as in carrying great weight or to be ample. (1.) These words are attributed to God, people, things, and blessing from God, depending on the context. 

In the time of the First Century early church the Greek word doxa was used in ascribing glory, deity, and honor to God. If doxa brings to mind the doxology—hymn of praise—sung in many churches, it’s because it is the root word for doxology. The word timé (tee-may’), meaning to value, esteem, hold in high regard, venerate, deem precious, costly, beloved, ascribe dignity, was used in reference to God, people, and things, depending on the context. (2.)  

So to honor or dishonor someone was a big deal then and is a big deal now. We, in the body of Christ, need to understand honor. We need to know what honor looks like. To honor or dishonor someone is born out of an attitude of the heart.

There are three pillars of ascribing honor:

1- Those of us who are followers of Jesus know we must first honor God. What are ways we can show honor to God? He alone is worthy of our highest honor and we cannot honor God without honoring His Son. Jesus said, “He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him” (John 5:23b NKJV).
We could start with a heart of gratitude which begins with recognizing who God is next to who we are. It might seem silly but for a moment try to form a mental picture of yourself standing next to God. Can you even do such a thing? Such a thought makes me tremble.  

The Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men” (Isaiah 29:13). Notice the mention of fear toward God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10a) so here is the logical place to begin. Think for a moment—to genuinely fear God, recognizing His majesty, awesomeness and power, leads to honoring Him, respecting Him, and desiring Him. 

Next let’s take a look at all God has done for us. First and foremost, He sent His only Son, Jesus, to take the punishment we deserved. And let’s not forget abundant life. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 ESV). Certainly God is worthy of all honor and praise.

2- We need to see ourselves as God sees us and honor ourselves accordingly. God deemed us worthy of the sacrifice of Jesus to reconcile us to full fellowship with our Creator. If God felt we were worth such a price we should certainly see ourselves as valuable.

Paul wrote, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV). 

What are ways in which we can honor our bodies and our very life? 

According to 2 Peter 1:3 God has provided for us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Knowing that our body houses God Himself should inspire us to maintain our physical bodies in ways that please Him. Our eating, sleeping, and exercise habits should reflect our desire to take good care of our physical shell. Also the things we do with our bodies should honor God’s Holy Spirit who lives in us.

3- We need to honor others. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4). 

Are you now asking, “How can I honor myself and still esteem others above myself?” I’ll admit that’s a balancing act. I’ve often had a personal struggle with trying to keep too many plates in the air resulting in the neglect of myself and even my own family. We need to go about this prayerfully, seeking God every step of the way. 

In his letter to the house church in Colossae, Paul gave practical advice on how to honor others. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1-2 NKJV).   

^“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:12-17 NKJV).

So what does honor look like? 

It’s basically living by the Golden Rule—treating others the way we would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12). And we should add to that other principles seen in Scripture regarding honoring God and Jesus, ourselves, and other people. 

Bestowing honor to God, self, and others, (beginning in our own homes), will not only bless its recipients but will exemplify Christ in us. In this way we show others what Jesus looks like, drawing them to Him in the process. We can be assured that in so doing we’ll be pleasing God who loves to reward those who honor Him and do things His way.  

How will you impart honor today?   

Honor Opens New Opportunities & Rewards

Your comments are welcome.

©Copyright 2018 Connie Wohlford

1. (1) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, by James Strong, Crusade Bible Publishers, INC., Box 90011, Nashville, TN 37209, “Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary,” pages 32 and 3513. 

2. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, by Joseph H. Thayer, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., PO Box 3473, Peabody, Massachusetts, Fourth Printing - May 2000, pages 155-156 and 624.