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Matthew 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
If we are to love God and neighbor, we must be concerned with the weightier matters
of the Law: justice, mercy and faith.
These define the way in which we love in truth.
James 2:
8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scriptures: Thou shalt love thy neighbor
as thyself you do well;
9 but if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convicted
by the law as transgressors.
How often do believers separate verse 8 from 9 in quoting James. Is it too difficult to see
that God's Law is about equity, about impartiality in Judgment?
Yes, if we love our neighbor perfectly, we will fulfill the Law.
Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment
of the law.
And yet, "if you have respect to persons you are a transgressor of the Law".
God's Law will pass judgment on those who talk a good "love the neighbor", but fail to
rightly comprehend the frailty of human nature and the ability to never show partiality.
Why do you suppose Jesus said:
Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and
children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
The Lord is showing the extent to which you must be willing to go to remain impartial.
Do you find this to be the common understanding?
James 2:
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point,
he is guilty of all.
11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you
do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.
Mercy triumphs over judgment.
So, we hear time and again, love your neighbor as yourself to fulfill the Law. And what
does it mean to love your neighbor? To show mercy with complete impartiality.
[see the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke 10:30]
James 2:
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not
have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but you
do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
[i.e. show mercy]
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Would we reign with Christ in righteousness?
The "Royal Law" pertains to the Throne!
Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and Judgment are the Habitation of Thy throne:
Mercy and Truth shall go before Thy face.
Jeremiah 22:
15 Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar?
Did not your father [Josiah, a righteous king] eat and drink,
And do judgment and righteousness?
Then it was well with him.
16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy;
Then it was well. Was this not to know Me? says the Lord.
If we are to love God and neighbor, we must be concerned with the weightier matters
of the Law: justice, mercy and faith.
These define the way in which we love in truth.
James 2:
8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scriptures: Thou shalt love thy neighbor
as thyself you do well;
9 but if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convicted
by the law as transgressors.
How often do believers separate verse 8 from 9 in quoting James. Is it too difficult to see
that God's Law is about equity, about impartiality in Judgment?
Yes, if we love our neighbor perfectly, we will fulfill the Law.
Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment
of the law.
And yet, "if you have respect to persons you are a transgressor of the Law".
God's Law will pass judgment on those who talk a good "love the neighbor", but fail to
rightly comprehend the frailty of human nature and the ability to never show partiality.
Why do you suppose Jesus said:
Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and
children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
The Lord is showing the extent to which you must be willing to go to remain impartial.
Do you find this to be the common understanding?
James 2:
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point,
he is guilty of all.
11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you
do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.
Mercy triumphs over judgment.
So, we hear time and again, love your neighbor as yourself to fulfill the Law. And what
does it mean to love your neighbor? To show mercy with complete impartiality.
[see the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke 10:30]
James 2:
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not
have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but you
do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
[i.e. show mercy]
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Would we reign with Christ in righteousness?
The "Royal Law" pertains to the Throne!
Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and Judgment are the Habitation of Thy throne:
Mercy and Truth shall go before Thy face.
Jeremiah 22:
15 Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar?
Did not your father [Josiah, a righteous king] eat and drink,
And do judgment and righteousness?
Then it was well with him.
16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy;
Then it was well. Was this not to know Me? says the Lord.
