James 2:8 Meaning and Explanation
“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Fulfilling the royal law to love your neighbor as yourself is doing well.
What Does James 2:8 Mean?
James offers the standard that exposes favoritism for what it is: the royal law, love your neighbor as yourself, written in Scripture. He calls it royal, the king's own law, fitting for those who are heirs of the kingdom. To fulfill it is to do well.
This command was affirmed by Jesus as one of the greatest, and it leaves no room for partiality. To love the neighbor as oneself is to grant every person the regard one wants for oneself, rich and poor alike. The royal law does not ask who deserves honor by worldly measure; it simply commands love. James sets it before the reader as both the rebuke of favoritism and the better way that puts an end to it.
Frequently Asked Questions About James 2:8
What does James 2:8 mean?
Fulfilling the royal law to love your neighbor as yourself is doing well.