"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. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 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. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."
favoritism versus acceptance
What is the “royal law”? ‘Royal’ suggests it belongs to the kingdom, and is another characterization of the entire will of God for Christians. This will is revealed particularly in the teaching of Jesus who demanded of his disciples a radical obedience to God, befitting those who were privileged to be ‘heirs of the kingdom’.[1] The “law” can be summarized in two commandments because they absorb the purpose and intent of all the rest. Not only are we to keep the law, but we are to recognize the nature of the law—loving—and operate in that.
Though “partiality” or “favoritism” is not found in the 10 commandments, it is addressed briefly in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. In a broad general sense, “partiality” is a violation of the spirit of the law because it is unloving. It may appear to be a minor thing, but in truth, it is major. The way of Jesus is not actually easier than the way of the law in the Old Testament because Jesus demands not only right actions, but a right attitude behind the actions.
Here is a sticking point: Playing favorites is sin. If we violate the law, it is not an issue of a ‘big’ or ‘little’ sin. It is an issue of despising and disrespecting what God has called us to, and is asking of us. The ‘law’ is not about listing individual and independent requirements and rules, where you can incur a small amount of guilt for a “little” violation. It is a unified approach to how we see, think about, and live life. A violation of any sort—that is an unloving action of any kind—is contrary to God’s heart and contrary to the testimony and life of Jesus.
If I choose to continue in the vanity of a worldly perspective, giving preference the way the world does, I display my true allegiance, and I incur the judgment due to one who has chosen to sit as a judge with selfish evil intent. It is this strict standard—this law of love (which set us free from our sins)—by which we will be judged. We do get God’s love and acceptance, but it comes along with His demands that love and acceptance be extended, In relationship with Him and His Word, by the grace of His Spirit we are empowered to obey His will and rest in the confidence of His mercy. How might you conform to His will, and extend His goodness today?
Read and Pray: Matt.5:20-22, 1 John 3:15-16, 2 Cor.5:10
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