If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
Parallel translations
- WEB However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.
- BSB If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
- NKJV If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;
- NASB If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
- NLT Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Fulfilling the royal law, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," is doing well. Impartial love is the law's true fulfillment.
Overview
James appeals to the supreme command of neighbor-love (Leviticus 19:18), which Jesus identified as central. He calls it the "royal law"—fitting for the King's people and sovereign over all conduct. Genuine obedience to this law leaves no room for the partiality James has condemned, for true love treats every neighbor with equal regard.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Lev 19:18Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
- Gal 5:14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
- Matt 22:39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
- Jas 2:12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
- Rom 13:8–9Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
- Mark 12:31–33And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
- Gal 6:2Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
- Lev 19:34But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
- Jas 1:25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
- 1 Pet 2:9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
- Luke 10:27–37And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
- 2 Kgs 7:9Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.
- Jonah 4:4Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?
- Matt 25:23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
- 1 Kgs 8:18And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart.
- Phil 4:14Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
- 1 Th 4:9But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
- Jonah 4:9And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
- Jas 2:19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
- Matt 25:21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
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Christ at the center
The wisdom from above and the royal law of love are the life of those who belong to 'our glorious Lord Jesus Christ' — faith in him made visible in works.
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Original language
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