Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary James 2:8

"Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:" — James 2:8 (ASV)

James now proceeds to his moral argument in refutation of the practice of showing favoritism (vv.8–11). Here it is not a question of mere incongruity but of the rightness or wrongness of showing partiality. The commandment to love one’s neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18) is not described as the “royal” (GK 997) law simply because of its lofty character. Rather, it is because it is the supreme law to which all other laws governing human relationships are subordinate. It is the summation of all such laws (Matthew 22:36–40). The one who keeps this supreme law is “doing right.” The right course of action is to show favor to everyone, whether one is rich or poor. Love overlooks such superficial distinctions as wealth and quality of clothing. It shows kindness to a person in spite of any distasteful qualities he or she may have.