James 2:8

“If ye fulfil the royal law, etc.] Which is the law of love to men, without distinction of rich and poor, high and low, bond and free; and is so called, because it is the law of the King of kings; hence the Syriac version renders it, “the law of God”, it is the law of Christ, who is King of saints; and because it is a principal law, the chief of laws; as love to God is the sum of the first and great commandment in the law, and may be called the king of laws; so love to the neighbour is the second and next unto it, and may very well bear the name of the queen of laws, and so has royalty in it; and indeed this last is said to be the fulfilling of the law, ( <451308>Romans 13:810…”

“The Greek may be translated, "If, however, ye fulfil," &c., that is, as ALFORD, after ESTIUS, explains, "Still I do not say, hate the rich (for their oppressions) and drive them from your assemblies; if you choose to observe the royal law . . . well and good; but respect of persons is a breach of that law." I think the translation is, "If in very deed (or 'indeed on the one hand') ye fulfil the royal law . . . ye do well, but if (on the other hand) ye respect persons, ye practice sin." The Jewish Christians boasted of, and rested in, the "law" (Act 15:1; Act 21:18-24; Rom 2:17; Gal 2:12). To this the "indeed" alludes. "(Ye rest in the law): If indeed (then) ye fulfil it, ye do well; but if,"…”

“If ye fulfil the royal law - That is, the law which he immediately mentions requiring us to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is called a “royal law,” or kingly law, on account of its excellence or nobleness; not because it is ordained by God as a king, but because it has some such prominence and importance among other laws as a king has among other men; that is, it is majestic, noble, worthy of veneration. It is a law which ought to govern and direct us in all our intercourse with men - as a king rules his subjects. According to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself - Leviticus 19:18. Compare Matthew 19:19. See it explained by the Saviour, in the parable of the good…”

“If ye fulfil the royal law - The supreme law of the great King which is love; and that to every man, poor as well as rich, ye do well. Lev 19:18. James 2:9”

“2:8-13 James applies biblical evidence to counter the common practice of favoring rich and powerful people. 2:8 Christians are to obey (literally fulfill) the royal law, just as Jesus fulfilled the law by his coming (Matt 5:17) and his teaching (Matt 22:34-40). • The law is called royal because it belongs to the Kingdom (Jas 2:5) and was articulated by our glorious Lord (King). • as found in the Scriptures: James changes from a general reference to the law to a specific written commandment from the holiness code (Lev 19). It specifies how our love for God is to be expressed in relationships with other people (see Lev 19:18; Deut 6:5). • “Love your neighbor as yourself”: This quotation from…”

“the royal: Jam 2:12, Jam 1:25; Pe1 2:9 Thou: Lev 19:18, Lev 19:34; Mat 22:39; Mar 12:31-33; Luk 10:27-37; Rom 13:8, Rom 13:9; Gal 5:14; Gal 6:2; Th1 4:9 ye do: Jam 2:19; Kg1 8:18; Kg2 7:9; Jon 4:4, Jon 4:9; Mat 25:21, Mat 25:23; Phi 4:14 James 2:9”