James 2:8

If. Literally, “if indeed.”

Fulfil. Gr. teleo, “to bring to completion,” “to perform perfectly.” Teleo is stronger than tereo (v. 10). Compare pleroo “fulfill,” in Matt. 5:18, which is used in the sense of “fill full.”

Royal. Gr. basilikos, “belonging to a king,” hence, “chief,” “supreme.” “Royal law” may thus mean either a law given by a king, here the King of heaven, or a supreme law. The law of love is the supreme principle upon which all other sacred law hangs. This “royal law,” the Decalogue, which is also called the “perfect law” (see on James 1:25; cf. GC 466), is based on this principle.

Scripture. Gr. graphe, literally, “writing.” The rule of Christian practice is settled by the Scriptures. James, in common with other NT writers, employed the term graphe to denote the OT (see on 2 Tim. 3:16). The precept to “love thy neighbour as thyself” first appears in Lev. 19:18, and is endorsed and strengthened by the teachings of Christ (see on Matt 5:43; 19:16-19; 22:37-40; Luke 10:27-29; John 13:34).

Ye do well. The divine approbation rests on the church member who lives out this law of love perfectly in his daily life. But this law applies to the poor as well as to the rich, for both are “neighbours” and without partiality should be considered as equals. Loving only the “rich” as “thyself” is not fulfilling the law.