Romans 13:8-10

Text

Romans 13:8-10. Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. Romans 13:9 For this, thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

REALIZING ROMANS, Romans 13:8-10

555.

Does verse eight cancel all credit buying?

556.

We all have a great debt. What is it?

557.

If we truly loved our neighbor, would there be any need for law? Explain.

558.

Was there some particular purpose in using part of the ten commandments as examples of law?

559.

Show how the purpose of law is fulfilled in love.

Paraphrase

Romans 13:8-10. Pay all your debts, and owe no man any thing, unless mutual love; because that debt can never be fully discharged. He who loveth another, hath fulfilled the law respecting his neighbor.

Romans 13:9 For the precepts, Thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet; and if there be an other commandment prescribed in the word of God, or dictated by right reason, which hath others for its object, it is summed up in this precept, namely, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: love him as a part of thyself, on account of his usefulness in promoting thy happiness.

Romans 13:10 For love restraineth a man from doing evil to his neighbor, and leadeth him to do his neighbor every good office in his power; wherefore love is the fulfilling of the law respecting one's neighbor.

Summary

Christians must pay to all whatever is due them, whether tax, customs, or honor. The only exception is that we must be always owing one another a debt of love, which we are to be constantly paying, yet never able to pay in full. We are never to feel that we have finally discharged the debt. The reason is that he who loves another is sure to keep the whole law towards him. We will not only never injure him whom we love, but will do him whatever good we can.

Comment

Duties of love to all men. Romans 13:8-10

We must produce a good report from Christians and non-Christians. Here are personal obligations that must be paid. Owe no man anything, would be a good motto to hang on the wall of the preacher's study, or on the wall of the elder's home. But we do have a debtan obligation of love. Perhaps one isinseparably linked to the other. We cannot love one another if we fail to pay what we owe. We need not worry about moral regulations when we love in deed and in truth. We shall find, to our joy (and that of our neighbor), that we have gone far beyond whatever regulations man has set up for right or wrong.

347.

In what sense are we to owe no man anything?

348.

Show how the debt of love relates to debts of money.

349.

In what way should we go beyond the law man has set up?

The Ten Commandments are all summed up in one wordlove. How could we commit adultery, kill, steal or covet if we love our neighbor?