In this post, I would like to direct your attention to Rom. 13:8-10. It is incredible— the amount of meat that believers are provided in this section regarding Christian love, and it’s significance to not only our relationship with others, but our overall standing before God Almighty. Let me provide for you the entire passage, and then I will break it down bit by bit.
8“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (NIV).
“… no debt remain outstanding” (v. 8a).
The apostle Paul here is not trying to tell us that it is wrong to borrow from others. He is not suggesting that it’s a sin to take out a loan or anything of that nature. Jesus actually said in Matt. 5:42, “give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” So the process of someone borrowing from another person is not wrong in and of itself. Paul rather is discouraging that of one being irresponsibly in debt. A believer who is known amongst many for a consistent failing to keep his or her word, is not setting a good example for fellow believers and is providing a very poor witness to the Christian faith (cf. Matt. 5:23-26). Paul’s focus within this overall section of Romans— chapters 13, 14 and so on— is that of the believer’s witness to the world. This theme is hit greatly in the previous section of this chapter, when the apostle speaks on being subject to ruling authorities (13:1-7).
“… the continuing debt to love one another” (v. 8b).
According to the apostle, there is only one debt that is to remain outstanding, and that is our love for each other. When teaching on this passage to my Sunday morning Bible study, I underlined in my notes the statements, “continuing debt,” and “one another.” Concerning the former, let us take a moment to reflect on Paul’s admonition that our love for others is a “continuing debt.” What does this mean? It means that we are not to have a loving heart only sometimes, but rather, all the time. That is why when Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seventy times?,” Jesus replied, “I tell you not seventy times, but seventy times seven” (Matt. 18:21-22). Our Lord then dove into the parable of the king and his servant (see Matt. 18:23-35), a parable that mirrors the sentiment articulated in 1 Jn. 4:19— “We love because he first loved us.”
Regarding the second point I mentioned— that of, “one another”— the big question is: does this pertain to loving fellow believers? Or does this pertain to everyone both Christian and non-Christian? It would be quite foolish to surmise that Paul’s admonition only pertains to showing love to fellow believers. Indeed, it would contradict his words in chap. 12 regarding love for one’s enemies (Rom. 12:14-21, cf. Matt. 5:43-48), and a great amount of NT theology in general. Love for others is meant to penetrate not just denominational barriers, but also societal barriers, and ethnic and cultural barriers. Within the book of James, the apostle was writing to a church that was guilty of neglecting the poor in their community, and showing favoritism to the wealthy. That is why James said very firmly in chap. 2 of his epistle that, “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (Jms. 2:17). He was questioning the lack of love that his readers were exemplifying. “Faith without works is dead,” in many ways was James telling his readers, “faith without love is dead.” Note how Paul boldly declares in Gal. 5:6, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” And this is a perfect segue into the next thing that the apostle Paul writes at the end of verse 8 in Rom. 13—
“… whoever loves others has fulfilled the law” (v. 8b).
The legalistic requirements of the law, no longer matter, however the righteous requirements of the law, do still apply. That is why again— Paul states in Gal. 5— that circumcision is of no benefit, but rather faith manifesting itself in love. “Love” fulfills the righteous requirements of the law, which are very nicely laid out by Paul in verse 9
“You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (v. 9-10).”
Of course, it is the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives, that helps us to exemplify such a love that results in us thoroughly abstaining from these transgressions. A few chapters earlier in Romans, it is affirmed that through the Holy Spirit, we are able to live up to the standards of the law—-
“3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:3-4).
Before Jesus, the Jews were unable to live up to the requirements of the law, because they weren’t following God out of sincere love for Him and sincere love for others. Their attempts to follow the law were rather motivated by nationalistic pride, and such is weak and powerless in a spiritual battle ever waging against the soul. But those who have the Holy Spirit have been transformed inwardly. And thus they have developed an inner love that no doubt prompts them to live a life that fulfills the law’s righteous requirements.
In verse 9, we see that the apostle mentions the likes of— rejecting adulterous behavior, theft, coveting, and the taking of life. He then follows it up with declaring love as, “the fulfillment of the law” (v. 10). What this means is that since these particular statutes (along with practically all the other commandments within what makes up the law), pertain to interactions and relationships between other peoples, those who have a true love for God, and a subsequent true love for others (cf. 1 Jn. 4:28), will naturally abide by all of these commands. This is why Paul states at the start of v. 10, “love does no harm to a neighbor.” Considering what we have learned here concerning love, how the presence of the Holy Spirit helps us to demonstrate it, and also bearing in mind what we read in 1 John about love towards others being a mark of a true believer (1 Jn. 4:7-12; 4:19-21), one should be greatly concerned about their spiritual state if they find themselves habitually breaking the commands Paul lays out in Rom. 13:9.
Now it would be a crime to end it here without spending time on how Paul’s words correspond very closely to that of Jesus’ in his teaching concerning the greatest and second greatest commandment.
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
The first thing to take note of, is unlike Paul, Jesus doesn’t just mention the loving your neighbor commandment. Remember, in verse 9 Paul said that all the commandments are summed up in “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus in chap. 22 of Matt., mentions this as “the second greatest command,” but right before this, He mentions another command— “Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, and mind.” Jesus is saying that this command, along with, “Love your neighbor,” are what the law and prophets hang on. Why didn’t Paul mention the commandment to “Love God with all your heart?” We need to keep in mind the context of everything Paul has been writing about in the past few chapters of Romans up to this point. He has been focused on human relationships and interactions within the body of Christ. Paul decides to only draw from, “love your neighbor as yourself,” but this does not mean the apostle would disagree with the theology Jesus presents in Matt. 22 about loving God first and foremost above all.
Now what does Jesus say here specifically? He says we are to love the Lord God in three areas of our life— heart, soul, and mind. The language here speaks to that of one’s entire being and self completely devoted to doing the will of God. D. A. Carson writes, “From the viewpoint of biblical anthropology, ‘heart, soul, and mind,’ are not mutually exclusive but rather overlapping categories, together demanding our love for God to come from our whole person, our every faculty and capacity.” Practically speaking— have you truly dedicated all of your time, energy, and attention span, each week, to doing God’s will? Is it undeniably your main life priority— is it what drives you to get up out of bed every morning?
One more thing to look at, is Jesus’ statement that these two commands are what all the law and the prophets hang upon. In regards to the law— for one to sincerely abide by these commands of the law, one has to sincerely love God with all their heart (Jn. 14:15). Concerning the prophets— everything the major and minor prophets spoke on ultimately testified to one thing; we are to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, not just go through the motions of religious tradition (Is. 43:22-24; Hos. 6:6; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8). Loving your neighbor, also corresponded with the message of the prophets. The prophets longed for a time when people would live according to the way God intended them to live: in harmony with one another. This will ultimately occur under Messiah’s future reign (Ps. 46:8-9; Is. 9:5-7; 35:1-10; 11:6-9). Another interesting thing to consider— and this is perhaps more of a side note— Jesus’ labeling these as the two most important commandments— suggests that there are different levels of commandments. This is further supported by Jesus’ words in the very next chapter, about how the Pharisees had, “neglected the more important matters of the law” (Matt. 23:23; cf. Jn. 19:11). All of God’s statutes are essential to follow— but let us not play God for a fool. God knows that some of the commands are greater than others. Coveting for instance is a sin, but while it is one thing to covet, it is a whole other thing to steal, kill, or commit adultery. The Scriptures are clear that no believer will be completely sinless (1 Jn. 1:8; cf. Rom. 3:10), but the Scriptures are also clear that there are some lifestyles, and behaviors that Christians absolutely cannot develop or engage in, lest they suffer discipline from fellow members of the body (1 Cor. 5:1-16), and ultimately judgement from God Himself (Hebrews 13:4; cf. 1 Cor. 5:5). The Pharisees followed some of the laws, but according to Jesus’ very words, they did not follow what were the more important matters of the law. And in this, we see that the Pharisees were men who operated with self-centered motives, that certainly were absent of sincere LOVE for both the one true God, and His children. If the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, truly had love within their hearts, they would not only have been following all facets of the law, but they also would have accepted the one whom the law and the prophets pointed.
In conclusion, we see that there is much meat to be found through a study of Romans 13:8-10. The passage— like many in Romans— is a demonstration of how much rich theology you can find when you take the time to really meditate on the admonitions that the authors of the Holy Scriptures provided for us. Indeed, it shows us the great benefit of meditating upon God’s Word day and night (Ps. 1:2; cf. Josh 1:8)! In this case, we have meditated upon the principle of love— love for others, which is ultimately driven by a love for God, and a desire to walk in His ways. Let us pray that we do not develop an attitude of self-centeredness that results in us disregarding or being indifferent to the needs of others. One of the final things that Jesus left with His disciples was that of servant-leadership (Jn. 13:1-17). This was undoubtably the mindset that He wished to impart upon His followers before His ascension to Heaven, and we see it absolutely carried out through the sacrificial attitude exemplified by the apostles in the book of Acts. So let us walk through this week, remembering this example that Jesus left for us— and His instruction that we do unto others, as He has done for us (Jn. 13:15).
Bibliography:
Carson, D.A. Matthew: Second Edition. Tremper Longmann III and David E. Garland (eds). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2008.
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