Chapter 40

The Law Of Love

Romans 13:8-10

 

 

The subject of Romans 13:8-10 is love.  In fact, in those three verses, Paul uses the word "love" five times.  So how is it that the subject of love comes up in Romans 13, a chapter that, to this point, has been about a Christians responsibility to government?  And what does Paul say about love?  Let's read it and learn!  (Read).

 

There are 3 things that Paul says in this text about love.

 

 

Love Is A Debt That We Owe, vs. 8a

 

Paul has been discussing the obligations which govern the various relationships of a Christian's life.  We have responsibilities to the family of God, we have responsibilities to the unbelieving public, we have responsibilities to our enemies, we have responsibilities to the government.  But now Paul turns his attention to the highest law of all, the law of love, and shows how love rules supreme in the believer's heart and legislates for every situation of life. 

 

You see, love for the Lord accomplishes what fear of the law could never achieve. 

 

According to verse 8a, love is debt that we owe.  It is a large debt that will never be completely paid off. 

 

Some people try to interpret the first part of verse 8 ("owe no man anything") as God's forbiddance of any and all debt.  That is not what is being said here.  The word "owe", according to Strong's Concordance, means "to fail in duty."  This is not a precept to forbid a Christian from entering into a contractual agreement whereby he obtains a properly loan.  This does, however, forbid a Christian to borrow money beyond his ability to repay.  It is very easy nowadays to accumulate debts which strain income to the breaking point.  The Christian is to avoid this kind of thing.  Most of us could not own a house or a car without borrowing the money and repaying it with interest each month.  But beware of debt.  Especially the credit card kind.  I recommend to young couples that they only go into debt for a house and one car.   Save until you can make other purchases with cash.  I am not saying that you should not have a credit card.  We have them.  They should be used for emergencies (airfare), for convenience (paid off without interest each month) or to our advantage.  If you have too much debt, make it a financial priority to reduce your debt.  Pay off your credit cards or that second car payment or those college loans and live within your means.  You will be freer to do God's will and to serve in the church, your marriage will be happier (less pressure).  There is nothing wrong with being completely debt free (which ought to be your goal by retirement age).  "Owe no man anything", that is, don't fail in your duty to pay what you have borrowed.  It is just as dishonest to buy more than can be paid for and to keep the creditor waiting for his money, as it is to steal.  Nothing will ruin a Christian testimony faster than chronic indebtedness. 

 

But the injunction to "owe no man anything" goes beyond the interests of the creditor.  It embraces every obligation.  Any pledge or promise should be regarded as sacred, and should be kept no matter how inconvenient or difficult it may afterward become.  Psalm 15:1,4  LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? ... He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.  Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5  When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.  Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

 

We should keep our promises and our pledges, we should pay our debts so that eventually we can live debt free.  But there is one debt that is always owing.  It is the debt of love.  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another.  We make continual payments but we are never released from this obligation.  No matter what happens in the relationship, you are never released from love.  How many times do you forgive until that obligation is met?  Seven times.  No, seventy times seven.  In other words, you forgive and forgive and forgive and just keep on forgiving because the debt of love is always being paid.  Love is a debt that we must pay.

 

 

Love Is A Duty That We Obey, vs. 8b-9

 

Twice in these three verses, Paul says that love fulfills the law (vv. 8, 10).  Twice Paul refers to "the law" and once to "(the) commandment."  In fact, Paul quotes five of the 10 commandments.  The 10 commandments are divided into two groups - the first group is our relationship to God and the second group is our relationship to other people.  The five that Paul quotes all have to do with other people (adultery; murder, stealing, lying and coveting).

 

Paul says that all of these commandments are "briefly comprehended", that is summarized, in the single command that we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  Jesus said that the whole law could be reduced to two commands, both having to do with love.  The great commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.  And the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, Matthew 22:27-29.  And then Jesus added (verse 40) "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."  If you truly love your neighbor, you will not murder him, you will not commit adultery with this wife, you will not lie to him, you will not steal from him and you will not, in thought, want what is his.  Love then fulfills the whole law.  We are no longer under the law, but under grace.  Nevertheless, not being under the law does not make us lawless.  Rather, we obey the law of God because of love.  In the Old Testament, the emphasis was on the law.  But in the New Testament age in which we live, the emphasis is on love.  Jesus said, (John 13:34-35)  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

Love, then is not just an emotional feeling that we have for other people.  It is a command that we obey.  We are to love, even when we don't feel like loving.  Others may disappoint you so deeply that all the emotional sense of love is just not there.  You might be saying, "I just don't have any feelings for that person anymore.  But love is not just a feeling.  It is a choice that we make.  We choose to love even those who hurt and disappoint us.  It is a command of God that we obey that fulfills and summarizes all the commandments to God.  As Christians, we are duty bound to love others as we love self.  Love is a debt that we owe and it is a duty that we obey.

 

 

Love Is A Desire That We Observe, v. 10a

 

Love gives us the desire to always do what is good and never do what is harmful to another person.  "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour."

 

Love, you see, is practical.  It fleshes out in everyday real life.  Love is not just a theoretical thought.  It is not just something we talk about.  Love is not just words of affection.  Love is deeds.  Love is actions.  Love is practical.  It may start in our heart, but it quickly moves to our hands.  Your words may say that you love but do your actions.  I Corinthians 13, the love chapter, says that love is actions like being patient and kind and not possessive, and having good manners and not gloating over the failures and the sins of others but always trusting and optimistic.  Love, you see, is practical.  It is deeds.  Good deeds done and evil deeds withheld.  "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour."  Love is a debt that we owe, a duty that obey and a desire that we observe.

 

And of all our obligations and responsibilites as Christians, this one is supreme.