Romans 13:9 For this, 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 any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Context: Romans 13:7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
From the lexicon: Adultery=being unfaithful to husband or wife. Kill=murder. Covet=lust after
In other words: Romans 13:9 When you love your neighbor as yourself, that is place their interests as your own, you fulfill the law which says not to commit adultery, murder, steal, lie, and lust after that which belongs to someone else.
Pulling it together: Paul in this section of Scripture admonishes Christiansconcerning our responsibilities to others.We are to exercise God’s love towards them. In so doing we fulfill God’s statement of rightness found in the Old Testament Law. If we love as God loves, we will not be found breaking God’s commandments for they are a description of how that love looks in action. We’re to honor one another (v.7) and not hold back on our responsibilities towards them (v.8).
The Old Testament Law showed God’s perfect moral standard, something no one could ever live up to ourselves because it takes a changed heart with the filling of God’s love. This is what the world needs to see in us.
Lord, I pray for grace to love You more each day and to show Your love to everyone who crosses my path.