Owe No Man Anything but Love Romans 13:8

Paul the apostle told the believing people in Rome, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor”, and in chapter thirteen and verse eight of Romans, Paul told the believers, “owe no man any thing, but to love one another” where we read:

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another hath fulfilled the law.

The verse begins, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another:” Paul began with the word, “owe” which means “be in debt” “no man any thing” or “to any person whether male or female in not one thing”, “but” which means “whether and except” “to love” or “to be fond of, be well pleased with and contented at or with” “one another” which means “reciprocally and mutually toward each other”. Paul deemed the only thing worthy of “debt” was to “mutually care for each other”.

The verse goes on to say, “for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.” Paul continued with the words, “for he that loves another” which means “because and since the person whether male or female who reciprocally and mutually cares for an other person” “has fulfilled” or “has filled up, abounded, furnished and supplied liberally towards” “the law” which refers to “law or rule producing a state approved of God”. Paul shared how “loving others” “furnishes and supplies” what God's “law” contains.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see his first directive to not be in “debt” to any person, and this idea would relieve a lot of stress upon the believers in Jesus Christ. In addition, he made an exception that Christians were to “love one another” and thereby they would “fulfill” God's law. When people “love one another”, they will not steal from them, lie to them, cheat them, etc., and therefore, “love” “completes and supplies” all that is needed to keep God's law. Those who read these words would do best not only to keep away from “debt” and not “owe” anyone anything other than to “love” them as Jesus Christ loves them.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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