Romans 13:8

For this is God's command, that l you owe nothing to any one but the pledge of love, which God has commanded by Christ.

"Owe no man anything, but to love one another." Again he has recourse to the mother of good deeds, and the instructress of the things spoken of, who is also productive of every virtue, and says that this is a debt also, not however such as the tribute or the custom, but a continuous one. For he does not wish it ever to be paid off, or rather he would have it always rendered, yet never fully so, but to be always owing. For this is the character of the debt, that one keeps giving and owing always. Having said then how he ought to love, he also shows the gain of it, saying, "For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law." And do not, pray, consider even this a favor; for this too is a debt. For thou owest love to thy brother, through thy spiritual relationship. And not for this only, but also because "we are members one of another." And if love leave us, the whole body is rent in pieces. Love therefore thy brother. For if from his friendship thou gainest so much as to fulfil the whole Law, thou owest him love as being benefited by him.

But the cavillers did not know even this, as the apostle says, "that he who loveth his brother worketh not evil;" for this, "Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal; and if there be any other commandment, it is comprehended in the word, Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself." So also is it said, "Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." And "if he that loveth his neighbour worketh no evil," and if "every commandment is comprehended in this, the loving our neighbour," the commandments, by menacing with fear, work love, not hatred. Wherefore the law is productive of the emotion of fear. "So that the law is holy," and in truth "spiritual," according to the apostle.

Pay your other debts, he says. But love—never wish to pay it off; rather, always keep it as a permanent debt. If you always show your neighbor the disposition of one who loves, do not imagine that therefore tomorrow you may neglect him; on the …

In the father is understood the notion of friendliness: and in this we understand that by reason of origin every person is lovable and ought to be loved, and every person is bound to honor another. Whence the Apostle: In honor anticipating one another; and …

The Church is a union of rational men united in harmonious and uniform adherence to divine peace. For the Church in return loves itself. And love is born of obedience to the Law. And the Law itself commands love: Now "the purpose of this charge …

To the objection that it belongs to perfection to serve freely and to flee obligations: it must be said that there is an obligation arising from the guilt of fault and from the affection of perfect charity. The first obligation is to be avoided, but …

Having shown how believers should observe justice toward superiors, the Apostle now shows how they should behave toward everyone generally. In regard to this he does two things: first, he states his intention; second, he gives a reason, at for he that loves. First, therefore, …

To love one another - An eternal debt, which can never be sufficiently discharged; but yet if this be rightly performed, it discharges all the rest. For he that loveth another - As he ought. Hath fulfilled the whole law - Toward his neighbour.

Owe no man anything,.... From the payment of dues to magistrates the apostle proceeds to a general exhortation to discharge all sorts of debts; as not to owe the civil magistrate any thing, but render to him his dues, so to owe nothing to any other man, but make good all obligations whatever, as of a civil, so of a natural kind.

The law of God and the interest of mankind make it so. It is not a thing which we are left at liberty about, but it is enjoined us, as the principle and summary of all duty owing one to another; for love is the fulfilling of the law; not perfectly, but it is a good step towards it.

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another - In the preceding verses the apostle has been showing the duty, reverence, and obedience, which all Christians, from the highest to the lowest, owe to the civil magistrate; whether he be emperor, king, proconsul, or other state officer; here he shows them their duty to each other: but this is widely different from that which they owe to the civil government: to the first they owe subjection, reverence, obedience, and tribute; to the latter they owe nothing but mutual love, and those offices which necessarily spring from it.

Owe no man anything, but to love one another--"Acquit yourselves of all obligations except love, which is a debt that must remain ever due" [HODGE]. for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law--for the law itself is but love in manifold action, regarded as matter of duty.

Owe no man anything - Be not “in debt” to anyone. In the previous verse the apostle had been discoursing of the duty which we owe to magistrates. He had particularly enjoined on Christians to pay to “them” their just dues. From this command to discharge fully this obligation, the transition was natural to the subject of debts “in general,” and to an injunction not to be indebted to “any one.” This law is enjoined in this place: (1) Because it is a part of our duty as good citizens; and, (2) Because it is a part of that law which teaches us to love our neighbor, and to “do no injury to him,” Rom 13:10. The interpretation of this command is to be taken with this limitation, that we are not to be indebted to him so as to “injure” him, or to work “ill” to him. This rule, together with the other rules of Christianity, would propose a remedy for all the evils of bad debts in the following manner. (1) It would teach people to be “industrious,” and this would commonly prevent the “necessity” of contracting debts. (2) It would make them “frugal, economical,” and “humble” in their views and manner of life. (3) It would teach them to bring up their families in habits of industry. The Bible often enjoins that; see the note at Rom 12:11; compare Php 4:8; Pro 24:30-34; 1Th 4:11; 2Th 3:10; Eph 4:25. (4) Religion would produce sober, chastened views of the end of life, of the great design of living; and would take off the affections from the splendor, gaiety, and extravagances which lead often to the contraction of debts; 1Th 5:6, 1Th 5:8; 1Pe 1:13; 1Pe 4:7; Tit 2:12; 1Pe 3:3, 1Pe 3:5; 1Ti 2:9. (5) Religion would put a period to the “vices” and unlawful desires which now prompt people to contract debts. (6) It would make them “honest” in paying them. […]