Romans 13:9-10 For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet… I. THE NATURE OF TRUE LOVE. It is — 1. Universal, extending to being in general, or to God and all His creatures. 2. Impartial. It regards every proper object of benevolence according to its apparent worth and importance in the scale of being. 3. Disinterested. Mercenary love can never form a virtuous character. II. TRUE LOVE IS THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW. 1. It conforms the heart to God. God is love. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." If the moral perfection of man consists in conformity to the moral perfection of God, and the moral perfection of God consists in love, then love must be the fulfilling of the law. 2. It answers the full demand of the law. When a certain man asked our Saviour, "Which is the great commandment in the law?" He replied, "Thou shalt love," etc. So Paul says, "The end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart." By this he declares that charity or true love fully answers the spirit and design of the law. 3. It makes us feel and act in every respect just as God requires. So far as we possess it, we shall both internally and externally obey every Divine command. 4. It restrains men from everything which God forbids. (N. Emmons, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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