Background Scripture: Romans 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 13:8-13
Lesson Context: In Romans chapter 12, Paul begins this section by challenging readers to offer themselves as “a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1). What follows is what that kind of life should look like in a Christian’s daily conduct. In Romans 13, Paul examined a topic that should be of special interest to Christians of any century: our attitude toward civic authorities.
First Corinthians 13, features Paul’s attitude – a timeless and matchless explanation of Christian love. Possession and use of spiritual gifts had become a source of great contention within the Corinthian church. Paul was concerned that undue focus on these gifts could distract the Corinthian believers from more crucial concerns.
Love and the Law (Romans 13:8-10):
A. The Debt we Owe (v. 8).
8a. “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another.”
Wuest: The language of the Authorized Version, prohibits the Christian from contracting legal debts such as mortgages and businesses loans. But that is not Paul’s thought here. The only thing we are allowed to owe is divine love, that love produced in the heart of the yielded saint by the Holy Spirit, a love self-sacrificial in its essence, giving of itself for the benefit of the person loved.
Henry Alford has a good word- ‘Pay all other debts: be indebted in the matter of love alone.’ The debt increases the more, the more it is paid: because the practice of love makes the principle of love deeper and more active.
8b. “For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law.” Love is the fulfillment of the Law.
B. The Imperatives to Obey (vv. 9-10).
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 neighbor as thyself.” We note that the positive command to love thy neighbor as thyself is framed in terms of several thou shalt not negative commands. This implies that a foundation of neighbor-love is a commitment to do no harm. But Christian love is not simply refusing to hurt someone else; it is also active as it works for the good of others, as included in the statement if there be any other commandment.
10. “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Paul repeats what he had said earlier. “For he that loveth one another hath fulfilled the Law.”
Love and Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 13:8-13):
A. That Which is Temporary (v. 8).
8. “Charity never faileth; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” The Greek word translated charity is exactly the same word translated “love” in Romans 13:10. Love is to be given priority in practice because it possesses much greater “staying power” than spiritual giftedness. Love never faileth in the sense of expiring or becoming unnecessary.
References: David Guzik: Study Guide for Romans 13, International Sunday School Lessons, KJV 2023-2024, Standard