Romans 13:8-10 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Here, from our duty to magistrates, he passes on to general duties. Owe no man any thing Endeavour to manage your affairs with that economy and prudent attention that you may, as soon as possible, balance accounts with all who have any demands upon you, except it be with respect to that debt, which, while you pay, you will nevertheless still owe, namely, to love one another; an eternal debt, which can never be sufficiently discharged. But yet, if this be rightly performed, it, in a sense, discharges all the rest. For he that loveth another As he ought; hath fulfilled the law Of the second table. The word ετερον, another, here used, is a more general word than πλησιον, neighbour, in the next verse, and comprehends our very enemies; according to the sublime morality enjoined by Christ. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, &c. All these precepts, prohibiting sins frequently committed, comprehend also the contrary duties, due to our fellow-creatures; and if there be any other more particular commandment Respecting them, as there are many in the law; it is briefly comprehended Ανακεφαλαιουται, it is summed up in this saying In this one general and most excellent precept, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself Thou shalt learn to put thyself, as it were, in his place, and to act toward him as, in a supposed change of circumstances, thou wouldest reasonably desire him to act toward thee. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour Nay, wherever that noble principle governs the heart, it will put men upon doing all they can for the good of others. Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law For the same love which restrains a man from doing evil to any, will incite him, as he has ability and opportunity, to do good to all.