Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 13:8

"Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law." — Romans 13:8 (ASV)

“Let no debt remain outstanding.” While it is appropriate for a believer to incur debt, to be perpetually in debt is not a good testimony, and to refuse to make good one’s obligations is outrageous. But there is an exception to the rule: the “continuing debt to love one another.” One can never say that he or she has completely discharged it. Paul has in mind here love for all other people; its sweep is universal (cf. also Gal 6:10; 1 Thessalonians 3:12).

In saying that the one who loves has fulfilled the law, Paul presents a truth that parallels his statement in 8:4 about the righteous requirement of the law being fulfilled in those who live in accordance with the Spirit. The connecting link between these two passages is provided by Gal 5:22–23, where first place in the enumeration of the fruit of the Spirit is given to love and the list is followed by the observation that against such fruit there is no law. So the Spirit produces in believers a love to which the law can offer no objection, since love fulfills what the law-requires.