Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 13:9

"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." — Romans 13:9 (ASV)

When we want to know what the law of love requires, we naturally think of those precepts that pertain to human relationships, since love for one’s neighbor is at issue, not love for God. Consequently, Paul lifts from the second tablet of the law certain precepts that call for the preservation of the sacredness of the family, the holding of human life inviolable, and the recognition of property rights, concluding with the key item that is involved in the other three, the control of one’s desires (cf. 7:7). These and other demands of the law are summed up in the positive command, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Once again Paul follows the Lord Jesus in summarizing the horizontal bearing of the law with Lev 19:18 (Matthew 22:39). Jesus rebuked the narrow nationalistic interpretation of the word “neighbor” (GK 4446) in the parable of the good Samaritan. This word in Greek is derived from “one who is near.” Both the priest and the Levite found their nearness to the stricken man a source of embarrassment , but the Samaritan saw in that same circumstance an opportunity to help a fellow human being. In the light of human need, the barrier between Jew and Samaritan dissolved. Love provides its own imperative.