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Scott's Reference Library
Romans 13:8 through Romans 13:14 (NIV)
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another,
for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, “Do not
commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever
other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your
neighbor as yourself.” 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is
the fulfillment of the law.
11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake
up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first
believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put
aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave
decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual
immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe
yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the
desires of the sinful nature.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 8-10
Christians must avoid useless expense, and be careful not to contract any debts
they have not the power to discharge. They are also to stand aloof from all
venturesome speculations and rash engagements, and whatever may expose them to
the danger of not rendering to all their due. Do not keep in any one’s debt.
Give every one his own. Do not spend that on yourselves, which you owe to
others. But many who are very sensible of the trouble, think little of the sin,
of being in debt. Love to others includes all the duties of the second table.
The last five of the ten commandments are all summed up in this royal law, Thou
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; with the same sincerity that thou lovest
thyself, though not in the same measure and degree. He that loves his neighbour
as himself, will desire the welfare of his neighbour. On this is built that
golden rule, of doing as we would be done by. Love is a living, active principle
of obedience to the whole law. Let us not only avoid injuries to the persons,
connexions, property, and characters of men; but do no kind or degree of evil to
any man, and study to be useful in every station of life.
VERSES 11-14
Four things are here taught, as a Christian’s directory for his day’s work. When
to awake; Now; and to awake out of the sleep of carnal security, sloth, and
negligence; out of the sleep of spiritual death, and out of the sleep of
spiritual deadness. Considering the time; a busy time; a perilous time. Also the
salvation nigh at hand. Let us mind our way, and mend our pace, we are nearer
our journey’s end. Also to make ourselves ready. The night is far spent, the day
is at hand; therefore it is time to dress ourselves. Observe what we must put
off; clothes worn in the night. Cast off the sinful works of darkness. Observe
what we must put on; how we should dress our souls. Put on the armour of light.
A Christian must reckon himself undressed, if unarmed. The graces of the Spirit
are this armour, to secure the soul from Satan’s temptations, and the assaults
of this present evil world. Put on Christ; that includes all. Put on
righteousness of Christ, for justification. Put on the Spirit and grace of
Christ, for sanctification. The Lord Jesus Christ must be put on as Lord to rule
you as Jesus to save you; and in both, as Christ anointed and appointed by the
Father to this ruling, saving work. And how to walk. When we are up and ready,
we are not to sit still, but to appear abroad; let us walk. Christianity teaches
us how to walk so as to please God, who ever sees us. Walk honestly as in the
day; avoiding the works of darkness. Where there are riot and drunkenness, there
usually are chambering and wantonness, and strife and envy. Solomon puts these
all together, Proverbs 23:29-35. See what provision to make. Our great care must
be to provide for our souls: but must we take no care about our bodies? Yes; but
two things are forbidden. Perplexing ourselves with anxious, encumbering care;
and indulging ourselves in irregular desires. Natural wants are to be answered,
but evil appetites must be checked and denied. To ask meat for our necessities,
is our duty, we are taught to pray for daily bread; but to ask meat for our
lusts, is provoking God, Psalms 78:18.