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Romans 13:8-10 – Love Does No Harm
Love Does No Harm
Love Does No Harm (Rom.13:8-10)
Notice what this pericope follows – Government punishing and rewarding based upon law (13:1-7). Government does not act upon a principle of love, but necessity (i.e., taxes) and laws. Government “justifies” on the basis of works – what have you done. God justifies on the basis of faith – what can’t you do. So when we base relationships on what people can do for us, or cutting them off when they have wronged us because of our hurt, we are more like “Big Brother” than our big brother. When we avenge ourselves, we are acting as the law rather than from love. Law is, “Don’t do me wrong when I have done you wrong”. Love is, “Do right by me even if I have done you wrong.”
When you go to the next section, Paul reminds them to remember their day of “salvation” is drawing near (13:11). What are we being saved from in the future? It could be God’s wrath (Rom. 12:19-13:7). Could it be something else? Notice the contrasts: Waking vs Sleeping. Light vs Darkness. Decent behavior vs sinful (13:12-13). Then notice: Clothing ourselves with Christ vs Gratifying the Flesh (13:14).
Could the progression be God is saving us from ourselves and that salvation has begun in part but is getting closer to fulfillment. In this way God is showing us love through salvation instead of punishing us through law.
Consider these questions and applications:
• What does law “owe” vs what does love “owe”?
• What does government demand I “owe” vs what does a relationship demand I “owe”?
• What does government judge me on vs what do I need God to judge me on?
• What has God given to me vs what have I given to others?
God has given me salvation from law and so I’m obligated to him and all. I owe this. Love does no harm.
Now for a little fun: Let’s diagram this small text: (skip over this if you find this unhelpful)
A – NOTHING: 8) Owe nothing to anyone,
B – LOVE: except to one another in love.
B’ – LOVE: For he who loves his neighbor
A’ – EVERYTHING: has fulfilled the law.
Nothing is the opposite of fulfill. One another is equal to one’s neighbor.
A – LOVE: 8) Owe nothing to anyone, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
B – COMMANDMENTS: 9) The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments,
B’ – COMMANDMENT: are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
A’ – LOVE: 10) Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.
When you combine A and A’, you find this odd combination. Apparently, I owe people love. When I love people, I owe them proper behavior from me. This obligation is not because of them. It is because love fulfills God’s commandments. Therefore because of my relationship to God, I owe others my love. “Owing” love follows owing respect and honor. Love my neighbors because of God; respect and honor the government because of God.
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