Romans 13:9 · KJV

"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

King James Version

Passage Context

⁷Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

⁸Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

⁹For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

¹⁰Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

¹¹And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

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Devotional Reflection

LoveHopeCompassion

What a great world it would be if we didn't need laws to keep people in line! This is the point of what Paul is saying here. We should treat our neighbors the way we want to be treated. Love them the way we want to be loved. If we do that, we won't do anything to hurt them or break the law.

Prayer

Please inscribe your character and will on my heart, O God, who gave the Law to Moses on tablets of stone, that I may be a living stone proclaiming your righteousness and grace. Help me to consider my neighbors' feelings more carefully before I act or respond to them—not just today, but every day! In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.

LoveHope

Wouldn't it be fantastic if we didn't have to create laws to keep people in line? That's the point of Paul's statement here. Treat our neighbors how we would like to be treated. Love them like we would like to be loved. If we do that, then we're not going to do anything that will injure them, much less break a command of law!

Prayer

God, You wrote the Law on tablets of stone and gave them to Moses. Please write Your character and will on my heart so I can be a living stone that shows how righteous and kind You are. Help me think more carefully about how my neighbors feel before I act or react to them, not just today but every day. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.

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