Romans 13:10

10 The love of thy neighbour worketh not evil; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Romans 13:10 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 13:10

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour
That is, the man that truly loves his neighbour, will contrive no ill against him, nor do any to him; he will not injure his person, nor defile his bed, nor deprive or defraud him of his substance; or do hurt to his character, bear false testimony against him, or covet with an evil covetousness anything that is his; but, on the contrary, will do him all the good he is capable of:

therefore love is the fulfilling of the law:
so far as a man loves his neighbour, he acts agreeably to the law, and the particular precepts of it above mentioned: what the apostle says of love to the neighbour, the Jews frequently say of love to God;

``he that loveth God (they say ^F4) (Nryma rve Myyqm) , "hath fulfilled the decalogue", both above and below.''

And again ^F5,

``there is no service like the love of God, R. Abba saith it is (atyyrwad allk) , "the sum of the law"; for the ten words of the law (wlylkta akh) , "are herein comprehended", or "fulfilled":''

and elsewhere ^F6 they observe,

``that (hbhab hlwlk hrwth lk) , "the whole law is comprehended", or fulfilled "in love".''

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 Zohar in Deut. fol. 111. 3.
F5 Zohar in Deut. fol. 113. 1.
F6 Moses Kotsensis Mitzvot Tora, praecept. affirm. 3. prope finem.

Romans 13:10 In-Context

8 To no man owe ye any thing, but that ye love together. For he that loveth his neighbour, hath fulfilled the law.

9 For, Thou shalt do no lechery [Thou shalt not do lechery], Thou shalt not slay, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not say false witnessing, Thou shalt not covet the thing of thy neighbour, and if there be any other commandment, it is enstored, or included [it is enstored, or enclosed], in this word, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 The love of thy neighbour worketh not evil; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

11 And we know this time, that the hour is now, that we rise from sleep; for now is our health near(er), than when we believed. [+And we knowing this time, that the hour is now, us to rise of sleep; soothly now our health is nearer, than when we believed.]

12 The night went before, but the day hath approached [forsooth the day hath nighed]. Therefore cast we away the works of darknesses, and be we clothed in the armours of light [and be we clothed with the armours of light].