Romans 13:8-11 WEB

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:8-10

Love, the fulfilment of the Law. The Lord's Prayer speaks of forgiving "our debtors." But it is the bounden duty of every man to strive to discharge his pecuniary obligations, otherwise he is guilty of living contentedly on stolen goods. The command, "Owe no man anything," if obeyed, would hinder many a bankruptcy and prevent many a business scandal. The apostle proceeds, with one of his skilful turns of thought, to speak of that debt which never can be entirely liquidated—a debt under... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:8-14

Christ-likeness. From citizenship, which is disposed of in the preceding verses, the apostle passes on to the Christian spirit as manifested in neighbourly relations. He here enters into the very spirit and essence of God's law, showing it to be love. And here we have— I. THE DEBT WHICH CAN NEVER BE DISCHARGED . ( Romans 13:8 .) We may pay all other debts, and should owe no man anything; but love is a debt that can never be discharged, an obligation which abides, a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-12

And that (for a similar use of καὶ τοῦτο , or καὶ ταῦτα , cf. 1 Corinthians 6:8 ; Ephesians 2:8 ; Philippians 1:28 ; Hebrews 10:25 ; Hebrews 11:12 ), knowing that it is high time for you to awake out of sleep (more literally, that it is the hour for you to be already roused out of sleep ) ; for now is our salvation nearer (or, now is salvation nearer to us. The salvation here meant is "the restitution of all things" ( Acts 3:21 ), the "manifestation of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-14

There is now interposed among the particular admonitions a call to watchfulness, with a view to holiness in all relations of life, on the ground that the day is at hand . There can be little, if any, doubt that the apostle had in view the second coming of Christ, which he with others supposed might be close at hand, Our Lord had said that of that day none knew but the Father, and that it would come unexpectedly. Further, in the same addresses to the disciples before his death in which these... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-14

A startling summons. The admonition of this passage is especially addressed to Christians; yet to Christians who stand peculiarly in need of a rousing appeal and summons, to call them to a more spiritual and a more watchful life. I. THE CRISIS OF LIFE . 1. The night is well-nigh gone. Between our Lord's first and second comings stretches the dawn of the world. Behind his first coming lay the night of humanity. Beyond his second advent the daylight beams, with the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-14

Night and day. Christian motives are brought forward to incite to moral duties. We are called upon to do right, not only by the voices of expediency and of authority, but by the voice of revelation. Christians are addressed as those who know the seasons, who discern the signs of the times, who regard the present as a period of probation, of discipline, of education, and whose gaze is ever forwards, whose hope is in their Lord's return to judge and to save. I. THE RETROSPECT OF ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-14

Awake and arm! It is strange that, at the very commencement of a new dispensation, the prospect of its close should be so often presented to the view. No sooner had Christ's first coming ended, than his people were taught to anticipate his second coming. Thus the thoughts and affections of Christians are clustered around their Lord, and the revelation of the past suggests the approaching epiphany. The contrasts of this passage are very striking. When carefully analyzed, they appear— I. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-14

The Christian's duty in the present age. The Christian is not to be insensible to the movements of the world. "Knowing the time," says the apostle ( Romans 13:11 ). Mr. Spurgeon says he reads the newspapers to see how God is governing the world. It is well for us to know what are the current beliefs and motives of our fellow-men. I. THE CHRISTIAN 'S CONFIDENCE . 1. " The night is far spent. " 2. " The day is at hand. " The day of our Saviour's coming is rapidly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-14

The day breaketh! "And this"—the work of progressive sanctification, in all its aspects and relations—this surely claims our strong attention now, when the day of God is nigh unto dawning! For, visibly to us, the shadows pass and the morning breaks. It is the night-watch still, but the day is at hand. We have here to consider—the nearness of the day of God; our full awaking. I. THE DAY OF GOD . In and through all the declarations of the Scriptures there mingles this warning... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-14

The approach of day. Sin has been defined as "an act or state inconsistent with the relations" in which we stand. To act as our position demands is to act rightly. The apostle appeals to Christians as reasonable individuals desiring to behave as befits their condition. Incongruities excite ridicule, as when the sailor walks on land as if he had to steady himself against the tossing of his ship. Who has not dreamed of being found in daylight in the street attired in the garments of sleep,... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:8-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:8-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 13:11-14

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