Romans 13:9

For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

'For this' -'For the Law which says' (Mon). For 'this' law just mentioned (Romans 13:8). Paul now proves the last statement made in Romans 13:8, i.e. that love of neighbor fulfills the law's requirements.

'if there be any other commandment' -Paul does not attempt to list all of them.

'is summed up is this word' -or in one command.

'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself'. Leviticus 19:18.

Points to Note:

1. 'Love' never seeks to justify sinful behaviour. 'Fornication', has been relabeled, 'making love', but it isn't! Sinful behaviour, is never the 'loving thing to do'. Situation Ethics chokes on this verse. Adultery IS NEVER AN EXPRESSION OF LOVE (no matter how hard people argue that they became someone's saviour by delivering them from. bad marriage..) neither is killing (euthanasia, suicide, abortion), and neither is stealing (I need to loot the store to feed my family).

2. '..he is declaring that one who loves his neighbor will not injure his neighbor, but will fulfill toward him all that the law demands. One who loves will not borrow from. neighbor (like the bank, or credit card companies) that which he cannot repay; he will not wrong his neighbor by adultery, theft, murder, or covetousness. In fact, all special precepts are summarized in that of love...so it is that every conceivable moral requirement is summed up in this one commandment..' (Erdman pp. 153-154)

Jesus presented the same truth in Matthew 7:12 and Matthew 22:36. Every command that God has ever given fits into the two basic categories of 'love God, love others'. Therefore, 'sin' is the result when we don't care about God or others. Sin is more than just. mistake, at that moment we either 'hate' God or others, or both. In essence, sin is extreme selfishness, where one is only occupied with 'what. want right now'.