Peter Gomes, the longtime chaplain at Harvard University, tells a story from his childhood about a surreptitious after-school trip to a movie theater with plans to see a rather racy movie. When he got to the theater, he realized that the ticket seller happened to be a friend of his family. She asked young Peter if his mother knew where he was. Realizing that he needed to be up front with his mother about his desire to see this movie, instead of sneaking behind her back, he did not buy the ticket.

Living in the light means accountability. Paul calls it living “honorably.” Peter Gomes might describe it as living so that if his mother knew what he was doing, she would not be disappointed.

We fulfill the law by acting in a loving way toward our families, our enemies, our friends, the clerk in the convenience store, our boss at work. Just in case we miss the point, Paul repeats himself in verse 10, assuring us again that we fulfill God’s law by loving.

There is one debt Christians will never discharge: the debt to love. As often in the NT, the focus is on the obligation Christians have toward “one another” (fellow believers; cf. Gal 6:10). But believers are also called to love all people (12:9–21).

Love your neighbor as yourself. Paul once again echoes Jesus (Matt 22:34–40), who, when asked what is the greatest commandment in the law, cited the command to love God from Deut 6:5 and this command to love one’s neighbor from Lev 19:18. As Jesus teaches so memorably in the parable of the Good Samaritan, the “neighbor” whom we must love is anyone the Lord puts in our path (Luke 10:25–37).

Paul, however, makes clear that love has very little to do with emotion. The examples of love to which he refers have to do with behavior rather than feelings. Love fulfills the commandments not to break marriage vows and not to murder, steal, or covet. With the possible exception of the last in the list, these commandments concern action, not emotion.

Verses 12 and 13 make great use of the metaphors of light and day. Christians are not called to be subtle and secret, but to live so that everyone can see clearly who they are.

Peter Gomes, the longtime chaplain at Harvard University, tells a story from his childhood about a surreptitious after-school trip to a movie theater with plans to see a rather racy movie. When he got to the theater, he realized that the ticket seller happened to be a friend of his family. She asked young Peter if his mother knew where he was. Realizing that he needed to be up front with his mother about his desire to see this movie, instead of sneaking behind her back, he did not buy the ticket.

Living in the light means accountability. Paul calls it living “honorably.” Peter Gomes might describe it as living so that if his mother knew what he was doing, she would not be disappointed.

We fulfill the law by acting in a loving way toward our families, our enemies, our friends, the clerk in the convenience store, our boss at work. Just in case we miss the point, Paul repeats himself in verse 10, assuring us again that we fulfill God’s law by loving.

These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.