For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor
as yourself." If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Galatians 5:14-15
Barnes' Notes on the
Bible
For all the law is fulfilled ... - That is, this expresses the substance of
the whole law; it embraces and comprises all. The apostle of course here alludes
to the Law in regard to our duty to our fellow-men, since that was the point
which he particularly enforces. He is saying that this law would counteract all
the evil workings of the flesh, and if this were fulfilled, all our duty to
others would be discharged. A similar sentiment he has expressed in Romans 13:8-10; see the
notes at that passage. The turn here in the discussion is worthy of particular
notice. With great skill he changes the subject from a doctrinal argument to a
strain of practical remark, and furnishes most important lessons for the right
mode of overcoming our corrupt and sensual passions, and discharging our duty to
others.
Thou shalt love thy neighbor ... - See this explained in the note at Matthew 19:19.
Clarke's Commentary on
the Bible
For all the law - Which respects our duty to our fellows, is fulfilled - is
comprehended, in one word: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. See the
notes on Matthew
19:19, and Romans 13:9 (note).
Gill's Exposition of the
Entire Bible
For all the law is fulfilled in one word,.... Not the ceremonial law, to
which acts of mercy, kindness, and love are opposed, and from which they are
distinguished; but the law of the decalogue given to Moses on Mount Sinai, and
by him to the people of the Jews; and intends either only the second table of
it, since only love to the neighbour is mentioned; or else the whole of it, both
tables, since it is said, "all the law"; which by Christ is reduced to two
heads, love to God, and love to the neighbour; and though the former is not here
expressed, it is implied as a cause in the effect, for the love of God is the
cause, and so the evidence of love to the neighbour; nor can there be the one
without the other. The two tables of the law consist of , "ten words"; as the
(s) Jews commonly call them, and we the decalogue, and yet they are fulfilled in
one; that is, they are to be brought into such a compendium, reduced to such an
head; or as the apostle in a parallel place says, they may briefly be
comprehended in this saying, Romans
13:9. The Jews make the commandments of the law to be a very large number
indeed, but at last reduce them to one, as the apostle here does,
"six hundred and thirteen commandments (they say (t)) were given to
Moses----David came and reduced them to eleven, Psalm 15, Isaiah came and
reduced them to six, Isaiah 33:15
Micah came and reduced them to three, Micah 6:8 Isaiah came and reduced them
to two, Isaiah 56:1,
Amos came and reduced them to one, Amos
5:4 but this being objected to, it is observed that Habakkuk came, , "and
reduced them to one", Habakkuk
2:4 that is faith, as here the apostle reduces them to love:''
even in this, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: these words are taken
out of Leviticus 19:18 and
which R. Akiba says (u), agreeably with the apostle, whose contemporary he was,
is , "the grand general rule in the law"; or the grand comprehensive of the law:
the object of love, the "neighbour", signifies not only, as there the Jews
explain it, those of their own people, or proselytes to their religion; but all
sorts of men, whether in a natural, civil, or spiritual relation; and whether
those that do us good or do us ill, friends or enemies: the measure or rule of
love is, "as thyself"; and designs not an equality of affection, but a likeness
of effects; that is, to do the same kind acts of love to others, one would
choose to have done to ourselves: and this is the fulfilling of the law; that
is, so far as a man loves aright, so far he fulfils the law; not that he does it
perfectly, for man in his fallen state is unable to do that, for the law is
exceeding broad, and reaches to thoughts, desires, and inclinations, as well as
to words and deeds; and besides, love said to be the fulfilling of it, is
imperfect; hence then there can be no justification by works of charity, nor by
any services of men, which at best are imperfect; nor are they done in their own
strength, and without the grace of God; nor is there any that can be said to
have fulfilled the law perfectly but Christ, and to him must we look for a
justifying righteousness. These words contain a reason engaging to love one
another, and to do all kind of offices of love to each other; since it is a main
and principal thing contained in the law, and to which that may be reduced.
(s) Exodus 34.28.
Vid. Targum Onk. & Jon. in ib. (t) T. Bab. Maccot, fol. 23. 2. & 24. 1.
Tzeror Hammor, fol. 151. 1.((u) In Jarchi in Leviticus 19.18.
Vincent's Word
Studies
All the law (ὁ πᾶς νόμος)
More correctly, the whole law. Comp. Matthew 22:40.
Is fulfilled (πεπλήρωται)
Has been fulfilled. Comp. Romans
13:8. The meaning is not embraced in, or summed up in, but complied with. In
Romans 13:9,
ἀνακεφαλαιοῦται is summed up, is to be distinguished from πλήρωμα hath
fulfilled (Romans 13:8) and
πλήρωμα fulfillment (Romans
13:10). The difference is between statement and accomplishment. See on do
the law, Galatians 5:3.
Geneva Study
Bible
{13} For {h} all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in
this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
(13) He sets forth the love of our neighbour, as a mark unto which all
Christians ought to refer all their actions, and to that he cites the testimony
of the Law.
(h) This particle all must be limited to the second table of the ten
commandments.
People's New
Testament
5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word. The
essence of the law is comprehended in a single command--
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. See PNT Ro
13:8. Also compare Mt 22:39 Le 19:18.
Wesley's Notes
5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself - inasmuch as none can do this without loving God, 1John 4:12; and the
love of God and man includes all perfection. Lev 19:18.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Bible Commentary
14. all the law-Greek, "the whole law," namely, the Mosaic law. Love to God
is presupposed as the root from which love to our neighbor springs; and it is in
this tense the latter precept (so "word" means here) is said to be the
fulfilling of "all the law" (Le 19:18). Love is "the law of Christ" (Ga 6:2; Mt
7:12; 22:39, 40; Ro 13:9, 10).
is fulfilled-Not as received text "is being fulfilled," but as the oldest
manuscripts read, "has been fulfilled"; and so "receives its full perfection,"
as rudimentary teachings are fulfilled by the more perfect doctrine. The law
only united Israelites together: the Gospel unites all men, and that in relation
to God [Grotius].
Matthew Henry's Concise
Commentary
5:13-15 The gospel is a doctrine according to godliness, 1Ti 6:3, and is so
far from giving the least countenance to sin, that it lays us under the
strongest obligation to avoid and subdue it. The apostle urges that all the law
is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. If Christians, who should help one another, and rejoice one another,
quarrel, what can be expected but that the God of love should deny his grace,
that the Spirit of love should depart, and the evil spirit, who seeks their
destruction, should prevail? Happy would it be, if Christians, instead of biting
and devouring one another on account of different opinions, would set themselves
against sin in themselves, and in the places where they live.
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