Chapter 13:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Luther
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Acts 1 Corinthians
Romans 13
Concise Complete
The duty of subjection to governors. (1-7) Exhortations
to mutual love. (8-10) To temperance and sobriety. (11-14)
Verses 1-7 The
grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet, where pride and the carnal
mind only see causes for murmuring and discontent. Whatever the persons in
authority over us themselves may be, yet the just power they have, must be
submitted to and obeyed. In the general course of human affairs, rulers are not
a terror to honest, quiet, and good subjects, but to evil-doers. Such is the
power of sin and corruption, that many will be kept back from crimes only by the
fear of punishment. Thou hast the benefit of the government, therefore do what
thou canst to preserve it, and nothing to disturb it. This directs private
persons to behave quietly and peaceably
1 timothy trick or fraud.
All smuggling, dealing in contraband goods, withholding or evading duties, is
rebellion against the express command of God. Thus honest neighbours are robbed,
who will have to pay the more; and the crimes of smugglers, and others who join
with them, are abetted. It is painful that some professors of the gospel should
countenance such dishonest practices. The lesson here taught it becomes all
Christians to learn and practise, that the godly in the land will always be
found the quiet and the peaceable in the land, whatever others are.
Verses 8-10
Christians must avoid useless expense, and be careful not to contract any debts
they have not the power to discharge. They are also to stand aloof from all
venturesome speculations and rash engagements, and whatever may expose them to
the danger of not rendering to all their due. Do not keep in any one's debt.
Give every one his own. Do not spend that on yourselves, which you owe to
others. But many who are very sensible of the trouble, think little of the sin,
of being in debt. Love to others includes all the duties of the second table.
The last five of the ten commandments are all summed up in this royal law, Thou
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; with the same sincerity that thou lovest
thyself, though not in the same measure and degree. He that loves his neighbour
as himself, will desire the welfare of his neighbour. On this is built that
golden rule, of doing as we would be done by. Love is a living, active principle
of obedience to the whole law. Let us not only avoid injuries to the persons,
connexions, property, and characters of men; but do no kind or degree of evil to
any man, and study to be useful in every station of life.
Verses 11-14
Four things are here taught, as a Christian's directory for his day's work. When
to awake; Now; and to awake out of the sleep of carnal security, sloth, and
negligence; out of the sleep of spiritual death, and out of the sleep of
spiritual deadness. Considering the time; a busy time; a perilous time. Also the
salvation nigh at hand. Let us mind our way, and mend our pace, we are nearer
our journey's end. Also to make ourselves ready. The night is far spent, the day
is at hand; therefore it is time to dress ourselves. Observe what we must put
off; clothes worn in the night. Cast off the sinful works of darkness. Observe
what we must put on; how we should dress our souls. Put on the armour of light.
A Christian must reckon himself undressed, if unarmed. The graces of the Spirit
are this armour, to secure the soul from Satan's temptations, and the assaults
of this present evil world. Put on Christ; that includes all. Put on
righteousness of Christ, for justification. Put on the Spirit and grace of
Christ, for sanctification. The Lord Jesus Christ must be put on as Lord to rule
you as Jesus to save you; and in both, as Christ anointed and appointed by the
Father to this ruling, saving work. And how to walk. When we are up and ready,
we are not to sit still, but to appear abroad; let us walk. Christianity teaches
us how to walk so as to please God, who ever sees us. Walk honestly as in the
day; avoiding the works of darkness. Where there are riot and drunkenness, there
usually are chambering and wantonness, and strife and envy. Solomon puts these
all together,
proverbs 23:29-35 .
See what provision to make. Our great care must be to provide for our souls: but
must we take no care about our bodies? Yes; but two things are forbidden.
Perplexing ourselves with anxious, encumbering care; and indulging ourselves in
irregular desires. Natural wants are to be answered, but evil appetites must be
checked and denied. To ask meat for our necessities, is our duty, we are taught
to pray for daily bread; but to ask meat for our lusts, is provoking God,
psalms 78:18.
Chapter 13:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Luther
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Acts 1 Corinthians
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
