As we move into the final section of Paul’s exhortation, the apostle uses a brilliant segue to move his message along. Paul had already interjected into the midst of his discussion about Jesus attitudes and actions a parenthesis about governing authorities and paying debts and taxes. Now that seemingly odd interruption is neatly used to return the reader to the theme of “love” begun in 12:9.

Christians are to “pay to all what is due them” (v.7). But Paul contends there is one “debt” that disciples of Jesus can never stamp as “paid in full:” the debt of “loving one another.”

Paul’s next statement may seem to be yet another distancing of Christians from the rule and rigors of Mosaic Law. But it also reinforces the new state-of-being that now “rules” the disciple’s life. Paul declares that…