Additional Thoughts: Romans 13:8-14 (Proper 18A)

Romans 13:8-14

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." (NIV)

Other versions translate this differently, for instance the NRSV says "Owe no one anything."

However, the NIV translation leaves room for an interesting point: There are two people involved in a debt, the debtor and the one who is owed the debt. The reality is that there is only one person in that relationship who can "let no debt remain outstanding," and it is the one who has the power to forgive the debt.

How many times do we hold other people in debt to us, when they don't even know it? They can never repay the debt, for they don't know that we hold it against them. It is up to us to "let no debt remain outstanding," by forgiving those debts that we are owed.

Just an interesting thought, worthy of some language study before building any major points upon it. However, juxtaposed against the story of the unforgiving servant, this thought does seem to be harmonious with the Gospel message. We are to forgive others because God is a forgiving God.

Grace and Peace,

PastorJon