Love as an Eternal, Undying Debt to All

Paul's teaching in Romans 13:8-10 shatters sentimental notions of love as mere emotion. Love is not something we indulge when we feel generous toward the worthy and attractive. Rather, it is a debitum—a binding duty, a hard and fast rule—owed to every person we encounter, without distinction of beauty, goodness, or social standing. Maclaren emphasizes the radical character of this obligation: "He does not get his due from us unless he gets love."…