For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul lists several commandments but significantly rearranges their typical order and even omits "You shall not bear false witness" in some ancient texts. This isn't a mistake; it highlights that the precise wording or sequence of these specific prohibitions matters less than the underlying principle they all serve: a deep, active care for our neighbor.
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is explaining that the commands about how we treat others aren't arbitrary; they all flow from one core principle. He lists several prohibitions from the Ten Commandments, noting that even if other commands exist, they can all be summarized by Jesus' teaching to love your neighbor as yourself. This love, Paul will go on to explain, is the ultimate fulfillment of the law regarding our interactions with others.
Ever notice the commandments aren't always listed in the same order? Paul does something interesting here, and it's not random.
Paul lists several prohibitions from the Ten Commandments, but notice the order: "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder..."
This is different from the order in Exodus or Deuteronomy. It appears in other New Testament passages and ancient translations of the Old Testament. This doesn't mean one order is 'right' and another 'wrong.' It shows us that the core message of these commandments isn't about their sequence, but about their unified purpose.
Paul takes specific 'don'ts' and boils them down to one powerful 'do.' What does this tell us about God's heart?
Paul declares that all these specific commands – against adultery, murder, theft, coveting, and any others – are "summed up" in one essential principle: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Think of 'summed up' like an executive summary or the main point of a long document. It means that if you truly love your neighbor as yourself, you won't commit adultery (because that harms your neighbor's spouse and family), you won't murder (obvious harm), you won't steal (taking what belongs to your neighbor), and you won't covet (desiring what your neighbor has, which can lead to theft or other wrongs).
This isn't to say the individual commandments aren't important, but that love is the underlying motivation and goal that fulfills their intent. It's the heart behind the rules.
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Who is your 'neighbor,' really? This ancient command has radical implications for how we live today.
The command to "love your neighbor as yourself" is powerful because it shifts the focus outward.
While the specific prohibitions in the verse often deal with direct harm to individuals, the principle of love extends broadly. It’s not just about avoiding sin; it’s about actively desiring and working for the well-being of others.
This love doesn't discriminate. The concept of 'neighbor' in Scripture often expands beyond immediate family or even fellow Israelites to include strangers and even enemies. Living out this 'sum of the law' means considering the good of everyone we encounter, recognizing their inherent dignity as someone created in God's image.
Understand the original words
entolē · Greek Noun
A moral instruction or divine rule given by God for the regulation of human conduct. It serves as an expression of God's holy character and a guide for living in covenant relationship with Him.
moicheuō · Greek Verb
The act of sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than their spouse. It is a violation of the marriage covenant and God's design for sexual purity.
phoneuō · Greek Verb
The intentional and unlawful taking of human life. It is fundamentally against God's commandment because humanity is created in the image of God.
kleptō · Greek Verb
The act of taking someone else's property without authorization. It violates the biblical principle of stewardship and respect for the rights of others.
epithymeō · Greek Verb
A sinful, inordinate, and selfish desire for what belongs to another person. It is a matter of the heart that reveals discontentment with God’s provision.
plēsion · Greek Noun
Any person living near or encountered in daily life. In biblical teaching, the neighbor is to be the object of one’s active, sacrificial love, regardless of background or status.
This is the direct source text for Jesus' command and Paul's summary, showing the ancient roots of loving your neighbor as the core of ethical behavior.
Matthew 22:39-40Jesus Himself echoes this principle, identifying the command to love your neighbor as the second greatest commandment, directly linking it to the law and the prophets.
Galatians 5:14Paul reiterates that the entire Law is fulfilled in one word, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' reinforcing the idea that love is the overarching principle behind all other commands.
James 2:8-11James also connects the royal law of 'loving your neighbor as yourself' to fulfilling the whole law, warning against favoritism and showing how love is the active principle behind obeying all commands.
ellicottRomans 13:9: "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
(9) Thou shalt not commit adultery. —It will be seen that in this arrangement the seventh commandment precedes the sixth. The same arrangement is found in Mark 10:19 , Luke 18:20 , and James 2:11 . On the other…
vincentRomans 13:9: "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Thou shalt not commit adultery, etc.Omit thou shalt not bear false witness. The seventh commandment precedes the sixth, as in Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; James 2:11.It is briefly comprehended (ἀνακεφαλαιοῦται)Onl…
Paul lists several commandments but significantly rearranges their typical order and even omits "You shall not bear false witness" in some ancient texts. This isn't a mistake; it highlights that the precise wording or sequence of these specific prohibitions matters less than the underlying principle they all serve: a deep, active care for our neighbor.
Paul is explaining that the commands about how we treat others aren't arbitrary; they all flow from one core principle. He lists several prohibitions from the Ten Commandments, noting that even if other commands exist, they can all be summarized by Jesus' teaching to love your neighbor as yourself. This love, Paul will go on to explain, is the ultimate fulfillment of the law regarding our interactions with others.
Paul is explaining that the commands about how we treat others aren't arbitrary; they all flow from one core principle. He lists several prohibitions from the Ten Commandments, noting that even if other commands exist, they can all be summarized by Jesus' teaching to love your neighbor as yourself. This love, Paul will go on to explain, is the ultimate fulfillment of the law regarding our interactions with others.
"For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”" — Paul lists several commandments but significantly rearranges their typical order and even omits "You shall not bear false witness" in some ancient texts. This isn't a mistake; it highlights that the…
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Last reviewed October 2026