📜WEB · Romans 13:7
What does Romans 13:7 mean?
"Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."
— Romans 13:7 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing.
Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.
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