<p>13:9 <i>For this, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet- and if there be any other commandment</i><em>- </em>Paul's references to the Gospels suggests that he had carefully meditated upon the passages to which he consciously alludes. The fact and way in which he <em>alludes</em> rather than quotes verbatim reflects the fact he had thought through and absorbed the teaching of the passages rather than learning them parrot fashion. For example, in Mt. 19:18,19 the Lord Jesus combines two quotations from the Law: Ex. 20:12-16 followed by Lev. 19:18. Paul, in a different context, to prove a different point, combines those same two passages, although separating them by a brief comment (Rom. 13:9). This surely indicates that he had meditated upon how his Lord was using the Law, and mastered it so that he could use it himself.</p><p><em>It is summed up in this word</em><i>, namely: You shall love your neighbour as yourself</i><em>- </em>The intention of all the various laws was &quot;love&quot;. Likewise the fruit of the Spirit is in the singular- &quot;love&quot;. Love is the point of maturity to which we are all travelling (1 Cor. 13). The cross was the fulfilling of all law in that there love was articulated to its ultimate term.</p>