whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.
Context / meaning
This verse captures the heart of Christian living—love. Paul summarizes the entire law of God in a single command, emphasizing that true righteousness is not about following a list of rules but about living a life of love. This teaching echoes Jesus’ own words and shows us that love is the foundation of all that God desires from us.
The book of Galatians was written to a church struggling with legalism. Some Jewish Christians were insisting that Gentile believers must follow the Mosaic Law, including circumcision, to be truly saved. Paul refutes this, arguing that salvation comes through faith in Christ alone, not by works of the law.
In Galatians 5, Paul contrasts living by the Spirit with living under the law. He warns against using Christian freedom as an excuse for sin but instead urges believers to use their freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 sets the stage for verse 14: "For you, brothers, were called to freedom. Only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants to one another."
This leads into Paul’s powerful summary: “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
- "The whole law is fulfilled in one word..."
This statement mirrors what Jesus taught in Matthew 22:37-40, when He was asked about the greatest commandment: "‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."
Paul focuses on the second commandment, emphasizing that how we treat others is central to our faith. If we truly love our neighbors, we naturally fulfill God’s moral law—because love prevents harm, promotes kindness, and seeks the good of others.
- "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
This command, originally from Leviticus 19:18, is not about self-centered love but about extending to others the same care and consideration we desire for ourselves. It means:
Showing kindness, not just avoiding harm.
Being generous, as we would want others to be with us.
Forgiving others, just as we want forgiveness.
Paul’s emphasis here is that Christian living is not about outward religious rituals but about a transformed heart that expresses itself in love.
- Why Love Fulfills the Law
Love encompasses all that God commands because:
Love does no harm. Romans 13:10 says: "Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law."
Love seeks the good of others. Love leads us to act justly, to be patient, to give generously, and to serve selflessly.
Love reflects God’s character. 1 John 4:8 states: "He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love."
Application: How Do We Live This Out?
Put love into action. Loving our neighbor is not just a feeling but an active choice to serve, forgive, and show kindness.
Expand our definition of "neighbor." Jesus taught in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) that our neighbor is anyone in need, not just those close to us.
Make love our priority. Instead of focusing on religious performance, we should focus on relationships—how we treat others is a reflection of our faith.
Conclusion: Galatians 5:14 reminds us that at the core of Christianity is love. When we love our neighbor as ourselves, we naturally fulfill God’s commandments. This is not about legalistic rule-keeping but about a heart transformed by Christ, leading us to live in a way that reflects His love to the world.
See also: vs 15-16
Galatians 5:14. The whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
anger - beware - liberty - vigilance
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible