What does it mean that all the law is fulfilled in one word (Galatians 5:14)?

The letter to the Galatians addresses the tension between adherence to the Law of Moses and the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ. The Galatian church faced challenges from legalists who insisted that followers of Christ must continue to obey traditional Jewish customs and laws. These attempts to be spiritually justified by keeping the law turned people completely away from God’s grace. The apostle Paul argued that faith in Jesus transcends the law and that the core of the law itself is fulfilled through a simple, all-encompassing principle: “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5:14, NKJV).

Here, Paul cites Leviticus 19:18, effectively demonstrating that freedom in Christ consists of a Spirit-led lifestyle guided by the new “law” provided by Jesus Christ: the law of love. In a similar teaching to the Romans, Paul writes, “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal . . . .’ These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law” (Romans 13:8–10, NLT).

Jesus Himself said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34; see also John 15:12; Matthew 19:19). In Matthew 22:37–40, Jesus summarized the Law and the Prophets with the two greatest commandments: love God with your entire being and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus and Paul both prioritized love over law-keeping.

The Law of Moses consisted of numerous commandments regulating moral, religious, and social conduct. These laws were meant to guide the Israelites in their relationship with God and each other. In Galatians 5:14, Paul distilled these numerous laws into a single, profound commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” By doing so, he emphasized that the true spirit of the law is not found in the meticulous observance of rules but in the genuine love and compassion one human being extends to another.

Dead religion is characterized by legalistic rule-following, but spiritual freedom in Christ is a life of faith that can be summed up in a single word—love. James phrased the concept like this: “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” (James 1:27, NLT).

To understand how all the law is fulfilled in one word, we must recognize that love inherently promotes actions that align with the principles of correct moral conduct. The goal of the law is not to make us do what is right but to love because, if we are motivated by love, we will do what is right. When we love our neighbor, we naturally avoid harmful, deceptive, or exploitative actions. Love ensures justice, kindness, and respect, which are fundamental to the commandments within the law. Love is the driving force underpinning all the law, for it upholds love as its primary objective.

Galatians 5:14 challenges us as believers to focus on the principle of love as the foundation of our moral and spiritual lives. It calls to evaluate our actions, ensuring they are driven by love rather than mere compliance with rules. This perspective fosters a community where compassion and empathy prevail over judgment and legalism.

In practical terms, fulfilling the law through love means actively seeking the well-being of others (see 1 Corinthians 10:24). It involves acts of kindness, forgiveness, and selflessness. It encourages believers to be mindful of the needs and sufferings of those around them and to respond with genuine care (see Romans 15:2; Galatians 5:13; Hebrews 10:24–25).

While the command to love is simple, its implementation can be challenging. It requires overcoming prejudices, selfish desires, and social norms that may hinder genuine expressions of love. However, it also presents an opportunity for profound personal and relational transformation, in which we “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2, ESV).

Galatians 5:14 streamlines the complex range of moral and spiritual laws into a singular, powerful directive that guides and inspires our conduct as Christians. By embracing Christ’s new commandment fulfilled in the one word, love, believers can obey the law in its truest sense, cultivating a life and community centered around compassion, empathy, and love.