14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
14 Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
14 Either way, Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Corinthians 5:14
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 5:9-15
(Read 2 Corinthians 5:9-15)
The apostle quickens himself and others to acts of duty. Well-grounded hopes of heaven will not encourage sloth and sinful security. Let all consider the judgment to come, which is called, The terror of the Lord. Knowing what terrible vengeance the Lord would execute upon the workers of iniquity, the apostle and his brethren used every argument and persuasion, to lead men to believe in the Lord Jesus, and to act as his disciples. Their zeal and diligence were for the glory of God and the good of the church. Christ's love to us will have a like effect upon us, if duly considered and rightly judged. All were lost and undone, dead and ruined, slaves to sin, having no power to deliver themselves, and must have remained thus miserable for ever, if Christ had not died. We should not make ourselves, but Christ, the end of our living and actions. A Christian's life should be devoted to Christ. Alas, how many show the worthlessness of their professed faith and love, by living to themselves and to the world!