Verse by Verse

⁸ Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,

⁹ and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name.”

Paul has been encouraging unity among believers. Here he gives another reason — Christ has ministered to all, Jews and Gentiles.

Verse 8 is saying that He came primarily for the Jews. Verse 9 explains that His ministry was a necessary foundation for the salvation of all nations.

The quote in verse 9 is from Psalm 18:49 — Therefore will I give thanks unto Thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto Thy name.

This verse has three levels:

1. David celebrating his defeat of other nations.

2. Gentiles thanking God for salvation.

3. Ultimate fulfillment in the Millennium

was a minister — past tense. Christ’s earthly ministry. But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24). While He was on earth, Christ was confirming the promises made to Israel.

Promises to Israel, mercy to Gentiles — but even this fulfilled a promise to Israel — And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:3).

Verses 9-12 are all confirmation of God’s promise to Israel that all Gentiles would be blessed. Paul’s ministry confirms this promise, but it won’t be fulfilled until the Millennium.

⁵ Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,

⁶ that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷ Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

“the patience” and “the comfort” from Scripture (verse 4) is here seen to be authored by God.

according to Jesus Christ — according to His example as seen in verse 3

Unity will bring glory to God.

Christ’s reception of us was for God’s glory as is our reception of each other.

Philippians 2:4-5 — Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

receive = receive to one’s self-embrace

1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

² Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.

³ For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

⁴ For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

ought — in old English, this was the past tense of “owe.”

for his good — The point isn’t to satisfy another person’s selfish desires, but to look out for his best interests.

The quote in verse 3 is from Psalm 69:9 —  For the zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon me.

Christ voluntarily allowed man’s hostility to fall on Him. Our suffering for others is insignificant in comparison, especially when our suffering is for a weaker brother while His was for an enemy.

The quote in verse 3 is about Christ, but it was written for our benefit, so we can be comforted and so we can have the same mind as Christ.

Patience and comfort — should be “the patience and the comfort of the Scriptures.” It should also read “the hope,” specifically referring to the hope of Christ’s return.

comfort = consolation, encouragement

²² Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

²³ But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

faith — liberty, as in verse 2. Faith is necessary and good, but it’s not to be displayed to show superiority.

Happy is he — similar to verse 5 “convinced in his own mind.” Happy for not using his rightful liberty to cause a brother to stumble.

Verse 23 is a warning to the weak.

¹⁹ Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

²⁰ Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.

²¹ It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

We can only build each other up if we are at peace.

destroy = pulling down, as opposed to building up

work — spiritual grown

“We have no right to give up our dearly-bought liberty, but we do have the liberty to give up our rights.” (Bultema).

1 Corinthians 8:9 — But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

The food and drink mentioned here were previously offered to idols and then sold in the market. This offended some new Christians. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. … Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled (1 Corinthians 8:4, 7).

Things that make for disunion, that cause trouble in churches: An unforgiving spirit. Self-seeking. A legalistic spirit. Playing God for others. Hypocrisy. Failing to appreciate others’ gifts. Failing to make allowances for one another (Ephesians 4:1-3; James 2:12). Lack of patience. Not sympathizing with others’ infirmities or, perhaps, their lack of gifts that we possess. Evil speaking (James 4:11; Titus 3:2). Assuming, without grounds, that others are at fault (James 5:9). Pulling one another to pieces. Suspecting the motives of another. A domineering spirit. A rebellious spirit. Snobbery. Hatred. Grumbling, arguing, murmuring. Maliciousness. Being a busybody. Greediness. Bitterness. Resentment. A sense of inferiority (i.e., not resting in the Lord, not being satisfied with the gifts He has given). Lack of security. Instability. Timidity. Spite. Laziness. Economic sponging. Lying and slander. Jealousy. Thinking too highly of oneself. A critical spirit toward others. Carrying on controversy. Being ill-informed about the position of another.

Goals toward which we should move in our lives: Willingness to be in subjection to one another. Considering others better than oneself. An understanding spirit. A sense of intimate relationship with Christ. Not insisting on our rights. Willingness to confess a wrong spirit. Sincerity. A generous spirit. A sympathetic spirit. Trusting others. Having faith in Christ, not necessarily in others, but expressed as trust to others, knowing that we belong to Him. Joyfulness. Prayer. Discretion. A critical spirit toward oneself. A gentle and quiet spirit (2 Timothy 2:25). Humility (1 Peter 5:5). Using our gifts for one another. Remembering our own mistakes (James 3:2). Christ-centeredness. Love, in word and deed. Fair dealing. Integrity. Recognizing one’s place. A forgiving spirit. Doing things decently and in order. Conscientiousness. Faithfulness. Being responsible to perform the tasks assigned to us. Not misusing the authority over others. Being willing to follow those in authority over us. — Barnhouse, page 21-22.

¹⁷ for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

kingdom (here) — sphere of God’s rule — where His rule is acknowledged — His rule over our hearts.

The unsaved will see the outward effects when one is experiencing righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit.

The kingdom is not rules.

¹⁵ Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.

¹⁶ Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;

destroy — present spiritual life ruined — deprive of ability to do God’s will

The sacrifice of Christ in dying is contrasted with selfishness of doing something that will hurt a weaker brother.

good — liberty

The Greek word here translated destroy, cause the ruin, or, as I have rendered it, cause the loss, was used by our Lord to convey the idea of loss of reward. Whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward (Matthew 10:42). This Greek word was also used by John in his second epistle, where we read, Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward (2 John 8).

The true believer, then, should enjoy complete liberty in Christ without digressing to the side path of libertinage. He is not answerable to the pastor, the session, or the other members of the congregation. He is answerable to God alone. — Barnhouse, page 9.

¹³ Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

¹⁴ I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

resolve this = let this be your decision

convinced by the Lord — not from his own reasoning

of itself = of its own nature

Our conscience isn’t always the best guide to right and wrong, but it’s always wrong to go against it.

unclean — ceremonial — not referring to moral impurity

¹⁰ But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

¹¹ For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

¹² So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

why do you judge — addressed to weak brother

why do you show contempt — addressed to stronger brother

judgment seat (Bema) = a platform

2 Corinthians 5:10 — For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

1 Corinthians 3:9-15 — For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

We will account for ourselves, not for others.

Quote in verse 11 is from Isaiah 45:23 — I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

bow — recognition of and subjection to authority

confess — acknowledgment of the right to judge

⁷ For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

⁸ For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

⁹ For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

We must live with others in light of our relationship with the Lord. Our actions should bring glory to Him.

Verse 7 is referring to our relationship with Christ.

The defining principle in every case is that Christ is Lord.

none of us — Christians