Romans 12:14-18 (WEL) Bless those who persecute you. Bless; do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Seek to be harmonious with each other. Do not be inclined towards the upper class but condescend to those of lower status. Don’t be conceited in yourselves. 17 Do not return evil for evil. Have it settled in your mind to be honest in everyone’s presence. 18 As much as is possible with you, live in peace with everyone.
V14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless; do not curse.
It is a very hard thing to bless others who persecute Christ-followers. We need to do something like this. “Father, you know what this person/s is doing to me/us. I pray for their salvation. I do not pray for their destruction. I accept your will in the matter regarding them. If I see them, help me to have your help to treat and speak to them kindly. Help me to speak boldly.”
V15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
This is family unity and support. In the case of context, it refers to the Christian family of God.
Barclay (beware) writes:
“The bond of tears is the strongest of all. And yet it is much easier to weep with those who weep than it is to rejoice with those who rejoice. Long ago Chrysostom wrote on this passage: “It requires more of a high Christian temper to rejoice with them that do rejoice than to weep with them that weep. For this nature itself fulfills perfectly; and there is none so hard-hearted as not to weep over him that is in calamity; but the other requires a very noble soul, so as not only to keep from envying, but even to feel pleasure with the person who is in esteem.” It is, indeed, more difficult to congratulate another on his success, especially if his success involves disappointment to us, than it is to sympathize with his sorrow and his loss. It is only when self is dead that we can take as much joy in the success of others as in our own.”
V6 Seek to be harmonious with each other. Do not be inclined towards the upper class but condescend to those of lower status. Don’t be conceited in yourselves.
We do not have to agree with all believers but allow for others’ reasonable opinions and interpretations. When we interrupt, bully, gaslight, lie, etc., then we are not being harmonious.
There is to be no favoritism. We do show a favoritism for 1) our spouse and 2) our children.
Pride in thinking and/or acting as if we are better than others is strictly condemned because God Himself has no favoritism as stated above. See Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11, Ephesians 6:9, Colossians 3:25, and James 2:9.
V17 Do not return evil for evil. Have it settled in your mind to be honest in everyone’s presence.
God is the King and as such He can seek revenge. See Proverbs 20:22, 1 Thessalonians 4:6, and Luke 18:8. Honesty in everything is God’s standard. We are to be honest to ourselves, to others, in private, in public, officially or casually, in religion, law, education, ministry, family, spouse, employer, employee, sales, buying, etc.
God hates lying in all its forms. Nevertheless, it is imperative to be tactful.
V18 As much as is possible with you, live in peace with everyone.
This can be nearly impossible in the world, thus, it states “as much as is possible.”
Barclay (beware) writes: “The Christian must meet persecution with a prayer for those who persecute him. Long ago Plato had said that the good man will choose rather to suffer evil than to do evil; and it is always evil to hate. When the Christian is hurt, and insulted, and maltreated, he has the example of his Master before him, for be, upon his Cross, prayed for forgiveness for those who were killing him.
“There has been no greater force to move men into Christianity than this serene forgiveness which the martyrs in every age have shown. Stephen died praying for forgiveness for those who stoned him to death (Acts 7:60). Among those who killed him was a young man named Saul, who afterwards became Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles and the slave of Christ. There can be no doubt that the death scene of Stephen was one of the things that turned Paul to Christ.”
We learn:
- More rules of the Law of Christ.
- God’s standards of His kingdom.
Questions:
- Are you obeying God’s rules?
- Are you aware of His assisting grace? See 2 Corinthians 12:9.