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Here Paul still seeks to bring harmony between the Jews and the Gentiles in the church in Rome. In the last lesson it was food and the observance of days that caused the problem, in this lesson, it is something very similar, having to do with Jewish tradition. Again Paul instructs the strong to be patient with the weak, realizing that we all are weak in one area or another, it behooves us to bear up in patience and support of those whose faith may be weaker than ours, realizing that but for the Grace of God, we might be that weak brother. We must immolate the example of Jesus who bore the weaknesses of the Disciples, admonishing them with patience and love.
Let us remind ourselves that what Paul is seeking in all of this is harmony. It is more to be desired than the getting of our way. Paul suggests that we study to be pleasing. Matthew Henry says this about the Christian Church, "The closer the stones lie, the stronger the building." Even Christ did not seek to please Himself but suffered the reproach of his weaker brethren. Paul suggests to the Jews that all that was written in the Old Testament was written to produce steadfastness and encouragement and, by example, teach them to live in harmony with one another. For the Jews in Rome, it was doing just the opposite. It was becoming a source of disagreement between them and the Gentiles.
So Paul having preached his sermon on the need of harmony in the church at Rome then prays for the success of what he said. Then he continues on with his instructions to those who were strong in the faith. "Welcome the weak as Christ has welcomed you." Don't let pride and prejudice keep you from doing this. The chief aim of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Paul says in verse 6 that we must do this in harmony, "Together, you may, with one voice, glorify God."
For centuries, the Jews considered the Gentiles unclean. Now they were asked to welcome them into the fellowship. For centuries the Gentiles were told that the Jews were God's chosen people, they found them to be haughty and proud, now they were asked to welcome them into the fellowship. The Jews felt that they were better than the Gentiles and would allow them to come into the fellowship but considered them as "second class" members and tried to get them to submit to the Jewish customs. The Gentiles wanted no part of this and exercised their freedoms in Christ.
The Jews had a problem with this "adoption" of the Gentile into the Kingdom of God.
So Paul reminds them that Moses, David and Isaiah, all prophesied of the adoption
of the Gentile. Even with all this, is was like mixing fire and water. The
problems caused by centuries of custom were never resolved despite Paul's sincere
efforts. But Paul remained optimistic.
Some Personal Comments
["Click here for Romans 15:14-33"]
This is again expressed in verses 14 thru 33. Paul began this letter by commending them for their faith, a faith that was spoken of throughout the world, this in spite of the differences that was plaguing them. Here Paul reiterates his opinion of them, "I am satisfied with you, my brethren, that you are full of goodness and knowledge and able to instruct one another." For 14 chapters, Paul has sought to instruct them and in some areas, boldly condemned them, but only, as he says, as a reminder and only in love and the Grace given him by the Lord.
Then Paul goes on with his optimism about them, the Jews, speaking about the Gentiles. he says, "I have reason to be proud of my work with the Gentiles." Paul always gave God the credit for any success that he had in his ministry. So in Christ Jesus, Paul was proud of what he had accomplished. Notice he accomplished this by his calling, by God's Grace, and by the power of the Holy Spirit thru "signs and wonders", from Jerusalem to Illuricum. Illuricum was on the Adriatic Sea, across from Italy and north of Macedonia. It was also called Dalmatia. No reference in made in Acts of Paul ever visiting that far north but tradition has it that Paul established many churches not mentioned in the scriptures.
Paul preached in "out of the way places", preaching where no one else had preached, not wishing to build on another mans foundation. This was a great joy to Paul and and much satisfaction in his old age. Paul longed to go to Rome and according to verse 22, he had been hindered from going. We believe that perhaps this was not the will of the Holy Spirit. Many times Paul set his eyes upon a direction only to be led elsewhere by the Holy Spirit. Macedonia was a good example of this.
It appears, at that particular time, the Holy Spirit was hindering Paul from going to Rome. Many of God's ministers are led in a way that is contrary to what they would like. Man proposes, God disposes. The Gospel does not come by man's will or by chance to any place. Paul had to humble himself and follow God's leading in this. If Paul had had his way, he would have been in Rome long before this.
Not only did Paul want to go to Rome but he also wanted to go to Spain. Tradition has it that Paul did, at one time, make it to Spain but there is no scriptural reference to bare this out. We know, however, that Paul did eventually get to Rome, but not as he had hoped. He went to Rome, in chains. Why did Paul want to go to Rome. First of all, Paul was the Lord's minister to the Gentile and Rome was the Gentile Capitol. Secondly, Paul loved the fellowship of believers and he wanted so much to fellowship with these in Rome whom he had heard so much about. Paul was a well-educated man and he enjoyed learning new things. Most learning in those days was obtained, one on one, in conversation. It's a means that is sadly neglected today. Thirdly, he hoped that he might impart some spiritual gifts to them. The Gospel was Paul's spiritual gift to Rome.
But Paul realized that his visit to Rome had to wait for now because he was going to Jerusalem to take money that he had collected from the mission churches back to the church in Jerusalem. Perhaps Paul was telling these Romans this that they might do likewise. He was good at the "power of suggestion". Why did Jerusalem need this money? Believers in Jerusalem were being persecuted more then they were elsewhere. Those that had jobs lost them when they became believers and no other jobs were available to them. They existed on donations. Two churches were largely responsible for this, Corinth and Philippi. These were churches that were established in free Roman cites of great wealth. Paul says that it pleased them to be able to contribute to the poor Saints in Jerusalem.
These churches were primarily made up of Gentiles and they were greatly beholden to the Jews. They realized that their Savior was a Jew and that the man that had brought them the Gospel, was a Jew. They also knew that the Gospel was born and raised in Judah and most of all, it was protected and preached by Jews sent by the Lord. So Paul said that it was his duty to return to Jerusalem with the funds that he had collected for them.
But he said, being optimistic about the future, he would come to visit them later on his way to Spain, "and I know that I shall come to you with the blessing of the Lord." Then Paul closed this chapter by asking for prayers for himself. "Pray", Paul said, "in the name of Jesus." Also in the spirit of love. Three things Paul asked them to pray for on his behalf:
Then he closed with a reminder of why he wrote this particular chapter, "May the God of peace be with you." Just remember, God can bring peace and harmony regardless of the depth of division that any church faces.
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