Rom. 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
This is an emphatic statement by Paul that God has not disowned the nation of Israel. That would be a horrible thing to contemplate for Paul because he is an Israelite descended from Abraham through the tribe of Benjamin.
In Paul’s day the Jews were still well aware of their genealogy. When Titus conquered Jerusalem and burned the temple in 70 AD, all the genealogical records were destroyed. Today, no Israeli can prove their lineage (unless there has been a personal written record maintained for a given family). This provides another piece of evidence regarding Jesus as the Messiah. It was prophesied that He would be a descendant of David, of the tribe of Judah, born in Bethlehem. No one coming on the scene these days could establish that proof.
Rom. 11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
Rom. 11:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
Rom. 11:4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
When Israel rebelled against God, it wasn’t something that caught Him off guard or surprised Him; He knew how they would respond to Him from the moment of creation, from the time He singled out Abraham. Elias is the Greek for Elijah. When Jezebel threatened to kill Elijah after he had demonstrated God’s power over the prophets of Baal, that mighty man of God became fearful and despairing. (1Kings 18-19) He was weary in the battle and decided that he was fighting a losing battle and was the only one left that was faithful to God, but God assured him that there were 7,000 others who had remained faithful.
The key phrase in this section seems to be “I have reserved to myself.” God is ever interacting with man to ensure that His will be done. My simple mind tells me that the sovereign God who chose to give man a will, the power to make choices, through His foreknowledge ensured that these 7,000 men were living at that time to accomplish His purpose. To me that is an awesome demonstration of the power and authority of God.
Rom. 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Paul makes application of that truth to the present. Just as surely as those 7,000 Israeli’s were the remnant of Elijah’s day, God had preserved a remnant during Paul’s day that was following Him through faith in His Son Jesus. God’s provision for His elect is and always has been an act of His grace—divine favor, kindness, and mercy.
God has promised that there would always be a remnant preserved in Israel.
Isaiah 10:20-22 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return:
Jeremiah 23:2-4 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
Ezekiel 6:-87 And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD. Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.
Micah 2:12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.
Zechariah 8:12-13 For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.
Rom. 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Grace and works are like oil and water; they don’t mix. Grace is a work of God. If man could provide for himself through works, then God’s grace would be unnecessary. God by grace provides for people of faith in ways that we cannot provide for ourselves. As I looked for connections with grace and faith, I was pointed to the following references:
Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace….
Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand….
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith….
God’s grace in our lives is directly connected to our faith. Verse 5 above says that the election of the remnant is according to grace. Those who had not bowed the knee to Baal in Elijah’s day pictured the remnant of faith, the elect, the chosen. It would seem to me that God’s sovereign choice to give man a will in no way contradicts election by faith through grace. Grace is His divine influence on the heart; faith is man’s response to that influence; elect is the privileged designation of the person who would choose faith as known by God before the foundation of the world.
Rom. 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Rom. 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
What does the truth stated above lead us to conclude? The nation of Israel as a whole had been seeking God’s approval through a legalistic system of works. Only those who accepted salvation through God’s gift of His Son Jesus in faith had attained that position of approval. Those who rejected Him were spiritually blind and deaf; it’s like they were sleepwalking through a life filled with ritual and actions that were performed without a heart connection to God. God’s response—He gave them over to pride in their works.
Rom. 11:9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
Rom. 11:10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
These words are from Psalm 69. David is praying for God to intercede for him against his enemies. This particular section of the Psalm appears to have prophetic application as well to the Messiah.
Psalm 69:19-23 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee. Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
Verse 22 of the Psalm defines the table as “welfare,” which Webster defines as “well-doing or well-being in any respect; the enjoyment of health and the common blessings of life; exemption from any evil or calamity; prosperity; happiness.” The Psalmist seems to be asking for the appearance of blessing and approval to serve as a deception to his enemies’ and the Messiah’s enemies’ (whom he considers one and the same) understanding of their true condition. The Psalmist was asking for this to be a permanent condition of the enemies of God. It seems to me that would be a classification known only to God. Paul tells us in Timothy that he obtained mercy because he acted ignorantly in unbelief.
1Timothy 1:12-13 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
He was not an enemy of God; he accepted the truth when Christ confronted him. Others rejected Christ knowingly and willingly, such as the Pharisees of Jesus’ day who refused to acknowledge the truth He presented to them. They were enemies of God who were more concerned about their pride and reputation before men than before God.
Rom. 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
To stumble implies a misstep, an error, a mistake; fall implies failure, “beyond recovery” (as the NIV puts it). Paul’s question then, “Have the Israelites put themselves in a place of total rejection by God?” His answer—an emphatic NO!
The second “fall” in the verse is a different Greek word that references “a side-slip (lapse or deviation), i.e., (unintentional) error or (willful) transgression.” Because of the choice of the Jews to deviate from the course God had set for them and willfully reject the Son of God, the Gentiles are coming to saving faith in Jesus. The Jews were meant to draw the Gentiles to God through their testimony of the blessings associated with submitting in obedience and faith to God. Because they rejected God by rejecting Jesus, God is revealing Himself through the Gentile body of believers to provoke the Jewish people to jealousy—to make them want the salvation that was first presented to them.
I thought the Greek for “provoke them” was interesting; it stated “through the idea of a baffling wind (backward).” In other words, just opposite of God’s original intention. Again, this was not a surprise to YHWH; He knew it before the foundation of the world and provided for that knowledge in His plan of salvation. Webster defines jealousy as “earnest concern or solicitude; painful apprehension of rivalship in cases nearly affecting one’s happiness; painful suspicion of the faithfulness of husband, wife, or lover.” That poses an interesting perspective. The Jews prided themselves on being God’s chosen people; now they would have cause to question whether God had decided to bestow His favor on another group of people. Hopefully, that concern would translate into a response of repentance and faith. The Gentiles were responding with hearts of gratitude for their salvation; they had no reason to be jealous. Israel, on the other hand, would see that the Gentiles had appeared to replace them in the eyes of God and would desire to have their position restored.
Rom. 11:12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
I think the wording of the CJB is very clear for this verse.
Moreover, if their stumbling is bringing riches to the world — that is, if Isra’el’s being placed temporarily in a condition less favored than that of the Gentiles is bringing riches to the latter — how much greater riches will Isra’el in its fullness bring them!
Paul is pointing to the good that has come out of something bad. It is not good that the Jewish people rejected God’s Son, but something good did come of it. The church was born and resulted in a body of believers that were bold in their faith and committed to sharing the gospel message. The church was/is rich in the spiritual provision of God through the Holy Spirit. The inclusion of believing Israel into the body of believers only serves to make that body stronger and more powerful in its influence on the unsaved world.
Thinking—Israel as a whole will not really turn to God in faith until after the “church” has been removed. Though God has provided for our every need through the ministry of the Holy Spirit now, the day is coming when the Messiah, Jesus, will come to rule on His throne personally in His kingdom. That day will not come until the nation of Israel as a whole desires Him to return. So, when Israel turns to God in true faith in His Son. Jesus will return as King of kings; and the blessings of the kingdom age will be ushered in! “How much more their fullness” is a reference to the Messianic Kingdom of 1000 years on planet earth.
Rom. 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Rom. 11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
It is logical to assume that the majority of believers at Rome were Gentiles. Paul loved the Jewish people, but was also aware that his ministry to the Gentiles was a privilege and of great importance in getting out the gospel truth. He is hoping that his ministry to the Gentiles will have an impact on many of his Jewish brethren. He wants them to recognize the mighty work that God is doing on behalf of the Gentile believers, so that they will desire to experience the same. Paul wasn’t thinking years and years down the road; he was concerned about the Jews of his day.
Rom. 11:15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
The Jews’ rejection of Jesus caused God to set them aside for the time being and empower and bless a people of faith from among the Gentile nations. The message of salvation was taken all over planet earth. When Israel turns back to God through faith in His Son, He will gladly restore them to fellowship and their place of favor among the nations. This pictures resurrection from the dead. A nation that has been dead in trespasses and sin will find new life in Christ.
Rom. 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Rom. 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Rom. 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
“if the firstfruit be holy” – The firstfruits are the first crops harvested. In my mind Jesus is the holy firstfruit of all people of faith with distinct relationship to all Jewish people of faith since He is a descendant of Abraham through Jacob through Judah through David. The context of this chapter is regarding Israel’s future in relationship to God. The lump would most logically refer to the nation of Israel. Through Jesus, God imparts holiness/righteousness to people of faith (past, present and future).
Paul gives a second word picture. Christ is pictured as a root that grows into a tree with branches (the nation of Israel). Again, Christ represents the whole nation through Abraham, the Father of the nation of Israel. Remember that Paul is addressing a Gentile body of believers in Rome. He compares those of the nation of Israel who rebelled against God and rejected Him in favor of idols and rejected His Son whom He sent to redeem them to branches that were broken off (because he is only referencing some of the branches). The Gentile believers who accepted Christ as Savior, the church, are pictured as a wild olive tree grafted in to the original tree to become part of the whole. Both the original branches of the tree and the branches that were grafted in are sustained by the root (Christ) and its oil (from the Greek for “fatness”). Oil often represents the Holy Spirit in Scripture (anointing for special service, used to bring light, comfort, healing, and refreshment).
Paul now warns the Gentiles not to “boast against the branches.” Don’t rejoice or brag as though you have replaced the original branches. You aren’t the one supporting the root of the tree; the root is supporting you. The root is Christ as representative of the nation of Israel through Abraham.
Rom. 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
In this verse, Paul seems to be anticipating an argument to his conclusion. The Gentile church will reason, “The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.” The key is in verse 17. Some of the branches were broken off—not all. You were grafted in among them to partake of the root and oil with them (as companions or co-participants from the Greek).
Rom. 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom. 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
The branches that were broken off were broken off because of unbelief. The Gentile believers are accepted as branches of the original tree because of their faith. Israel was set apart as a nation of faith before the nations. The nation as a whole did not fulfill their purpose; but there were many Jewish people of faith throughout their history. This should serve as a notice of warning, not as a reason to boast. The church should not have an attitude of arrogance, but should rather have an attitude of reverential fear. If God discarded some of the original branches because of unbelief, you can be sure that He would do the same to you. (I have to remind myself that every body of believers includes impostors. Paul is obviously not threatening true men of faith, but is exhorting the body of believers to examine themselves as to whether their faith is real. Does their life prove their faith?)
Rom. 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
God’s severity is demonstrated by cutting off His relationship with people of unbelief. The Greek for severity references “decisiveness” and is from a root that means “to cut.”
God’s goodness is shown by His acceptance and provision for people of faith. I thought it was interesting that the Greek for goodness included “usefulness, employed” as well as graciousness and kindness; in fact, the root word stated “to furnish what is needed.” God is useful to us; He is employed in providing our every need.
Again, continuance/endurance is the key proof of true faith.
1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
You may mess up a million times; but as long as you are repentant and ever seeking Him in faith, you will never be cut off.
Rom. 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
God sovereignly determines when to cut a branch off, and also determines when to graft a branch in. Part of the difficulty of this chapter is determining when the reference is to a group (i.e., the nation of Israel or the church) or an individual. This verse is referencing the nation of Israel as a whole. (Note the use of the words they and them.) When Israel as a nation turns back to God in faith and repentance, God will restore them to fellowship and their favored position among the nations; He will graft them back in to the tree.
Rom. 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
I liked the phrasing of the NLT for this verse: For if God was willing to take you who were, by nature, branches from a wild olive tree and graft you into his own good tree—a very unusual thing to do—he will be far more eager to graft the Jews back into the tree where they belong.
The Gentile believers, the church, gained the favored position as God’s chosen people in an unusual way. Not many horticulturists would choose to graft from a wild plant to a cultured plant. Grafting is usually done to make a plant more desirable, stronger, or to provide variety; it would be done using strong, healthy, desirable plants—not wild ones. Although unusual as well, it would be more natural to graft original branches back in to the tree than to use wild branches.
Rom. 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
“I would not….be ignorant” – Paul uses this type of terminology in his letters when he is making an important point.
“mystery” = revelation of something previously unknown (It has always been a part of God’s plan, but He hasn’t revealed it to man before now.)
the mystery = “that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.”
The blindness is spiritual blindness. “The fullness of the Gentiles” is a reference to the completed body of believers composed mainly of the Gentiles, the church; just as the “fullness” referenced in verse 12 speaks of the whole of the nation of Israel turning back to God in faith.
“in part” – In other words, there are still Jewish people coming to faith in God through Jesus as part of the church, just as there will continue to be Gentile believers coming to faith once God’s focus returns to Israel. Turning to God in faith has always been an option for every man and woman born on planet earth.
“lest ye be wise in your own conceits” – The CJB puts it this way, “so that you won’t imagine you know more than you actually do.”
I found this quote from Jack Kelley that was enlightening on the phrase “fullness of the Gentiles be come in.”
“The Greek word translated "full number" is a nautical term and refers to the number of crewmen necessary for a ship to set sail. And the phrase "come in" means to arrive at a destination. Once the required complement of soldiers and sailors was aboard, the ship could leave the harbor and set sail for its destination. So it is with the Church. Once the number required to make up its membership is reached the Church will depart for its destination in Heaven, and God will open the eyes and soften the hearts of His people Israel.”
Rom. 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom. 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Instead of being a nation composed of men of faith and those who have rebelled against God, Israel will become a nation composed only of men of faith.
“as it is written” – Where? This appears to be a quote from Isaiah 59; it was the closest I could find by searching with different word combinations.
Isaiah 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
In truth the Redeemer/Deliverer (Messiah Jesus) came out of Sion/Jerusalem (where He was crucified, buried and resurrected) and He is the one that will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. In Isaiah, the emphasis is on the Redeemer returning to Zion and to His people (Israel) who have turned to Him in repentance and faith.
Matthew 23:37-39 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
The next verse in Isaiah connects with verse 27.
Isaiah 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
This is the new covenant that God will establish with His people; it is unconditional and will become effective once they have responded to Him in faith and He returns to Zion as the King. He will give them His Holy Spirit, just as He has believers in the church age. The power of the Spirit at work in their lives individually and the nation as a whole will secure their position of restoration and deliverance. God promises that from the beginning of the Messianic Kingdom, every descendant of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, every Jewish person will treasure the word of the Lord and the ministry of the Spirit in their midst—forever, time without end.
Rom. 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
The NLT wording is more easily understood.
Many of the Jews are now enemies of the Good News. But this has been to your benefit, for God has given His gifts to you Gentiles. Yet the Jews are still His chosen people because of his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Rom. 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
In other words God doesn’t change His mind regarding the gifts He gives and the invitations He issues. Once you receive a gift from God, it is yours. Once an invitation is accepted, He won’t rescind the offer. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob accepted God’s call. (Note: Once Abraham responded to God’s call, His invitation to follow Him in faith, God’s commitment to Abraham was sure.) Their descendants ended up behaving wickedly, but God didn’t renege on His promise to Abraham.
The culture of today, at least in America, has a hard time understanding this type of integrity. Our society is full of loopholes to contracts; divorce is a quickie process in many instances; a man’s word is certainly not the binding factor it once was. Man’s tendency is always to justify his actions and to view himself from the most favorable position possible. I wonder if this is part of why certain sections of the “church” have twisted the scripture to support the idea of “replacement theology”—the belief that the church has replaced Israel, the Jewish people, in God’s economy permanently.
Rom. 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom. 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
The first thought that crossed my mind as I read these verses was that God is no respecter of persons. He always acts according to His unchanging character. He set a plan in motion for the nation of Israel. Along with His plan He provided certain guidelines to ensure their blessings. Disobedience and rebellion would result in their being cursed according to His word. These guidelines were all clearly set before the people by Moses. Since Israel chose to rebel against God and reject Him (as a nation), God chose to set them aside for a while and work through the Gentile nations in an elect group of people of faith known as the “church.” This was an act of mercy by God. This act of mercy would spill over to the people of Israel as they responded to God’s provocation (cf v11), their desire to regain favored status before God.
The facts fall out as follows:
Israel established in favored position with God through faith; the Gentiles are in unbelief.
Israel rejects God; God in mercy turns to the Gentiles to establish a people of faith to assume the position rejected by Israel.
Israel is provoked to jealousy by the Gentiles, and returns to God in faith and repentance; they are restored to favored position.
All dealings of God with both groups are according to His mercy.
Israel’s purpose in God’s plan was to reveal God to the nations and to be examples that would cause men to turn from their wicked ways and to God in faith. When Israel rejected God, He had to establish another people of faith to continue to fulfill His purpose. In the end, God’s plan will have been accomplished in spite of the failures of His chosen people. The fact that Israel returns to God in faith and is restored to favored status in no way takes away from the blessings and privileges that He has given the church (cf v29). It is a result of God working to ensure that His covenant with Abraham is fulfilled to the last detail.
Rom. 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
“concluded” = to shut together, i.e. include or (figuratively) embrace in a common subjection to…
Galatians 3:22 makes it clear how that mercy was shown—through the gift of Jesus.
Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Based on the earlier chapters in this book, we know that all men are sinners (cf 3:23). When God looked down at man, he saw His favored creation bound together in sin. His response was to show mercy and provide a way to deliver them from that bondage. That plan had to answer to God’s character in every aspect. There had to be a man without blemish or sin willing to sacrifice himself on behalf of his fellowman. The only solution was for God to send His only Son, Jesus, to become a man. He was not of the seed of Adam, so He did not have a sin nature. He became the new Adam. He lived the type of life that God had created Adam to live. He came in willing obedience to His Father. The Father gave proof of His acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice by raising Him from the dead. Only those men who acknowledge their need for His sacrifice and willingly accept His provision as a gift of God in faith will benefit from that mercy.
Rom. 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Depth has a reference to profundity and extent; Webster defines profound as “reaching to the bottom of a matter.” Riches refer to wealth and abundance. The two things being referenced—God’s wisdom and His knowledge. Wisdom is the capacity to make the best use of knowledge with discernment, judgment and skill (from Webster). Knowledge is a “clear perception of fact, truth or duty.” Paul is saying that God knows all that there is to know and has the capacity to put that knowledge to the greatest use for good.
The Greek for unsearchable stated “inscrutable,” which Webster defined as “incapable of being searched into and understood by inquiry or study; impossible or difficult to be explained or accounted for satisfactorily….” The Greek for judgments references making decisions—for ways references “a road, a mode or means.” In other words, we are not capable of understanding why He makes the decisions He makes and does things the way He does them—unless He so chooses to make us understand. This verse immediately brings to mind a couple of my favorite verses in Isaiah.
Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Rom. 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
The first half of verse 34 made me think of a verse from my study in 1Corinthians.
1Corinthians 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
The second half reminded me of a verse in my study of Isaiah.
Isaiah 40:13-14 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
In his letter to the Corinthians the answer is clear that only the Spirit of God knows the mind of God. The rhetorical questions in Isaiah as well as the last half of verse 34 have only one implied answer—No one.
Rom. 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Another rhetorical question with the same implied answer—No one. God is the Creator of all things. Everything man has (including his abilities) is a gift from his Creator. There is nothing we can give to Him that we have not first received from Him.
Rom. 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
“of” = denotes origin
“through” = denoting the channel of an act, the causal agent
“to” = of place, time or purpose
God is the Creator and the provider of all things according to His purpose. He only is worthy of glory (praise, honor, worship). Amen = the exclamation point of that truth.
Rom. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
“beseech” = implore, to ask or entreat with urgency
“present” = to stand beside, to exhibit….yield
“acceptable” = fully agreeable, well pleasing
“reasonable” – rational, logical
“service” = to minister to God, serve, worship
Paul introduces this section in a posture of urgency; it is instruction of the highest priority regarding how we are to live for God in this present life.
“therefore” – I’ve always been taught that when you come to this word you establish what it is “there for.” Personally, I think he is referencing all that has been established in the previous portion of this letter—remembering that he is addressing professing believers (“brethren”). We are all sinners, saved by grace, according to the love and mercy of God through the willing sacrifice of the Son. We all, whether Jew or Gentile, are part of the same family with the same mandate to testify of this good news to others and to live our lives according to God’s revealed will in unity of spirit.
Paul is pleading with the people based on their recognition of God’s proven mercy and compassion for them. In light of all that He has done on our behalf, the only logical response from the believer should be to yield your body a “living sacrifice” to God. I chose the word yield from the meanings for present, but I also was hit by the phrase “to exhibit.” When we are yielded to God, it will produce visible results in our lives that can be seen by others. “Living sacrifice” made me think of the term “die daily” that Paul uses in his letter to Corinthians.
1Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
This is obviously referencing a frame of mind, a mindset, an attitude that affects the choices we make, the actions we take, the words we say, etc. When we respond to God in this way, our life will be holy and pleasing to God; we will be living in agreement with His revealed will. The word worship jumped out at me from the Greek for service. When we are living our lives yielded and in agreement with His will, it is an act of worship before God; it’s our opportunity to give back to Him in the only way available to us in gratitude for the amazing love He has shown us.
“your bodies” – As I continued to look at this verse, I realized that this phrase deserved attention. Much of his address in this letter has been regarding our spirit. As Paul so wonderfully expressed in chapter 7, it is the discipline of the body that is the problem. The flesh exerts a powerful force in our lives. The more we can discipline our body to act in concert with the desire of our inner man to serve God totally, the more powerful will be our testimony to all—both believers and unbelievers.
Rom. 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
“conformed” = to fashion alike; from a root that means “denoting union”
Not only is the believer to present himself a living sacrifice, he is not to live in a way that is in harmony with the world. To live in agreement or harmony with God is to be at enmity (a state of opposition) with the world. James affirms this truth in his epistle.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
The Greek for transform includes “metamorphose, change,” a change from the inside that’s seen on the outside. This indicates that we are changing from a way of life that was in agreement with worldly dictates and are choosing to adopt a new way of life that is in agreement with God’s will. How does that transformation take place? “By the renewing of your mind.”
“renew” = Webster: “to make new again, to restore to freshness, to perfection, give new life to”
Obviously, we can’t accomplish that change in our own strength. It is because God has made us a new creation in faith that we are empowered by the Holy Spirit with the ability to use our intellect and understanding (from the Greek for mind) to make choices according to God’s will rather than yielding to the desires of the flesh.
“prove” = test, approve, discern, examine
The word discern is the one that jumps out to me. When we are yielded to God in obedience to His word, it stands to reason that we will more easily be able to discern His particular will or purpose for our life. The more our minds are transformed into thinking in agreement with God, the more naturally we will discern His will. As I continue to look at these words, the thought came to mind that the more we are yielded to Him and transformed into thinking in agreement with Him, we will be able to examine and test His promises and discover more about His character and prove His truth which will in turn increase our faith.
Paul describes God’s will for the life of the believer as:
Good – of benefit, from a root that means “beautiful, valuable, worthy”
Acceptable – fully agreeable, well pleasing
Perfect – complete (free from deficiency)
Rom. 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Paul’s message is a result of grace, “the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life.” It’s the wisdom of God, not the wisdom of Paul.
Paul’s warning in this verse—that the believer not think of himself as “better” when compared to any other believer. I really liked the CJB translation for this verse.
For I am telling every single one of you, through the grace that has been given to me, not to have exaggerated ideas about your own importance. Instead, develop a sober estimate of yourself based on the standard which God has given to each of you, namely, trust.
I believe every believer starts with a “measure of faith.” It is according to how we respond to that measure that determines how much our faith increases. The Greek for faith references “persuasion, moral conviction, assurance.” Jesus pointed out examples of weak faith and strong faith or little faith and more faith. The Roman centurion was acknowledged to be a man of great faith (Luke 7:1-9), while Jesus’ own disciples were often described as having little faith.
Rom. 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Rom. 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
One of the main reasons that a believer can become prideful or arrogant is because of the office (function, work) to which God has appointed one to serve. Obviously, there are many types of work necessary for the church, the body of Christ, to function effectively. Not everyone can be in leadership positions (those most susceptible to pride); there have to be people in support positions of all types. Because we form one body in Christ (a unified whole), each person’s function has an impact on the health of the whole body. In other words, everything we do as believers has a direct impact on the effectiveness of the ministry of the church as a whole and on the effectiveness of the message we declare.
Rom. 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Rom. 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Rom. 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
“gifts” = (divine) gratuity, (spiritual) endowment, miraculous faculty
“grace” = divine influence on heart and its reflection in the life
When I look at the Greek for gifts, it is clear that it is a reference to a God-given ability “according to grace.” The wording allows for more than one gift per believer. Paul goes on to identify seven different gifts in this section.
Prophecy = a foreteller or forthteller, a speaker inspired by God
Ministry = attendance (as a servant)
Teaching = to teach (Webster: impart knowledge)
Exhortation = to call near, invite, comfort, pray
Giving = to give over, share
Ruling = to stand before, to practice, preside, be over
Mercy = compassionate (Webster: suffering with another, commiseration)
“inspire” – Webster: Moved or animated by, or as by, a supernatural influence; affected by divine inspiration; Communicated or given as by supernatural or divine inspiration; having divine authority…
It seems to me that “according to the proportion of faith” is applicable to the statement about each gift. The Greek for proportion did not enlighten further, so, as I often do, I went to Webster.
“proportion” - Harmonic relation between parts, or between different things of the same kind; symmetrical arrangement or adjustment; symmetry
“symmetry” - A due proportion of the several parts of a body to each other; adaptation of the form or dimensions of the several parts of a thing to each other; the union and conformity of the members of a work to the whole.
It would seem to me that God is distributing gifts to the members of the body through the Holy Spirit in a manner so as to produce harmony and facilitate the unified function of the whole. The purpose of the gifts of God is to edify (build, instruct, improve) the church.
1Corinthians 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
Ephesians 4:11-12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Perfecting the saints is a reference to repairing to make a perfect fit among the pieces of the whole—unity. The work of the ministry is a reference to service.
Though these gifts can obviously be used in sharing the gospel with the lost, the primary purpose of the gifts is for the edification of the body of believers. If the members of the church are healthy and functioning appropriately, new converts to faith will result naturally. I think one of the biggest mistakes that churches make today is giving a priority to evangelization over equipping and nurturing the body of believers. A well-equipped, well-nurtured body of believers will have a love for the lost and will want to share their faith with others. They will be the ones to bring in new converts to be equipped and nurtured to keep the cycle going.
Prophecy
Prophecy that foretells the future with 100% accuracy is only possible through the inspiration of God to an individual. The revelation of truth and the ability to declare that truth with power according to God’s word is also an “inspired” trait. John tells us that the Holy Spirit is the one that will guide us into truth.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth….
Inspiration comes from God through the Holy Spirit to man. The inspired revelation of God’s truth is a basic need for the body of Christ, the church, to be effective. One of God’s unique characteristics is His ability to declare the future.
Isaiah 42:8-9 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Isaiah 48:5 I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.
John 13:19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
God’s ability to declare the future before it occurs is another way He so carefully encourages us to trust Him. Truth that is declared through the revelation of God to an individual will never be disproved; it will be 100% accurate. Spiritual truth as declared by man today can only be effectively proved by the word of God.
Ministry
Ministry or service is another basic gift necessary to the health of the whole body of believers. Jesus was very careful to example the importance of having a servant spirit. Ministry is a gift that can be employed in so many different ways and areas. I’m assuming that Paul listed ministry as a gift in order to differentiate between an attitude to which to aspire and an attitude in which one delights. Those with the gift of ministry love to serve; it gives them great joy and fulfillment. We are all instructed to have a servant spirit, but we are not all gifted with the gift of ministry.
Teaching
The gift of teaching is the ability to impart knowledge, to instruct others. There is not one person who has gone to school who would not be able to identify which of their teachers had the gift of teaching. There are many who occupy that position in our schools today who have no business being there. The gift of teaching referenced here is specific to the body of Christ, though I am sure that any gifted teacher in the body of Christ would be a gifted teacher in other areas as well. Even as I finished that sentence, I was almost ready to erase it. I believe the gift of teaching is related to the subject being taught. Obviously, gifted teachers in the body of Christ will have an extraordinary interest in the things of God, in His word. They will possess a unique desire to share that knowledge with others and will also possess a unique ability to explain things clearly. Those gifted in teaching will have no problem getting students interested in spiritual things to attend their teaching sessions.
Exhortation
I was surprised at the Greek for exhortation—to call near, invite, comfort, pray. The gift of exhortation seems to include the ability to identify another member of the body in need and the willingness to call them near or invite them to share your fellowship, often with the intent of giving comfort, especially through prayer. Webster describes exhortation as the use of words to incite to good deeds or conduct. Giving comfort is the ability to impart strength or hope, to encourage, to console, to relieve or to cheer. Prayer is one of the keys to accessing God’s power in one’s life to the fullest. One who has the gift of exhortation plays the role of spiritual cheerleader, counselor, and intercessor—sometimes in one of those roles and sometimes in a combination of those roles. Again, one with the gift of exhortation should not shy away from the opportunity to use that gift, but should be confident in their ability, knowing that the Spirit will empower and enlighten them as needed in the use of that gift.
Giving
The gift of giving is much needed in today’s culture of materialism and attitude that claims, “It’s all about me.” One who has the gift of giving will have the desire to meet the needs of others through the giving of their time and abilities as well as of their money and material wealth. I believe many believers with this gift have “set their affections on things above, and not on things of the earth.” (Colossians 3:2) They realize that everything they possess is theirs as a blessing from God; it all belongs to Him. Those with the gift of giving are special vessels chosen by God to be able to meet the needs of others in the body of Christ in the most practical ways. I almost skipped over the phrase “with simplicity.” This is a reference to singleness, sincerity (without dissimulation or self-seeking) and generosity (copious bestowal). Webster defines singleness as “Freedom from duplicity, or secondary and selfish ends; purity of mind or purpose…” and dissimulation as “hiding under a false appearance…hypocrisy.” In other words the person with the gift of giving will not be looking for what he/she will get in return. He will be giving freely “as unto the Lord” and not with ulterior motives. He is also willing to give or share in abundance. I think we often think of people with this gift as those who have more money and things. Frankly, those with the most giving spirits are often those who have the least but are willing to share the most. They know that God will supply their needs and that you cannot outgive the Lord.
Ruling
Ruling is basically the gift of leadership. For any organization or body to function well, there has to be a “head,” an overseer. Two things stood out to me from the Greek definition, “to stand before” and “to practice.” It implies a position that examples one who is knowledgeable and is concerned about the growth and success of the organization or body as a whole. It also implies the wisdom to utilize that knowledge in determining direction and objectives as well as the methods to be used in achieving those objectives. This particular gift is most vulnerable to the development of wrongful pride since the possessor is more often than not in a very visible position that is likely to draw the continual praise of others—especially the more successful he/she becomes. If not carefully guarded against, the one in leadership can be deceived into thinking they are personally responsible for any success achieved. The one with the gift of ruling is directed to do so with diligence—eagerness, dispatch and care. The gifted leader is eager to get to the task at hand; he wants to complete what he starts (from the meaning of “dispatch”). The gifted leader will also perform his office with “care.” He will exercise watchfulness and caution because he recognizes that he has been entrusted with great responsibility before the Lord.
I was reading A. W. Tozer’s The Dwelling Place of God and found a quote that was worth considering at this point: “Not many are selfless enough to endure honor without injury to their souls.”
Mercy
The last gift listed is that of mercy; the Greek defines mercy as compassion, which Webster defines as “suffering with another.” The one with the gift of mercy is to use his gift cheerfully. That seems to be a paradox; suffering and cheerfulness seem opposed to one another. The only way I can describe it is through what I have experienced personally. The cheer comes from the privilege and opportunity to be a ministering vessel to the one who is suffering. It allows you to look beyond the cause of the suffering and concentrate on what you can do to help alleviate the condition through personal ministration or to encourage the spirit through the word of God. Most people tend to avoid or shy away from people who are suffering because of a feeling of inadequacy. The one with the gift of mercy realizes that suffering is a condition that often results in spiritual growth and special blessing. You don’t have to shy away from it; you focus on the fact that God has a good purpose for what He allows, in the lives of fellow believers (cf Romans 8:28).
Reminder—these gifts are primarily for the benefit of the body of believers.
Rom. 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
At this point Paul starts admonishing the body of believers regarding righteous living. These are things that apply to every believer that have no connection to special gifting.
Love (affection, benevolence, charity) should be sincere and pure of heart—not hypocritical. You might be able to fool man with your actions, but you cannot fool God. He knows the thoughts and intents of your heart.
1Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts:
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
I am currently in a study of the book of 1Corinthians with a friend and am looking forward to chapter 13. Paul details what real love is all about in that chapter. In summary—It is patient, kind, not envious, not prideful, acts properly, is non-provoking, thinks well of the other person, takes pleasure in what is righteous and true, exhibits strong faith, and is dependable.
“Abhor” = detest utterly
We are to detest (denounce, condemn, hate intensely) utterly (to the full extent) that which is evil. The Greek for evil states “hurtful (in effect or influence)…”; it was specific to differentiate from evil character. That, I believe, is because this letter is to believers, those who are new creations in Christ. They need to be warned against doing things that would cause hurt or harm to others in any way. I think this is a reference to being aware of how our actions impact other members of the body of Christ, especially young believers. We should not act in any way that would cause them to stumble. It is also a directive to speak out against actions that are evil according to God’s word, e.g., lying, homosexuality, pride, disobedience (cf the list in chapter 1).
Clinging to that which is good is an attitude of desiring the things that are beneficial and exercising tenacity and determination in making them part of your way of life. It is the other side of the coin of “abhorring evil.”
Rom. 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
“kindly affectioned” = cherishing one’s kindred (physical and spiritual)
“cherish” = Webster: “treat with tenderness and affection; to nurture with care; to protect and aid.”
“honour” = value, esteem
“preferring” = to lead the way for others, show deference (respect)
After looking up all the words, I liked the way the CJB expressed it: Love each other devotedly and with brotherly love; and set examples for each other in showing respect.
Love is proved by actions—towards God and towards each other. This truth comes out more clearly in the definition for cherish. When you are expressing “brotherly love,” it will produce actions that are visible to others; it sets an example. John states it this way.
1John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Rom. 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
The word business is the same Greek word translated diligence in verse 8 above. The connection between the phrases isn’t as apparent in the KJV as it is in some of the other translations. Again, I like the CJB: Don’t be lazy when hard work is needed, but serve the Lord with spiritual fervor.
The Greek for fervent references “hot” like boiling liquids or glowing solids; this reflects great intensity. The word serving is a reference to slavery or bondage; it reflects an attitude of submission and obedience.
Rom. 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
The Greek for rejoicing was interesting—“cheerful, calmly happy.” The idea seems to be an encouragement to happily keep your focus on the future that is yours according to your confident expectation, your faith; and don’t let the stress or pressure of persecution or trouble affect that focus. Persevere in your faith. One of the best ways of persevering is through continual connection to the Lord in prayer, the Greek for which includes worship with supplication. Prayer is a time of fellowship with God. The more we place our focus on who He is and the promises of His word, the more confident we will be through our times of tribulation. The Psalms are a wonderful place to learn to pray. David was always baring his heart before the Lord in times of trouble. His psalms so often start with a heavy spirit and end up in praise and worship of God. He was aware of the importance of remembering how God has worked in our life in the past according to His word and drawing strength from that memory to encourage one’s perseverance and faith in the current time of trouble. He was quick to confess his own weakness and acknowledge God as his only dependable source of protection and provision. I am reminded again of my life verse (as I often am).
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Rom. 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
“distributing” = to share with others
“hospitality” = Webster: “The act or practice of one who is hospitable; reception and entertainment of strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and generous liberality.”
The saints references other believers in the body of Christ. When we see a need in the life of another believer, and we have the capacity to meet that need with what we have—we should be willing to share. The principle to remember is that we only have because God has given to us. He expects us to use what we have unselfishly for His glory. Sometimes that sharing involves taking one into our home for periods of time. When we share with those in need, it should never be done with the thought of what we might get in return. When we share our home it should be with kindness and generosity—not just out of a sense of duty or with impure motives.
In America in particular, even those who are “poor” have so much more than those in the rest of the world. I know I have to fight the tendency to compare what I have with others. I have absolutely no reason to complain. I may have to fight fleshly desires for the nicer “things” of this world, but I always come back to the realization that I have so much!! And, frankly, I am actually quite rich in spiritual blessings in particular. I have a loving Christian husband and children that love the Lord and want to serve Him with their lives—that alone is a wonderful treasure beyond value.
Rom. 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
This immediately brings to mind the teaching of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you….
The Greek for bless states “to speak well of,” which is just the opposite of cursing. It would seem that we should always do the opposite of what our flesh would lead us to do when responding to those who do us harm or hurt. To respond in the spirit, instead of the flesh, is to bring glory to God.
Rom. 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
It’s much easier to rejoice with someone than it is to weep with them because of the sense of helplessness that is often associated with a situation that causes weeping. When we rejoice with someone, it is an expression of happiness because they are happy without thought of jealousy or covetousness. When we weep with someone, it is an expression of the sorrow we are experiencing out of concern for their suffering with a desire to ease their pain in any way possible. I think we can all say from experience that happiness is intensified when you know that others are happy for you and that sorrow is more bearable when you know that there are others that are concerned for you and want to comfort you.
Rom. 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Being of the same mind speaks of unity and harmony. I like the CJB for the last part of this verse.
“…don’t think yourselves better than others, but make humble people your friends. Don’t be conceited.”
One of the Lord’s greatest desires is that the body of believers live in unity with one another; this is made very clear in His prayer to the Father in chapter 17 of John.
John 17:20-23 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Sadly, I believe it is the lack of unity that has most impacted the testimony of the “church” before the world. People of false religions often display more unity of spirit than do we. Twice in that prayer the Lord connects unity of spirit with the effectiveness of our witness to the unbelieving world.
Scripture is very clear regarding God’s hatred of pride.
Proverbs 6:16-17 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look….
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
We are not to regard one man over another. We are instructed to honor positions of authority as established by God, but never the man occupying the position. We are to follow the example of Jesus; He ministered to people according to their need—never according to their position in life.
The last phrase of this verse immediately brought another verse to mind.
Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
When I did a word search to find this verse, I found another verse that applies.
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes….
This is directly connected to a spirit of pride. The scripture is clear that only a fool would depend upon his own wisdom in navigating this life. The wisdom of man only leads him into evil. True wisdom comes from fearing the LORD. One who fears the Lord will submit to Him as Lord and will strive to obey Him because they recognize His awesome power and authority. This will lead one to make choices that are good and not evil.
Rom. 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Our flesh will always want to respond with evil intent to one who has done evil to us (or someone we love). Again, God is honored when we respond in the spirit—not in the flesh. We are to trust God to give vengeance where vengeance is due (see verse 19 below). Again, this brings to mind the teaching of Jesus.
Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
This is a hard truth to absorb. I liked the comments from JFB on this verse in Matthew.
“Our Lord’s own meek, yet dignified bearing, when smitten rudely on the cheek (John 18:22, 23), and not literally presenting the other, is the best comment on these words. It is the preparedness, after one indignity, not to invite but to submit meekly to another, without retaliation, which this strong language is meant to convey.”
God has established positions of authority in family, church and community to deal with wrongdoing. We are to turn to those authorities when dealing with injustice and not assume authority we don’t possess. In that process we are to trust God with the outcome—even when that outcome may not be what we think is “fair” or “appropriate.” Jesus set the perfect example, and we are to imitate that example.
“provide” = to consider in advance, i.e. look out for beforehand (actively, by way of maintenance for others; middle voice by way of circumspection for oneself)
“honest” = beautiful, good, valuable, virtuous
As usual, these definitions were not what I expected. The emphasis seems to be on our testimony before others. The Greek for provide emphasizes the importance of action with forethought and careful consideration. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will always choose to act in ways that will honor God before others. If we act in the flesh without giving the Spirit an opportunity to guide us, without careful consideration, our actions are more likely to be less than honoring to God.
Rom. 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Again, I like the wording of the CJB: If possible, and to the extent that it depends on you, live in peace with all people.
The wording definitely implies that the encouragement to live peaceably with all men will not always be possible. The emphasis is directed to the actions of the believer. There are people who will choose to be your enemy because of your stand for Christ and the truth of His word. This verse ties directly to the thoughts of the previous verse. If we are acting with circumspection and careful consideration to honor God, we have done the best we can do regarding living peaceably with others. We are not to compromise choices or actions that are based on God’s word and the leading of His Spirit just to establish peace with our fellowman. That is one of the greatest tragedies in the church (the body of professing believers) today, in my opinion. We are willing to compromise God’s truth in the name of peace and tolerance.
Rom. 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
This is one of the hardest truths for the believer to accept. Everything in our flesh screams out to take our own vengeance in matters where we have been harmed or wronged. To yield to the authority of God and trust Him to take vengeance according to His righteous judgment takes great effort of submission and trust. This does not mean that we cannot pursue lawful retribution according to the governmental authorities that God has ordained, but we cannot go beyond that. Where is it written?
Deuteronomy 32:35 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence….
This verse brings up lots of different thoughts in my mind. On the one hand, I think of the verses in Revelation where the souls under the altar want to know when vengeance will be taken on their behalf, and the Lord admonishes them to wait for His timing.
Revelation 6:10-11 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
These believers are not rebuked for their desire for vengeance; they are just to trust God’s timing as to when and how they will be avenged.
I’m also hit with the thought of “there but for the grace of God go I.” I know that God would have every sinner come to repentance and salvation—even those against whom I might desire vengeance. It would seem that the heart of Christ would be for me to put aside my wrath with the same heart—to desire the salvation of my enemy and to trust God for righteous judgment.
Rom. 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
This is a quote from the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 25:21-22 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Two translations (the NLT & CJB) indicate that these coals of fire reflect shame. There is nothing in the Greek to support that thought, but logic would support it. In today’s thinking at least, there are many who would consider it weakness and an opening for further evil treatment to respond with kindness to your enemy. (The Palestinians and enemies of Israel are prime examples of this thinking.) To others, however, this type of response would produce shame and a desire to understand the faith of one who responded to evil with good. If kindness does not produce a response of shame and repentance, we can be assured that it will produce the righteous judgment of God. It is a strong, public act of faith in God to trust Him and respond in kindness to one’s enemy.
Rom. 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
What the believer is to guard against is being overcome with evil himself. The minute we respond in the flesh to do unto others as they have done unto us, we have opened the door for wicked responses and actions in other areas of our life. We are to respond to evil with good. That means that our focus is on the Lord and that we value His honor and trust in His judgment for what He allows in our life. It could be that He allowed someone’s evil actions to touch us for the opportunity of bringing that person to a position of repentance and salvation. It could be that He is perfecting us for a special position of ministry for eternity. It may be interconnected to many things that the Lord is seeking to accomplish in the lives of those around us that we could not possibly understand. I believe it always gives an opportunity for Him to be glorified and the efforts of Satan to be defeated.