Home | What's New |
Mission Statement | Location|
Services | Calendar |
Lessons |
Committees | Activities |
Search | Links
Music, Search By: Hymnal / By Tune
/ Music Book |
Scott's Reference Library
Romans 12:9 through Romans 12:21 (NIV)
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be
devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with
God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those
who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do
not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not
be conceited.
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes
of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace
with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s
wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
20On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 9-16
The professed love of Christians to each other should be sincere, free from
deceit, and unmeaning and deceitful compliments. Depending on Divine grace, they
must detest and dread all evil, and love and delight in whatever is kind and
useful. We must not only do that which is good, but we must cleave to it. All
our duty towards one another is summed up in one word, love. This denotes the
love of parents to their children; which is more tender and natural than any
other; unforced, unconstrained. And love to God and man, with zeal for the
gospel, will make the wise Christian diligent in all his wordly business, and in
gaining superior skill. God must be served with the spirit, under the influences
of the Holy Spirit. He is honoured by our hope and trust in him, especially when
we rejoice in that hope. He is served, not only by working for him, but by
sitting still quietly, when he calls us to suffer. Patience for God’s sake, is
true piety. Those that rejoice in hope, are likely to be patient in tribulation.
We should not be cold in the duty of prayer, nor soon weary of it. Not only must
there be kindness to friends and brethren, but Christians must not harbour anger
against enemies. It is but mock love, which rests in words of kindness, while
our brethren need real supplies, and it is in our power to furnish them. Be
ready to entertain those who do good: as there is occasion, we must welcome
strangers. Bless, and curse not. It means thorough good will; not, bless them
when at prayer, and curse them at other times; but bless them always, and curse
not at all. True Christian love will make us take part in the sorrows and joys
of each other. Labour as much as you can to agree in the same spiritual truths;
and when you come short of that, yet agree in affection. Look upon worldly pomp
and dignity with holy contempt. Do not mind it; be not in love with it. Be
reconciled to the place God in his providence puts you in, whatever it be.
Nothing is below us, but sin. We shall never find in our hearts to condescend to
others, while we indulge conceit of ourselves; therefore that must be mortified.
VERSES 17-21
Since men became enemies to God, they have been very ready to be enemies one to
another. And those that embrace religion, must expect to meet with enemies in a
world whose smiles seldom agree with Christ’s. Recompense to no man evil for
evil. That is a brutish recompence, befitting only animals, which are not
conscious of any being above them, or of any existence hereafter. And not only
do, but study and take care to do, that which is amiable and creditable, and
recommends religion to all with whom you converse. Study the things that make
for peace; if it be possible, without offending God and wounding conscience.
Avenge not yourselves. This is a hard lesson to corrupt nature, therefore a
remedy against it is added. Give place unto wrath. When a man’s passion is up,
and the stream is strong, let it pass off; lest it be made to rage the more
against us. The line of our duty is clearly marked out, and if our enemies are
not melted by persevering kindness, we are not to seek vengeance; they will be
consumed by the fiery wrath of that God to whom vengeance belongeth. The last
verse suggests what is not easily understood by the world; that in all strife
and contention, those that revenge are conquered, and those that forgive are
conquerors. Be not overcome of evil. Learn to defeat ill designs against you,
either to change them, or to preserve your own peace. He that has this rule over
his spirit, is better than the mighty. God’s children may be asked whether it is
not more sweet unto them than all earthly good, that God so enables them by his
Spirit, thus to feel and act.