Romans 15:1-7 - Edification and Harmony

Paul continued discussing the believers' responsibilities to each other.

Romans 15:1-7 (KJV)
¹ We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
² Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
³ For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
⁴ For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
⁵ Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
⁶ That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
⁷ Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Paul summarized in verse 1. Believers, who are strong in faith, are to bear with the weaker in faith. They are not to choose their behaviors based on their own desires, but on the needs of the weaker. They are to please their neighbors based on what will edify (verse 2). Yeshua the Messiah was the ultimate example for believers. He didn't please Himself, but rather He took on Himself the reproaches that the rest of the world deserved (verse 3). Paul quoted from Psalms.

Psalm 69:9 (KJV)
⁹ For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

For, those things that were written before in Scripture were written for the present time believers' learning, that through patience and the comfort of the Scriptures, they might have hope of the future final salvation (verse 4). Christians have a tendency to focus solely on the New Testament, much to their detriment. Yet, Paul demonstrated by all his many quotes, that the foundation of faith cannot exist apart from the Old Testament. It is the believer's comfort and source of understanding of eternal salvation.

Paul then blessed his readers (verse 5). May the God of patience and consolation grant the believers to be like minded with one another according to Messiah Yeshua, that with one mind and one mouth, they will glorify God, the Father of our Lord, Messiah Yeshua (verse 6). Therefore, may they receive one another as Messiah has received them to the glory of God (verse 7).

Paul's prayer was not only for the believers of his day, but for those in our day as well! May we live in harmony with fellow believers, practicing those things that will edify each other. May we, with patience and the comfort of the entire Bible, look forward to our final salvation. And may all our actions, thoughts and words, glorify God!