— and then, that in endeavoring to accommodate ourselves to our brethren, we ought to have regard
to God, so that our object may be their edification; for the greater part cannot be pleased except
you indulge their humor; so that if you wish to be in favor with most men, their salvation must not
be so much regarded, but their folly must be flattered; nor must you look to what is expedient, but
to what they seek to their own ruin. You must not then strive to please those to whom nothing is
pleasing but evil.
3.For even Christ pleased not himself, etc. Since it is not right that a servant should refuse what
his lord has himself undertaken, it would be very strange in us to wish an exemption from the duty
of bearing the infirmities of others, to which Christ, in whom we glory as our Lord and King,
submitted himself; for he having no regard for himself, gave up himself wholly to this service. For
in him was really verified what the Prophet declares in Psalm 69:9,10: and among other things he
mentions this, that “zeal for God’s house had eaten him up,” and that “the reproaches of those who
reproached God fell on him.” By these words it is intimated, that he burned with so much fervor
for God’s glory that he was possessed by such a desire to promote his kingdom, that he forgot
himself, and was, as it were, absorbed with this one thought, and that he so devoted himself to the
Lord that he was grieved in his soul whenever he perceived his holy name exposed to the slandering
of the ungodly.^439
The second part, “the reproaches of God,” may indeed be understood in two ways, — either
that he was not less affected by the contumelies which were heaped on God, than if he himself had
endured them, — or, that he grieved not otherwise to see the wrong done to God, than if he himself
had been the cause. But if Christ reigns in us, as he must necessarily reign in his people, this feeling
is also vigorous in our hearts, so that whatever derogates from the glory of God does not otherwise
grieve us than if it was done to ourselves. Away then with those whose highest wish is to gain
honors from them who treat God’s name with all kinds of reproaches, tread Christ under foot,
contumeliously rend, and with the sword and the flame persecute his gospel. It is not indeed safe
to be so much honored by those by whom Christ is not only despised but also reproachfully treated.
Romans 15:4-6
- Quaecunque enim ante scripta sunt, in
nostram doctrinam sunt scripta, ut per patientain
et consolationem Scripturarum spem habeamus. - For whatsoever things were written
aforetime were written for our learning, that we
through patience and comfort of the scriptures
might have hope. - Deus autem patientiae et consolationis det
vobis idem mutuo cogitare secundum Christum
Iesum; - Now the God of patience and consolation
grant you to be likeminded one toward another,
according to Christ Jesus:
(^439) The intention of producing Christ’s example here is to enjoin disinterestedness. He denies himself for the sake of glorifying
God in the salvation of men: so his followers ought to show the same spirit; they ought to inconvenience themselves, and undergo
toil, trouble, suffering, and reproaches, if necessary, in order to help and assist their fellow-Christians. — Ed.