Are You Willing to Carry the Burden of Your Brother's Opinion?

Thinking about Romans 15:1-4.

Image created in Canva.

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME." For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:1-4)

The first few verses of Romans 15 are a summary of Paul’s point from Romans 14 and give another reason for Christians to do what has been taught.

The Summary of Paul’s Point from Romans 14.

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. (Romans 15:1-2)

Paul places himself among the “strong.” Remember that the “strong” refers to Christians in Rome who had no problems eating meat and were not bound by their conscience to observe “special days” (Romans 14:1-6).

Paul tells the “strong” that they must “bear with” and carry the scruples of the weak - those whose conscience would not allow them to eat meat and who felt they needed to observe the “special days.”

[The strong] are not to bombast [the weak], ridicule him, despise him or isolate him. We are to take upon us his infirmities. Paul wants to know (2 Corinthians 11:29): “Who is weak and I am not weak? Who is offended I burn not?” Was he a weak man? He took upon himself weakness with that weak one (1 Corinthians 9:22). This is how the strong bear the infirmities of the weak (in cases such as these). They don’t verbally sympathize, they take upon themselves “weakness;” they identify themselves with the weak. People observing them would think they too were “weak.” When their situation permitted them to exercise their faith they exercised their “strength.” - McGuiggan, Romans, 399

Paul held the strong responisible for unity in the church and told them to be tolerant and bear the different approach taken by the weak. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 527

The strong must bear with and help carry the burdens of the weak (Galatians 6:2). At the same time, each one - which includes both groups - needed to “please his neighbor for good, leading to edification.”

In these matters of opinion and scruple, the goal of both the “weak” and the “strong” was to act with the other’s best interest in mind (Philippians 2:1-4; Ephesians 4:1-3; 1 Corinthians 9:19; 10:24, 33).

Why Should We Do That?

For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME." For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:3-4)

What Paul has taught is challenging. In fact, it goes against what we probably think ought to happen.

So why should we do this?

Because the One we follow - Jesus Christ - did the very same thing (Paul quotes from Psalm 69:9 to support this point). He did not please Himself; He did not insist on His own preferences. But Jesus came to earth to do the Father’s will, to sacrifice Himself for us (Hebrews 10:4-10; Philippians 2:6; John 17:5).

The humble and unselfish example of Christ was being set before the Christian community as a model for their behavior. Since Christ had been willing to suffer and give up His life, so should the strong be willing to curb their liberties for the sake of their weaker brethren. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 528

The Old Testament Scriptures pointed forward to Christ and what He would do - even how He would endure “reproach” because of His humble obedience to God and self-denial. And these things were written for our learning - that we might draw hope to endure the challenges we face from our Lord.

---

The Holy Spirit through Paul points us to Jesus - but for what purpose in this passage?

To show us that Jesus carried our burdens, and endured mistreatment for bearing with the “weak.” And since Jesus did that, and we are called to be “living sacrifices to God” based on what He has done (Romans 12:1-2) - how then ought we to live?

How should we treat those who are “weak” in matters of opinion and scruple?