MINISTER OF THE CIRCUMCISION

The potential for conflict between those categorized as ‘weak’ and others referred to as ‘strong’ in Romans chapters 14 and 15 has been noticed in our previous meditation. In these early verses of chapter 15, Paul has been supplying additional motivation for Christian harmony by an appeal to the example of Christ. He ‘pleased not Himself’, Rom. 15. 3. Both groups should lovingly receive each other as Christ also received us to the glory of God. In Romans chapter 14 the weak-strong categories mainly divided along Jew-Gentile lines, and, once again, in this letter Jew-Gentile relations come to the fore.

Paul shows painstaking impartiality in treating this sensitive subject. Having, on the one hand, identified with the strong in verse 1, he will nevertheless remind them of the vast debt they owe to the Jewish Messiah, v. 8, lest they should hastily despise their ‘weaker’ brethren. For the furtherance of the purposes of God, Jesus Christ has become (RV), and therefore remains, the servant of the circumcision, the Jewish people. Yet again, this underscores God’s faithfulness to His promises and covenants in respect to the chosen nation, Rom. 1.16; 3.1-4; 9. 4-5.

We may discern Christ’s faithful commitment to the service of the Jewish people from the following facts of His experience. His advent was in fulfillment of promise and prophecy. His ministry was largely within the confines of Israel, to whose ‘lost sheep’ He was sent, Matt. 15. 24. He is Jehovah’s perfect Servant in fulfillment of Isaiah’s ‘Servant songs’, Isa. 42,49-50, 52-53. Yet so much of that service meant the service of needy and undeserving men, for He came not to be served but to serve, and to lay down His life a ransom for many, Mark 10. 45.

For our part, in a world often dominated by pride and selfassertion we do well to remember the words of the Servant-king that he who would be great in the kingdom of God must become the servant of all, Mark 10. 44. Whilst we must be wary of becoming the slaves of men in ecclesiastical bondage, we should become the devoted servants of God and men for the gospel’s sake, 1 Cor. 7. 23; 9.19-23. The greatest service we can render is to share the good news of salvation with men and women.