Romans 15:25-27 - Our Debt to the Jews

Romans 15:25-27 - ²⁵ but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. ²⁶ For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. ²⁷ Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.

Message: Our debt to the Jews
 
Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome

What the Lord is Saying:  

Background
In the last section, there was sort of a new theme that took place in the chapter. Paul is starting to conclude the book. His diatribe regarding Jews and Gentiles appears to be over. He has made his case for the Gospel and shown it is not a new message. He has helped the Christian understand that his faith is practical and it is not self-seeking, but is focused on others and this includes when we have differences with our brother, We are interested in other people's well being, not our own. And the Gospel is available to all, even the Gentiles. And once again, this is not a new message. 

Then, he mentions that his desire is not just to write letters, but it is also to visit people with the Gospel and see them face to face. He wanted to do this with the church in Rome. His ministry goal had been achieved in seeing the gospel expanded and preached, but now he had a new desire to take it to Spain, which seems to be further than he originally thought possible. And along the way he could stop and see his friends in Rome. 

But first
Even though he has told the church his ambition to come to them and go to Spain, he first mentions that he is to go to Jerusalem and serve the saints. Paul is a man of his word. 

John MacArthur comments about Jerusalem and their condition:

There was a famine throughout Palestine, and because of persecution by unbelieving Jews, many Christian men lost their jobs and many others were put in prison, making bad conditions still worse for their families. In addition to that, many foreign Jews who were visiting Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost were converted to Christ and decided to remain in the city, usually as guests of believers who lived there.

Yes, it is true that Paul's ambition was the gospel, but that doesn't mean he let other things be lessened. He saw the need in Jerusalem for encouragement that the the Christians needed in Jerusalem. Christians were there and yet receiving persecution. While others were arriving and converting to Christ.

The Giving Body of Christ
And Paul mentions how the people of Macedonia and Achaia have come to the aid of those in Jerusalem. They saw a need and desired to meet it. This is a great picture of how Christians help one another. God has given us the capacity to care for those hurting and in need. We do desire to assist people and again, make others more important than ourselves.

Paul had planted a church in Philippi, the capital of Macedonia and also the major city of Thessalonica. The capital of Achaia was Corinth. The family of God were meeting the financial needs of the poor in Jerusalem. What a beautiful picture.

The gospel is not just about meeting people's needs with the Gospel, but it is also about helping their temporal needs, which may include providing money or clothes or food. And in verse 27 is the words that these gifts were not an obligation but were voluntary: "They are pleased."

But not only did they want to give to, but the wanted in some way to pay back, for they were benefactors of the work of those in Jerusalem. And Paul makes the point that receiving spiritual blessings means we are to share in material blessings received.

There is a key word in verse 27 and it is minister. When we share what God has provided us with others, it is as if we are ministering to them, and therefore, what we are doing is glorifying God through our gift. The tithe is really to be a gift to God, benefiting a ministry, but ultimate a returning of blessing we have received to God. And in this way, when helping the poor here in this context, conveys the same type of giving a tithe. It is a service to God like prayer or teaching.

Promise: From Tabletalk on November 17, 2015, "As Gentile Christians, we owe a great debt tot he old covenant community and the Jewish people. God chose them as the first recipients of His special revelation. He saves the world through a Messiah who is of Jewish ethnicity. Jewish Apostles wrote the vast majority of the New Testament (Luke-Acts being the exception) and preached the gospel to the Gentiles. Let us not forget that debt, and let us seek to "repay" it by supporting Christian ministry to the Jewish people.