Romans 15:8-12 - The Hope of Jews and Gentiles

Romans 15:8-12 -
⁸ For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, ⁹ and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
    and sing to your name.”

¹⁰ And again it is said,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

¹¹ And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
    and let all the peoples extol him.”

¹² And again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse will come,
    even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope.”

Message: Christ is a Servant

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

What the Lord is Saying:

Paul has expressed in these verses the importance of accepting one another. This has been in his main theme since chapter 14, verse 1. Paul is speaking to a unique set of people in Rome, Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. He is helping them understand how they are supposed to be in community together, despite the fact that they have so many differences. Paul's primary admonition is one of acceptance. Paul has given reasons why we accept others:

• God accepts him (14:3)
• People are acting unto the Lord (14:6)
• We are Lord's (14:8)
• Carrying out what was given in earlier times (15:4)
• God gives us the means to be of one accord (15:5)

Spurgeon made the remark: It was to Abraham and his descendants that the promise was made that, in him, and in his seed, all the nations of the earth should be blessed. So our Lord came, as a Jew, to be "a minister of the circumcision." Let us never forget that he came to those whom we are apt to forget; and, peradventure, even to despise, "to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.'" Jesus, our Lord, became the servant of the Jews, and preached among them in fulfillment of prophecy; shall we not become the servants of others for their good? Nor did his ministry end with Israel; but we, who are Gentiles, share the blessing; therefore, like our Lord, we should seek the good of all mankind and live to bless them.

Verse 8
Christ accepted the Jews. He did not wait for them to respond, but he accepted them first, and fulfilled the words of the patriarchs. Our service is to all people. I am to be a minister to all. Paul has just said in verse 7 that I am to welcome others. And I think Paul wants to make sure that we are not thinking that there are any exceptions to this.

Verse 9-12
God made covenant with the Jews. He had mercy on the Gentiles. And Paul here offers 4 quotes:

• David praised God among the Gentiles (15:9)
• Moses exhorted the Gentiles, Rejoice . . . with His people (15:10)
• the psalmist commanded the Gentiles to praise the Lord (15:11)
• Isaiah predicted that the Gentiles will live under the rule of the Root of Jesse (the Messiah) and they will hope in Him (15:12).

- David praise God among the Gentiles
The first quote is from 2 Samuel 22:50 (Therefore will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing to thy name.) and Psalm 18:49 (Therefore will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing to thy name.), from the Septuagint.

David sees that the Gentiles are to be included as God's People.

- Moses exhorted the Gentiles, Rejoice . . . with His people
Here is a quote from Deuteronomy 32:43 (Rejoice, ye heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him; rejoice ye Gentiles, with his people, and let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him). In Abraham's seed all nations will be blessed. 

- the psalmist commanded the Gentiles to praise the Lord
Psalm 117:1 (Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye peoples). The Gentiles were not an afterthought but Paul shows that God always wanted to bring the Jews and Gentiles together into one body. Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible as it has only 2 verses and yet it is quoted here. 

- Isaiah predicted that the Gentiles will live under the rule of the Root of Jesse (the Messiah) and they will hope in Him
Paul quotes from Isaiah 11:10 (And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall arise to rule over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust, and his rest shall be glorious). We spring forth from the bloodline of Jesse. Christ shall reign over Jews and Gentiles. 
 
Promise: Seek unity among all persons, grounded in the person and work of Jesus Christ.