Romans 15:3, Even Christ Pleased Not Himself

Romans 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Our Lord Jesus Christ pleased the Father in all His ways. This is attested in the gospels. Jesus declared in  John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. Indeed, He sets the example. We are to live unto God, to please Him in all our ways.

Jesus exhorts His disciples to live in obedience to God’s Word. His will is revealed to us in His Word – John 15:7-8 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

God is glorified in our obedience. Our lives become fruitful for the Lord and there are eternal rewards awaiting the faithful believer when Christ returns to receive His Church.

The Apostle Paul quoted Psalm 69:9, “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” Hendriksen said well, “The main lesson Paul is conveying is this: If Christ, the Holy One, was willing to take upon himself so much suffering, in the form of insults hurled at Him by His enemies, then should not we be willing to sacrifice just a little eating-and-drinking pleasure for the sake of our fellow-believers?”

Indeed, may we live to please God by being willing to do good to our brethren. Amen.