“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”
— WEB
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Translations sourced from the public-domain WEB, KJV, and ASV. See all sources.
“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”
— WEB
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”
— KJV
“Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”
— ASV
The apostle here lays down two precepts, with reasons to enforce them, showing the duty of the strong Christian to consider and condescend to the weakest. I. We must bear the infirmities of the weak, Rom 15:1. We all have our infirmities; but the weak are more subject to them than others - the weak in knowledge or grace, the bruised reed and the smoking flax. We must consider these; not trample upon them, but encourage them, and bear with their infirmities. If through weakness they judge and censure us, and speak evil of us, we must bear with them, pity them, and not have our affections alienated from them. Alas! it is their weakness, they cannot help it. Thus Christ bore with his weak disciples, and apologised for them. But there is more in it; we must also bear their infirmities by sympathizing with them, concerning ourselves for them, ministering strength to them, as there is occasion. This is bearing one another's burdens. II. We must not please ourselves, but our neighbour, Rom 15:1, Rom 15:2. We must deny our own humour, in consideration of our brethren's weakness and infirmity. 1. Christians must not please themselves. We must not make it our business to gratify all the little appetites and desires of our own heart; it is good for us to cross ourselves sometimes, and then we shall the better bear others crossing of us. We shall be spoiled (as Adonijah was) if we be always humoured.
— Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary (public domain)
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