Tag: grieved

Romans 14:15 – Spiritual Body Building

Posted on by Will

For if your brother is grieved because of what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.

Truth to Learn

We should all build up other members of the body of Christ.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “grieved” is the Greek word lupeō. This is the verb form of the noun lupē, meaning “sorrow.” Thus, lupeō, means “to make sad or sorrowful or to cause someone to grieve.” It is expressed here in the passive voice.

“Food” is from the Greek noun brōma, which refers to “food which is chewed such as meat or vegetables as opposed to a drink which is not chewed.”

 

Meaning Explained

Paul now turns to the Gentile converts in the Christian church in Rome. He previously warned the Jewish converts not to judge others for eating food that the Jewish converts still believed was forbidden. Now he tells those who believe all foods are permissible not to intentionally eat food that they know will grieve their brothers who think certain foods are still forbidden.

Apparently, there were those former Gentiles in the church at Rome who still held the Jewish converts in distain. Knowing that the former Jews in the church would be grieved to see them eating supposedly “forbidden” food, they intentionally ate those foods and made it known to the Jewish converts. Paul admonishes them that this is not behaving in a loving manner. In fact, the Jewish converts were behaving in a more loving manner when they were grieving for those who ate this supposed forbidden food, for it was out of love for their brothers that they were grieved. There is a roughly parallel passage to this in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians:

Food will not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we better, nor if we do not eat are we worse. But be careful lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brothers, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if meat makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (1 Corinthians 8:8-13)

If you have a conviction from God about something, don’t force that conviction on your brother or sister; instead, let God deal with them in His own manner and time. And if you know that your brother has a conviction from God about something, don’t flaunt your lack of conviction in that area in your brother’s presence. That’s just downright mean. We should be an example to our brothers and sisters to strengthen them. We should not do anything to make them weaker!

 

Application

No one in their right mind will cause harm to part of his or her own body; that would cause the whole body to suffer. Likewise, a Christian should never do anything which will cause the body of Christ to suffer. If we truly love one another, we will do all we can to build up the body of Christ.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 1:6 – Rejoice in Adversity

Posted on by Will

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

Truth to Learn

Even in the midst of difficult times we should be rejoicing that God has secured our salvation, forever!

 

Behind the Words

The word “rejoice” is translated from the Greek word agalliaō, which is a compound of agan, meaning “much” and a form of hallomai, meaning “to leap.” Hence, it literally means “much leaping.” By application, it refers to abundant joyful celebration. In the Greek text, this word is immediately followed by oligos, which means “much” or “greatly.”

The phrase “you have been grieved” is from the Greek word, lupeo which means “to be in distress” or “to be sad.”

“Various” is translated from poikilos, which means “variegated.” This is the word used to describe the skin of a leopard or the different colored shadings in marble. Hence, though the word “various” is an accurate translation, it refers to “various different kinds,” not just “a number of.”

The word “trials” is from the Greek word peirasmos which can mean “to entice” or “to tempt.” By implication it means temptations or adversities in general. This is different from the word translated “tested” in the following verse (dokimadzō), which means “to test or evaluate in order to ascertain value.”

 

Meaning Explained

Peter is saying, “In this new birth, which can’t be lost, and this guaranteed salvation which you have, you are greatly rejoicing …” He is not so much making a doctrinal statement as he is making a statement of fact. Apparently the people to whom he is writing had already demonstrated their rejoicing in their salvation and inheritance. And this is made even more noteworthy considering the trials that they were currently undergoing.

So what Peter is saying is that these people were rejoicing in the assurances they have from God in spite of the fact that they were currently undergoing distress or sadness from the temptations and adversities that they were suffering. It is clear from the next verse that they were not sad as a result of being tempted to do evil. They were saddened by the pain of the adversity they were undergoing, even though this adversity was causing their faith to be strengthened.

As Paul said:

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (2 Corinthians 4:17)

 

Application

We all undergo adversities and trials in our Christian walk. One of the keys to peace and happiness is the realization that these are only temporary and they may result in even greater glory as we allow them to refine our faith and give the glory to God alone.

Are you undergoing adversities which are producing sadness in your life? Peter says, “Rejoice!”

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 14:15 – Spiritual Body Building

Posted on by Will

Romans 14:15 – Spiritual Body Building

Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.

Truth to Learn

We should all build up other members of the body of Christ.

Behind the Words

The word translated “grieved” is the Greek word lupeō. This is the verb form of the noun lupē, meaning “sorrow.” Thus, lupeō, means “to be made sad or sorrowful or to be made to grieve.”

“Food” is from the Greek noun brōma, which refers to “food which is chewed such as meat or vegetables as opposed to a drink which is not chewed.”

Meaning Explained

Paul now turns to the Gentile converts in the Christian church in Rome. He previously warned the Jewish converts not to judge others for eating food that the Jewish converts still believed was forbidden. Now he tells those who believe all foods are permissible not to intentionally eat food that they know will grieve their brothers who think certain foods are still forbidden.

Apparently, there were those former Gentiles in the church at Rome who still held the Jewish converts in distain. Knowing that the former Jews in the church would be grieved to see them eating supposedly “forbidden” food, they intentionally ate those foods and made it known to the Jewish converts. Paul admonishes them that this is not behaving in a loving manner. In fact, the Jewish converts were behaving in a more loving manner when they were grieving for those who ate this supposed forbidden food, for it was out of love for their brothers that they were grieved. There is a roughly parallel passage to this in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians:

But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (1Corinthians 8:8-13)

If you have a conviction from God about something, don’t force that conviction on your brother; instead, let God deal with your brother in His own manner and time. And if you know that your brother has a conviction from God about something, don’t flaunt your lack of conviction in that area in your brother’s presence. That’s just downright mean. We should be an example to our brothers and sisters to strengthen them. We should not do anything to make them weaker!

Application

No one in their right mind will cause harm to part of his or her own body; that would cause the whole body to suffer. Likewise, a Christian should never do anything which will cause the body of Christ to suffer. If we truly love one another, we will do all we can to build up the body of Christ.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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