Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep.
4 sermons cite this verse
… Paul would be beheaded in the city, and the Christians would be burned at the stake by Nero. But Paul says this, bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Beloved, never avenge yourselves. No, if your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. And then I love this last line. I want you to say it with me. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. This is the Christian strategy for winning. This is the Christian strategy for defeating evil, not giving in to the evil and becoming the evil itself, but instead overcoming the evil with good. This was Paul's strategy. This was Jesus' strategy. This is the strategy that we have. Today, we are suspicious of Muslims. We just have to admit that. After 9-11, we experienced a great pain in our country, and we still haven't figured out how to get over that. …
… Bless them. Do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. Have this mindset among yourselves. Don't think high-mindedly, but associate with the lowly. Don't be wise in your own eyes. Don't return evil for evil, but give thought to do what is good in the sight of all people. If possible, as far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. And don't avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God. As it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he's thirsty, give him something to drink. Doing so, you will be heaping burning coals on his head. Don't be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. Paul, inspired by God's team spirit, his Holy Spirit. Paul speaks to his fellow Christians in ancient Rome and he speaks to us today. He speaks like a coach. And like a good coach, he wants us to win, to win the battle. …
… for we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. Last week we looked at the injunction to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep, and immediately added to it is Paul's statement that we ought to be of the same mind toward one another. Now, this is linked with that previous injunction of weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who weep. It means more than having doctrinal unity. It's important for the people of God to believe the same things, to have one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and have an agreement of our understanding of the content of our faith. That's why churches produce confessions of faith and say, this is what we as a body believe. But that intellectual assertion that we find in our creeds and doctrinal statements is only a portion of what the apostle is speaking about here. Obviously, he is concerned for church unity when he says, be of the same mind one toward another. But the idea in this text is more than the mental, more than the intellectual. Being of the same mind in this context has to do with a certain affection. There is a certain affection that we are to have with equanimity among the people of God, that we are not to reserve our love and affection for a small little in-group or clique within the church, but our affections should be distributed to the whole body of Christ. And then he says, do not set your mind on high things, …
… and given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. And do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. And if it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath. For it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. The Word of God for his people. Please be seated. Let us pray. Father, even now as we contemplate these exhortations and injunctions that come to us from the pen of your anointed apostle, we pray that we may feel the weight of these mandates, that they may grasp us in our hearts and in our souls. …