(Rom 12:1 NASB) I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Rom 12:1: In the last chapter Paul has just told us how we were grafted into the Olive Tree of Israel and those who are of the natural blood of Israel who do not believe in Messiah have been cast off. He reminded us not to boast about this, but to be humble about it. We could very well be broken off and they could be grafted back in in our place.
With that in mind, he tells us our duty. We are to present our bodies as a living and set-apart sacrifice acceptable to Elohim. This is not a new concept (Psalm 116:12-19, 50:13-15, 69:30-31).
Regardless, if we are not obedient to Him, He is not interested in any sacrifice we have to offer (Jer. 6:19-20, Psalm 40:6-10).
The point Paul is obviously making here is that we are to submit our lives to His will and to obedience to His Instructions (Torah).
(Rom 12:2 NASB) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Rom 12:2: We are not to be conformed to the sins of the world (Ex. 23:2, Lev. 18:29-30). We are to renew our minds (Ezek. 18:31-32, Psalm 51:10-12). We are to prove what the will of Elohim is. How do we prove what the will of Elohim is? We live it (Psalm 34:8). His will is that which is good and acceptable and perfect (Psalm 19:7-11). Paul reminded us that the Torah of Elohim is what is holy, righteous, good, and spiritual (Romans 7:12, 14).
(Rom 12:3 NASB) For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Rom 12:3: Paul reminds us to be humble and have sound judgment.
Paul then speaks to the group as a whole.
(Rom 12:4 NASB) For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
(Rom 12:5 NASB) so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Rom 12:5: Paul speaks to the group in Rome as one body. He is not speaking of an invisible body called “The Church.” He is speaking to them as a group. They should use their individual talents for the betterment of their assembly and for the betterment of each other.
(Rom 12:6 NASB) And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
(Rom 12:7 NASB) if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
(Rom 12:8 NASB) or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Rom 12:8: Paul tells them to use whatever talents Elohim has blessed them with. There will be differing talents and gifts just as we all differ from one another in so many different ways.
(Rom 12:9 NASB) Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
Rom 12:9: We are to show our love to one another without hypocrisy. We are to abhor evil. We are to cling to what is good. Paul already told us that Torah is what is good.
(Rom 12:10 NASB) Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
(Rom 12:11 NASB) not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
(Rom 12:12 NASB) rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
(Rom 12:13 NASB) contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
Rom 12:13: We are to be devoted to one another that are in our assembly. Give preference to others over ourselves (Psalm 41:1). When we do these things, we are serving the Master.
We are to be rejoicing with one another, help each other persevere in tribulation, and be devoted to prayer.
Paul tells us to be contributing to the needs of one another, practicing hospitality.
(Rom 12:14 NASB) Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not.
(Rom 12:15 NASB) Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
(Rom 12:16 NASB) Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Rom 12:16: If we are following His Instructions, there will be those who persecute us, even among ourselves in the assembly. Do not curse them, but bless them.
We are to be of the same mind toward one another. We are to associate with the lowly as we do with blessed ones among us. We are not to be wise in our own eyes (Prov. 3:7-8).
(Rom 12:17 NASB) Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
(Rom 12:18 NASB) If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
Rom 12:18: Paul is giving us rules on dealing with those in the world. Do not pay back evil for evil. Revenge is not ours. We are to be at peace with all men whenever that is possible (Psalm 34:14, 120:5-7, Prov. 12:20).
(Rom 12:19 NASB) Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.
(Rom 12:20 NASB) “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS UPON HIS HEAD.”
Rom 12:20: Paul already told us to embrace Torah and all of Elohim’s Word. He now uses Torah and Tanakh to tell us how to deal with our enemies. When he speaks of enemies, he is speaking of those among us who are our neighbors and brothers (Lev. 19:18, Prov. 24:17-20, 25:21-22)
(Rom 12:21 NASB) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Rom 12:21: Do not be overcome by evil. Evil is to be overcome with good. Paul is teaching them from the Tanakh (Ex. 23:4-5, Psalm 35:11-14, Prov. 24:17-18).
Patrick McGuire
Copyright 2014 Patrick McGuire and Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly All rights reserved, no portion of this Lesson may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly Fort Smith, Arkansas