Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 15

When we are free from scruples on any point, and feel that there are things that we may do because we are strong, yet let us not do them if by doing so we should grieve others who are weak. Let us think of their infirmities; and whatever liberty we may feel entitled to claim for ourselves, let us look at the matter from the standpoint of other people as well as from our own, that we may bear the infirmities of the weak, and not seek to please ourselves.

Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ–

Our Master, and Lord, and great Exemplar: For even Christ–

Pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

He took the most trying place in the whole field of battle; he stood where the battle was hottest. He did not seek to be among his disciples as a king is in the midst of his troops, guarded and protected in the time of strife; but he exposed himself to the fiercest part of all the conflict. What Jesus did, that is what we who are his followers should do, none of us considering ourselves and our own interests, but all of us considering our fellow believers and the cause of Christ in general.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,–

This is as if somebody had said, "Why, Paul, it was David who said what you just quoted." "Yes," he replies, "I know that I quoted David, but he spoke in his own person concerning his Lord, 'for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,'."

That we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation–

"Comfort" is really the word he used, turning into prayer the thought which had been suggested by his use of the words "patience and comfort." Now the God of patience and comfort–