1. The Ministry of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles (15:8-13)
The supreme example of ministry must always be Jesus Christ. “But I am among you as he that serveth” (Luke 22:27). He came first of all to minister to the Jews, that through Israel He might be able to minister to the Gentiles. “To the Jew first” is a principle that was followed in the earthly ministry of Christ and in the early ministry of the church.
For example, John the Baptist came to minister to the nation of Israel to prepare them for their Messiah. When Jesus began His ministry, it was only to the people of Israel. When He sent out the apostles on their first evangelistic mission, He ordered them, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not; but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:5-6). This does not mean that He ignored individual Gentiles, because He did minister to a few (Matt. 8:5-13; 15:21-28), but His major emphasis was on Israel.
After His resurrection, He commanded the apostles to remain in Jerusalem and begin their ministry there (Luke 24:44-49). The period covered by Acts 1–7 is characterized by a ministry only to Jews or Jewish proselytes. It was not until Acts 8 that the gospel went to the Samaritans; in Acts 10 it went to the Gentiles. Then, through the ministry of Paul, it went throughout the Roman Empire (Acts 13:1-3).
When He came and died, Jesus Christ confirmed the promises that God made to Abraham and the other “fathers” of the Jewish nation (see Luke 1:30-33, 46-55, 67-80). Some of these promises have already been fulfilled, but many await fulfillment when He returns to earth to establish His kingdom.
Was it selfish of God to emphasize the Jews? No, because through the Jews, He would send the good news of salvation to the Gentiles. The first Christians were Jewish believers. “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). In the Old Testament period, God chose Israel to be a minister to the Gentiles, but instead, Israel copied the idolatrous ways of the Gentiles and had to be chastened. In the New Testament period, God chose Jewish believers to carry the good news to the Gentiles, and they obeyed Him.
There is a beautiful progression in the promises that Paul quoted in Romans 15:9-12.
- The Jews glorify God among the Gentiles (Rom. 15:9, quoting Ps. 18:49).
- The Gentiles rejoice with the Jews (Rom. 15:10, quoting Deut. 32:43).
- All the Jews and Gentiles together praise God (Rom. 15:11, quoting Ps. 117:1).
- Christ shall reign over Jews and Gentiles (Rom. 15:12, quoting Isa. 11:10).
Romans 15:8 covers the period of the gospels and Acts 1–7. Romans 15:9 describes the ministry of Paul as he witnessed among the Gentiles. Romans 15:10 could be applied to the church council in Acts 15 when the Gentiles were given equal status “with his people.” Today, Jews and Gentiles in the church are praising God together.
The word trust at the end of Romans 15:12 is actually the word for hope. At one time the Gentiles were “without hope” (Eph. 2:12 niv), but now in Christ they have hope. Not only do believers have hope, but they also have joy and peace and power (Rom. 15:13). The Holy Spirit of God shares these blessings with them as they yield to Him.
Because the Jewish Christians were faithful to take the gospel to the Gentiles, the nations of the world today have the opportunity to trust Christ as Savior.