Rom. 12:13. Distributing to the necessity of saints;
Having said above: "he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness," he opened his hand to all in general, but now he teaches about almsgiving to the faithful: for he calls them saints. And he did not say: help them in their needs, but: "share in them," showing thereby that assistance is a transaction and a common profit; for you give money, and they repay you with heaven. He also did not say: in great expenses, but: "in needs," so as to satisfy the needs of the saints. How then are they not cruel and like beasts, those who do not help the saints in their essential necessities?
Rom. 12:13. Pursue hospitality (τὴν φιλοξενίαν διώκοντες).
He did not say: be hospitable, but: "pursue hospitality," teaching us not to wait for those in need to come to us, but to run to them ourselves and overtake them, as Abraham and Lot did.
Rom. 12:14. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
After the teaching on brotherly love and love for one's own, he finally offers instruction also on how we ought to treat our enemies. He did not say: do not remember wrongs, do not take revenge, but what is far more: "bless," and added: "do not curse," so that we would not curse, but only bless. Whoever blesses those who persecute him for Christ's sake shows that he endures with joy for the sake of the Beloved; but whoever curses shows that he does not rejoice, and thereby makes it known that he does not love the One for whose sake he is persecuted.
Rom. 12:15. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
A great spirit is needed not only to not envy, but also to rejoice with those who rejoice. This shows a soul completely free from envy, and it means much more than to weep with those who weep; because nature itself, which draws us to compassion, impels us to weep. Thus, he teaches us both the one and the other, that is, both compassion and a disposition free from envy toward all, even toward persecutors.
Rom. 12:16. Be of the same mind toward one another;
Again he discusses humble-mindedness, for naturally in Rome, as the capital city, there was the disease of pride. The meaning of what is said is this: do you consider yourself a great person? Consider your brother the same. Do you suspect that he is small and lowly in heart? Pronounce the same judgment about yourself as well, and in this way you will humble every lofty-mindedness and will not disdain him as though you were better than him, but will honor him as your equal, just as you honor yourself.
Rom. 12:16. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.
He teaches how one can fulfill what was said before, namely: if we do not think highly of ourselves, but follow the lowly, that is, imitate the humbled and despised, that is, condescend and adapt ourselves to them.
Rom. 12:16. Do not think highly of yourselves.
That is, do not think that you can satisfy yourselves in everything on your own, and that you have no need of another's counsel or of someone who suggests what is proper. Moses conversed with God; yet he had need of counsel from his father-in-law.
Rom. 12:17. Repay no one evil for evil;
If you reproach another for having done evil, then why do you imitate him and do evil yourself? He did not say: do not do evil to a believer, but: "to no one," whether he be a pagan or anyone else.
Rom. 12:17. Take care to do what is good before all people.
He says this not so that we live for vainglory, but so that we do not give occasion to reproach us to those who desire it. For he requires that we live without causing offense and without stumbling, because many are watching us and what concerns us.
Rom. 12:18. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
He said well: "if it be possible, as much as lieth in you." For sometimes it is impossible to be at peace, for example, when there is a struggle for piety or for those who have been wronged. So he suggests: fulfill your duties and give no one occasion for enmity and disturbance. But if you see that piety is being insulted, then rise up courageously, fighting for the truth, yet not warring against the person, but against the impiety, while on the contrary pitying and sparing the person. In this way, what previously seemed impossible becomes possible; for as far as it concerns you, you are at peace with him, and you wage war against the impiety alone.
Rom. 12:19. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath of God. For it is written: "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
Give place, he says, to the wrath of God against those who wrong you. If you avenge yourselves, then God will not avenge you; but if you forgive, then God will avenge more severely. He also brings forth a testimony, confirming his word. He says this for the encouragement of the fainthearted, because they desire nothing else than to see that their enemies have received vengeance on their behalf.
Rom. 12:20. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Here he demands from you the highest degree of love of wisdom. What am I saying, he reasons, that one must live in peace? I even command to do good. He said, "you will heap coals of fire on his head," condescending to the faintheartedness of those who are insulted; for nothing is more pleasant for a person than to see an enemy punished. He speaks as if to say: do you wish to take revenge on him? Do good to him; in that case you will take revenge on him far more severely. Therefore he also said, "you will heap coals of fire on his head," signifying by this a severe punishment. In this sense he also said above, "give place to the wrath of God."
Rom. 12:21. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.