* If thy brother, imboldened by thy example, is led to do what he thinks wrong-, and is thus rendered miserable,' &c. Or, 'If thy brother, by thy example, is injured (by being led into sin), thou walkest uncharitably.' This interpretation is perhaps better suited to the latter clause of the verse. Destroy not. These words have been variously explained. The mean- ing may be, ' Do not do any thing which has a tendency to lead him to destruction.' Or, ' Do not injure him, or render him miserable.' There is no material difference between these two interpretations. The former is more consistent with the common meaning of the original word, but the latter is better suited to the context, as this clause answers to the first member of the verse. 'If thy brother be aggrieved, thou doest wrong; do not grieve or injure him.' For whom Christ died. This is most effectively added. ' If Christ so loved him as to die for him, how base in you not to submit to the smallest self-denial for his welfare.'
(16) Let not your good he evil spoken of,, i. e. ' Do not so use your liberty, which is good and valuable, as to make it the occasion of evil, and so liable to censure.' This interpretation is better suited to the con- .,ext than that which makes the good here intended to be the Christian religion generally; 'Let not religion be reproached on account of dissen- sion on such minor points.' The general idea, however, is the same. *Do not subject the truth to unmerited obloquy.'
(17) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink ; but righteous- ness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. This is a new reason for forbearance; no principle of duty is to be sacrificed, nothing essential to religion is to be disregarded, for religion does not consist in external ob- servances, but in the inward graces of the Spirit. The phrase kingdom of God almost uniformly signifies the kingdom of the Messiah, under some one of its aspects, as consisting of all professing Christians, of all his own people, of glorified believers, or as existing in the heart. " The kingdom of God is within you ;" see also 1 Cor. 4 : 20. This last sense best suits this passage, ' Religion does not consist in the external observ- ance, but in the graces of the Spirit.' Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. The last words, in the Holy Ghost, pertain to the whole clause. Religion consists in that righteousness, peace and joy, of which the Holy Ghost is the author. The word righteousness is to be taken in its common sense, moral excellence, goodness, peace, not exclu- sively concord with brethren, but that inward peace of conscience, and peace with God, which is the attendant on reconciliation (Rom. 5 : 1) ; and joy resulting from a sense of the divine favour and the anticipation of future blessedness.
(18) For he that in these things serveth Christ, is acceptable to God and approved of men. This verse is a confirmation of the preceding. These spiritual graces constitute the essential part of religion ; for he that expe- riences and exercises these virtues, is regarded by God as a true Chris- tian, and must commend himself as such to the consciences of his fellow men. Where these things, therefore, are found, difference of opinion ox