Verse 3
For Christ also pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me.
This quotation from Psalms 69:9 is an appeal to the supreme example of love and unselfishness exhibited by the Saviour of the world. The reference to reproaches is significant, because the reproaches that fell upon Christ resulted from his not pleasing himself. If Christ had been willing to please people, rather than God, he could have avoided the bitter hatreds that fell upon him; but his living for the glory of the Father caused the enemies of God to heap all of their scorn and opposition upon him. By contrast, the sacrifice made by the strong brethren in accommodating themselves to the weak are extremely petty and trivial. The apostle's use of the most exalted and supreme example of Christ for the enforcement of practical duty is characteristic of his writings, other examples being visible in 1 Corinthians 8:12 and Philippians 2:5-8.
This appeal to Psalms 69 stamps that Psalm as Messianic, especially when it is remembered that no less than five other New Testament passages refer to it, these being John 15:25 which quotes Psalms 69:4; John 2:17 which quotes Psalms 69:9; Matthew 27:34 which quotes Psalms 69:21; Romans 11:9-10 which quotes Psalms 69:22-23, and Acts 1:20 which quotes Psalms 69:25.
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