Romans 15:26, commentary and pictures

The verse describes willing, freely given contributions of money by Gentile believers and churches in Macedonia and Achaia for the poor saints in Jerusalem and Judea. The contribution was part of Paul's effort to gather aid to bring and deliver to the Jerusalem church, opening a way for him to preach in Jerusalem. The contribution came through an organized collection supported by regular offerings and carried forward with the help of Titus. The gifts met the material needs of the needy Jewish believers in Jerusalem.

The gifts were meant to strengthen Christian unity and harmony and to soften division between Jewish and Gentile converts. They expressed the Gentile converts' love and sympathy for the Jerusalem church and their desire for harmony with Jewish believers. Even churches whose members were often very poor gave, with the Philippians joining despite their poverty by treating their possessions as resources for doing good and helping churches poorer than their own. The gifts showed that Paul had kept his promise to remember the poor.

Helping the poor saints means giving when their need is seen and not withholding. Workers in benevolent enterprises must receive their regular wages proportionate to their work so they have something in hand to give, and must not be deprived of wages to make up for lack caused by large means lavishly invested in other enterprises called benevolent. Giving must be discerning, with compassion for the poor saints in need rather than for the shiftless, unworthy needy who would not be helped by charity however much was given. Self-denial for giving must be sensible rather than extreme, not skipping meals and injuring health to save something to give; conscientious workers who eat plain, simple food need its strength to do their work and should eat their meals to the glory of God.