What does it mean to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15)?

Answer

In Romans 12:1–2, Paul explains the responsibilities of believers to present their bodies to God as a living and holy sacrifice, to be transformed by the renewing of the mind, and to avoid conforming to the ways of the world. An important aspect of demonstrating a renewed mind is to empathize with those who are suffering, as stated in “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15). God’s mercy is abundant, and He desires us to live in a manner that reflects His mercy. Believers are encouraged to walk humbly, without thinking more highly of themselves than they should, as mentioned in “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12:3), recognizing that we are all interconnected as members of the body of Christ. In a way, we are all interconnected as part of one another (Romans 12:4-5)—we are a family.

God has bestowed believers with diverse ways to manifest His grace to others (referred to as “gifts” or “spiritual gifts”), and Paul instructs on how to conscientiously and faithfully extend His grace to one another, utilizing the resources provided by God (Romans 12:6-8). While some may have unique abilities, talents, or resources, there are also universal ways in which we are all called to demonstrate His grace to others. Paul elaborates on some of these in Romans 12:9 and continues through the conclusion of Romans 15.

One of the ways we exhibit God’s grace to one another is highlighted in Romans 12:15—we are to empathize with those who are going through difficult times.Sh; we should rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Paul adds an instruction that we should be of the same mind with each other «Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. », (Romans 12:16). If a brother or sister is rejoicing over something wonderful that has happened, we should share in that joy. We are members of the same body—we are family. We should take joy in that which brings our brothers and sisters joy.

Conversely, we need to weep with those who weep «Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. », (Romans 12:15). There are times of sadness or heartbreak. There are times of grief, and when others are encountering those difficult times, we can come alongside them and share that burden with them. Consider how in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 Paul explains that, when a loved one who is in Christ dies, he or she will one day be resurrected, and we will be together with the Lord. Because of that truth, we don’t need to grieve as those who have no hope «But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. », (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Still, there is grief. And when a brother or sister encounters grief, we shouldn’t tell him or her to “get over it” or even remind the grieving one that he or she should always rejoice «Rejoice evermore. », (1 Thessalonians 5:16). On the contrary, Paul helps us understand we should be devoted to one another in brotherly love «Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honourPreferring one another; », (Romans 12:10), and we need to weep with those who weep. While it is certainly true that we should always rejoice and that we don’t ever have a hopeless grief, we need to express grace and love and weep with those who weep.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful examples of weeping with those who weep is found in the shortest verse in the Bible—“Jesus wept” «Jesus wept. », (John 11:35). When Lazarus died, Jesus traveled to Bethany with the intention of raising him from the dead. Given Christ’s knowledge, it would seem there was no reason for Him to grieve, but when He was around those who were stricken with grief, Jesus was “deeply moved in spirit and troubled” «When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, », (John 11:33), and He wept. In the same way, even though we know that God always designs a positive outcome for those who love Him «And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. », (Romans 8:28), it is still right for us to share the burden of grief and help each other through the pains of life. To weep with those who weep is part of being family in the body of Christ.