What does it mean to be of the same mind in Romans 12:16?

Romans 12:16. "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." The apostle now presses and amplifies the important question of harmony among Christians, but especially among those who are locally united as the assembly of God. "Be of the same mind one toward another." This plainly means that in the things of God there ought to be oneness of mind amongst His children. But we are here addressed as the children of faith, as those whose thoughts and affections, whose motives and objects are formed and governed by the word of God. When this is the case, there must be concord; the word of God being one; but whenever it is a question of human opinions, there must be discord, for each one will have his own opinion.

Next we have, "communicating to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality." A glance now, at the outside, hostile world is given us, and yet may the exhortation be always confined to that? "Bless them that persecute you, bless and curse not." There are, alas, here also forms of persecution which may find their place even in the ranks of the saints. With all this, we are not to be shut up in ourselves. We are to "rejoice with those that rejoice and weep with those that weep." How much of joy is open to us in this way of which we do not, in fact, avail ourselves, and how much of sorrow do we shut ourselves out from, when it is just the school which God would make fruitful for ourselves! Then we are to have "same mind one towards another," an equal mind, without regard of persons. "Not affecting high things, but consorting with the lowly." That, of course, goes with this, this equal mind towards all: one who seeks high things for himself cannot practice it. "Be not wise," he adds, "in your own eyes."

Do others have cause for rejoicing? Let us rejoice with them! This may not be easy if there are thorns or sorrows in our own path, but it is true, unselfish Christian character. Or do others weep? Let us weep with them. We may not be so ready to do so if our own circumstances are pleasant, but it is a pointed test of our selfishness or unselfishness. Philippians 2:4 is a needful reminder to us: “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Yet in this we are to have no favorites; but to have the same mind one toward another: partiality is foreign to godliness. Nor ought “high things” to engage the mind, as though our intelligence were on a higher level than average. The following phrase here is nicely expressed in the New Translation — “going along with the lowly.” This is true greatness and genuine Christian grace. “Be not wise in your own eyes” is an important accompaniment of this; for seeking to impress others — perhaps specially the lowly — is a rather real danger.

(2) “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 2:5) Can it be true that in me there may be revealed that same lowliness of mind which so shone in Him? There it stands in the scriptures for the obedience of faith, and that in connection with such a familiar problem as brothers and sisters in the Lord who cannot agree among themselves. What a battery of scriptures can be brought to bear on the desire of the Lord that we should be of one mind, or likeminded. (Phil. 2:2; Phil. 4:2; Rom. 12:16; Rom. 15:6; 2 Cor. 13:11, etc.) This does not mean, of course, that everyone must think alike on every subject, but if all let that self-effacing mind be in them which was also in Christ Jesus, what perfect harmony would result! Shall we put it to the test?

(V. 16). As to social questions we are to beware of letting the spirit of the world into the Christian circle, that would esteem people according to their birth, wealth, or social position. We are to have the same respect for the poor brother as for the rich, and to refuse the natural vanity of the flesh that thinks much of "high things". It is our privilege and honour, as Christians, to be found "going along with the lowly" (N.Tn). Nor is it enough to associate with the lowly; we need to have the lowly mind; therefore, the Apostle adds, "Be not wise in your own eyes" (N.Tn).

All these exhortations have in view the great end, that we should "be like-minded one toward another according to Christ", in order that we may "with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ". The Apostle clearly shews that in order to glorify God with one mind it is absolutely essential that we should be "like minded one toward another". We see these two things marking the saints in Pentecostal days. We read that "they lifted up their voices with one accord to God". Then we are told that these believers, who could glorify God with "one mind", were "of one heart and of one soul". They were one-minded toward God because they were like-minded one toward another. (Acts 4:24, 32). Alas the unity of those early days has passed away. We live in a day of ruin when the utmost confusion prevails in Christendom. Even amongst those who have sought to walk in obedience to the word of God for a day of ruin, we see how constantly the devil has succeeded in bringing in what the Apostle James speaks of as "Envying and strife", leading to "confusion and every evil work". If, however, we cannot gather all the saints together, is it not possible for a few to be found "like-minded one toward another" and thus glorifying God with one mind. These Scriptures show how this is still possible.

Let us notice that when the Apostle speaks of being "like-minded one toward another", he immediately adds the words "according to Christ Jesus". It is possible to be like-minded according to nature, or the flesh, and entirely miss the mind of Christ.

To be like-minded according to Christ, we must be marked by the characteristics that the Apostle has been bringing before us, the mutual forbearance, love, peace, and unselfishness that forgets self in seeking to please others for their good. Then indeed, we shall "with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ". How different our lives would be, and what wonderful times of worship we should have, when come together to remember the Lord, if, by grace, we were all "like minded one toward another".

We are His children — through grace, and it is His will that we should be like Him and bear this twofold character in our ways with all who are with us the object of His love and tender solicitude. Our knowledge of Him, (I speak of experimental knowledge), will strengthen us to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves. The prayer of the Apostle was "the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus." According to Christ Jesus! What a standard is this! Yet God will have no other, and He is able to make us like- minded one toward another, according to that standard. Christ Jesus is our pattern; we must consider Him. In Him we must see what God is to us, and in Him we must learn what we ought to be towards one another. So we read, "Let every one of us please his neighbour for His good to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself." Is there a more moving statement than that in the whole of Scripture? He was the only one who ever lived upon earth who had a right to please Himself, and if He had done so, everything that He did would have been perfect, but it was not on that principle that He ordered His life: "Lo, I come to do Thy will, O my God, " He said, and wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business, " and "I do always the things that please Him." To do the will of His Father in serving the needy sons of men was the motive and the joy of His life. He "came not to be ministered to but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many."

It is this that verses 5 and 6 apply so tenderly and appealingly. “Now the God of endurance and of encouragement give to you to be likeminded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one accord with one mouth, glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” If we would have endurance and encouragement we must look to God who is the source of such virtue, and He can enable us to have the mind that was in Christ Jesus, toward one another. This produces, even where there is diversity of opinion and various degrees of progress in the truth, a godly, fervent unity that glorifies the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. How unspeakably blessed when this is the case! To be of one accord, of one mouth, is to have hearts unfeignedly united in honoring and following the Lord Jesus, and not sidetracked by lesser considerations. This is not by any means relinquishing the truth of God, but holding it firmly, while making no issue of small matters that are the affair of the individual conscience.

We need to have Christ before us, the one who ‘did not please Himself’ and this will result in like-mindedness toward one another – not a like-mindedness of a human sort, based on compromise or tolerance, but ‘according to Christ Jesus’. If this is the case there will be a result in praise for God: ‘that ye may with one accord, with one mouth, glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (v. 6).

"Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits." The great idea in the first clause of the verse is amplified in the last three. Mutual disagreement is to be avoided on all occasions, and a spirit of kindness and union to be carefully cherished. And, inasmuch as there can be no greater hindrance to unity and love than pride, he now exhorts the saints not to be ambitious, but humble, and to watch against self-conceit.

It is natural for man to be aspiring to things above him, and to look with a measure of contempt on lowly persons and lowly pursuits. But the Christian must judge himself as to how far this worldly spirit has been mortified within him. We are cautioned against setting our minds on high things; or allowing our minds to be occupied with them; but rather, as the apostle says, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." It is difficult for the best of Christians to cast off completely the influence of rank and station in this life. Nothing seems to have a more tenacious grasp on the natural mind. It dies not but with the death of the body.

The phrase, "condescend to men of low estate," is not considered by the critics a happy one. It means rather to associate with them. The idea of condescension is quite contrary both to the teaching of the Lord and His servant; for it supposes the maintenance of worldly superiority in our own hearts, because it means showing kindness to the lowly in a patronising way. "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger and he that is chief, as he that doth serve." Luke 22:25-27.