Romans 14:20

For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

For ('For the sake of') meat destroy not the work of God - see the note at . The apostle sees in whatever tends to violate a brother's conscience the incipient destruction of God's work (for every converted man is such) - on the same principle as "he that hateth his brother is a murderer" (). All things indeed are pure - `clean;' the ritual distinctions being at an end;

But it is evil for that man (there is criminality in the man) who eateth with offence - i:e., so as to stumble a weak brother.