Romans 14:1-23
1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but nota to doubtful disputations.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuadedb in his own mind.
6 He that regardethc the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing uncleand of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably.e Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
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.
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23 And he that doubtethf is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Romans 14:1. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye. The apostolic churches were composed of jews and gentiles. Most of the jews were zealous of the law, and observed the legal distinctions of meats, clean and unclean, while the gentiles would eat whatever was sold in the shambles. Many of the heathen also had conscientious scruples. We gather from Ovid's Fastorum, that the Greeks and Romans had feasts and customs without number; and some of those after their conversion would not eat of meats which had been offered to an idol. The apostle therefore cautions them against all contests and disputes, which should be overcome by the feelings of charity. But if a man would defend his scruples so tenaciously as to divide the church, they had better not receive him as a member.
Romans 14:6. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it to the Lord. Such as the sabbath, the new moon, and the day of atonement. As all these variations might exist without sin, the remedy against disputation was brotherly love, following the example of Christ, who lived and died for us.
Romans 14:17. For the kingdom of God, the reign of grace in the heart, is not meat and drink, but righteousness, the love of God and all mankind, and the peace of God that passes all understanding. All this is accompanied with joy in the Holy Ghost, that God is our Father, that sin is all forgiven, and the earnest of heaven opened in the heart. Proof indisputable that St. Paul understood religion as Moses did, when he resolved the whole law into the love of God and man.
Romans 14:23. He that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he does it against his conscience, and against his faith. This must be the true sense, as in the preseding verse. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that which he alloweth.