Romans 14:15

But Another reading is For. The documentary evidence is doubtful; and the evidence of connexion favours But. If For is adopted, it must be explained by treating Romans 14:14 as a parenthesis; and thus connecting Romans 14:13; Romans 14:15: q. d., "resolve to lay no stumblingblock for others; for you dolay a stumblingblock, when you neglect their scruples about food." Reading But, the connexion shews it to be a word not of contrastbut of pursuance:q. d., "But, granting what I have just urged, it is the opposite of Christian love to neglect your brother's scruples."

grieved put to pain; the pain of a conflict with conscience such as either to lead to its violation, or to harden prejudice.

with thy meat Lit., and better, on account of thy food. "Meat," in the E. V., is never exclusively "flesh-meat." The word is akin to French met;a thing puton the table. In market-language "green meat" still means vegetables; and so in some country districts "meat" alone still does. Here, of course, the word is inclusiveof flesh.

not charitably Lit. no longer according: to love: "Thou forsakest the rule of Christian love which hithertothou hast followed."

Destroy not him The natural effect of neglect or contempt of the mistaken scruple would be to frighten, or embolden, the "weak brother" so as to become careless of his conscience in general; to "regard iniquity in his heart," (Psalms 66:18,) and so to cease to "abide in Christ." Cp. the language of 1 Corinthians 8:11. Here the question what God would dofor the protection or restoration of the "weak" Christian is manifestly out of sight, and out of place: not His covenant, but His servants" duty and responsibility, is before us here. So again in Romans 14:20. "Destroy" is the presentimperative in the Gr., and indicates that a course of conduct, not an isolated and finished act, is intended.

thy meat There is a subtle reproof in the word "thy;" a suggestion of the selfishness underlying the conduct in question.

for whom Christ died The profoundest of all motives for a Christian'stenderness and care. Here, of course, the reference is to the Lord's death for His Church, (Ephesians 5:25,) of which the "weak brother" is a member by faith.