Romans 14:1-12

Text

Romans 14:1-12. But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples. Romans 14:2 One man hath faith to eat all things: but he that is weak eateth herbs. Romans 14:3 Let not him that eateth set at nought him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand. Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. Romans 14:6He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. Romans 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself. Romans 14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord'S. Romans 14:9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Romans 14:10 But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or thou again, why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God.

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For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow,

And every tongue shall confess to God.

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So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.

REALIZING ROMANS, Romans 14:1-12

568.

What is the meaning of the word receive in Romans 14:1?

569.

How would one be received for decision of scruples?

570.

Someone must be right in this matter of eating. Who is it?

571.

Is strength or weakness in faith dependent upon knowledge? In what way?

572.

There is one mutual responsibility. What is it?

573.

How could God receive someone who was not correct in his views?

574.

Is Paul teaching irresistible grace in Romans 14:4? Please explain the phrase, for the Lord hath power to make him stand.

575.

Could we apply the principle here stated to Christian baptism or the Lord's Supper? Why?

576.

Should we esteem the Lord's day as above all other days? How will the instruction here given apply if we do esteem Sunday?

577.

Why is it so important that we be fully assured in our own mind?

578.

Why should we feel the Lord has any interest in eating or days?

579.

How deeply grateful we should be to our Heavenly Father. In everything we should give thanks. How can we do this if there is a difference of opinion as to right or wrong?

580.

It is easy to see how none of us lives unto himself. How is it that none dieth unto himself?

581.

We belong to the Lord Jesus by right of purchase. It then becomes no matter of choice with us. How must we settle all questions?

582.

Christ is Lord of the dead according to Romans 14:9. How is this so?

583.

Should we delay our judgment on all matters in favor of the final judgment of God? Explain.

584.

Are Christians going to stand before the judgment seat of God? If so, for what purpose?

585.

Does gossiping about the ignorance or frailties of our brethren constitute judging? Will we be judged for such action?

Paraphrase

Romans 14:1-12. The Jewish Christian who is weak in the faith concerning meats and days, receive ye into your company, but not in order to passionate disputations concerning his opinions.

Romans 14:2 The Gentile Christian, indeed, believeth that he may eat every kind of meat; but the Jewish Christian, who is weak in the faith, eats vegetables only in heathen countries, because he cannot find meats which he thinketh clean.

Romans 14:3 Since both act from conscience, let not the Gentile who eateth every kind of meat, despise the Jew who eateth not certain kinds; and let not the Jew who eateth not certain kinds, condemn the Gentile who eateth all kinds: for God, by the spiritual gifts bestowed on the Gentile, declareth that he hath accepted him.

Romans 14:4 Who art thou that condemnest another's household servant? He is accountable to his own master, and not to thee; so that by his own master's sentence he must be acquitted or condemned: and he shall be acquitted; for God hath power to acquit him at the judgment, and will do it, if he hath acted conscientiously.

Romans 14:5 With respect to days, the Jewish Christians, indeed, thinketh one day more holy than another; the new moons, for example, and sabbaths: but the Gentile Christian, better informed, thinketh every day alike holy, because the law of Moses is not the law of Christ's kingdom. Let every one direct himself according to his own conviction.

Romans 14:6 He who observeth the Jewish holy days, observeth them in obedience to Christ, who he thinks hath commanded them: He who doth not observe these days in obedience to Christ, he doth not observe them, knowing that Christ hath abolished them. He who eateth all kinds of meat indiscriminately, eateth them in obedience to Christ, who has permitted them to be eaten; for he giveth God thanks for them, in the persuasion that they are permitted; and he who eateth not every kind, in obedience to Christ he eatest them not, and showeth his persuasion that they are not permitted, by giving God thanks for the food he is allowed to eat.

Romans 14:7 In thus declaring their subjection to Christ, both of them act properly: for none of us liveth by his own will, and none of us is allowed to die by his own will.

Romans 14:8 But whether we live by the will of Christ: or whether we die, we die by the will of Christ. Whether we live therefore or die, we are Christ's subjects; and should not, in religious matters, be guided either by our own will or by the will of others, but by his.

Romans 14:9 To this implicit obedience from all he hath the completest title: for to this end Christ both died and rose, and liveth again in heaven, that he might rule and judge both the dead and the living.

Romans 14:10 But thou Jew, why dost thou condemn thy Gentile brother, because he neglecteth the distinction of meats and days? Or thou Gentile also, why dost thou despise thy Jewish brother as a weak bigot, because he observeth these distinctions? In such matters we should not judge one another; for we shall all be placed before the judgment-seat of Christ, to be judged by him.

Romans 14:11 This was declared to the Jews long ago; -For it is written, I have sworn myself, saith the Lord, the word is gone out of my mouth,-' and also, -That unto me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall swear.-'

Romans 14:12 Well, then, every one of us shall give an account concerning himself to God, whose indulgence to the sincere will make many ashamed of their harsh judgments.

354.

How does the discussion of the weak and strong relate to the renewing of the mind?

355.

Why not attempt to instruct the weak brother?

356.

What is meant by saying some matters are matters of indifference?

357.

Explain the phrase for the Lord hath power to make him stand (Romans 14:4 b).

Summary

A brother who is weak in belief, and consequently narrow in his views, we are nevertheless cordially to accept, but in receiving him, we must let alone those thoughts of his which arise out of his weakness. Their correctness or incorrectness is not a question for our decision. And where one brother regards certain days as sacred, while another holds all days to be alike, the rule is to let each be fully satisfied in his own mind, and act accordingly. In this case, the strong who esteems every day alike, is not to despise the weak; nor is the weak, who thinks one day better than another, to judge the strong, The same rule applies also in the case of meats thought to be clean or unclean. In matters of indifference, each man is a law to himself, Accordingly, in such cases we must leave each to act out his own sense of right. And as to judging one another in such matters, we must wholly abstain from it. We are accountable to God only, and he will judge us.

Comment
Forbearance in Matters of Opinion for Those

Who are Weak in the Faith. Romans 14:1 to Romans 15:13.

1.

The weak in the faith should not be harshly judged. Romans 14:1-12.

Once again we could say: if we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, here is a guide to our thinking. The Christian brother who feels a thing to be wrong and a sin for him to engage in, let him be. Do not argue with him about it. Receive him into your fellowship as a Christian brother. In particular, the reference Paul has in mind has to do with eating. There were those persons who did not have a complete knowledge of God's will on this subject. They felt it would be wrong for them to eat meat. When you talk with him, says Paul, please do not invite him to your table at which you serve meat. On the other hand, the weak brother ought not to feel he has a superior type of righteousness and attempt to instruct you in the ways of the vegetarian. In all of this conversation between the two brothers, there is much more than mere discussion. The action of judgment also enters in when one says, I am right and you are wrong; therefore you are condemned. There are many matters of indifference, matters not wrong within themselves. Since each saint is responsible for a knowledge of the faith, (Jude 1:3) and each member of the body is answerable to the head, who are we to judge our brother? To use the figure of Paul: This man does not work for you; he is employed by another, even the Lord. To whom then is he answerable? To his own master. If the Lord is pleased with him, who are you to be displeased? You may be displeased, but this must never enter into the area of judgment. It is not necessary for either of you to understand or see how each can stand in the day of judgment. God is able to make each do so by his own divine power and wisdom.

Now, as to special daysare we at liberty to insert the word special as related to days? I think not. We can infer that here is a discussion of the desire of certain Jewish Christians to put a special emphasis upon the seventh day and certain other days in the Jewish calendar. I do not believe that Paul's teachings uphold the observance of special days. When the Jewish law was abolished was not all responsibility toward holding one day above another also abolished? Is it not what we do on Sunday that is sacred rather than the day itself? At least there were some in the Roman church who felt every day was just alike, All days are the gifts of God. The observance of the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week does not make the day (all twenty-four hours) holy; at least we have no word of scripture to say so. This will not at all be the opinion of some who read this. Very wellone regards all days alike because he feels it pleases the Lord, and one regards some days as special for the same reason. Let each mutually agree not to set the other at nought. There are two very important considerations for each Christian. However one regards the matters of indifference, let it be his opinion and not just the mouthing of someone else's reasoning. One must be fully assured in his own heart. The second is equally important. Whatever one does, do it unto the Lord. Let him thank God with sincerity for vegetables if he will not eat meat, thank God with sincerity if he observes Sunday (the day) as sacred. The opposite must also be true.

The great, eternal reason behind such conduct is found in verse seven. We are responsible to and for others. In our living we influence otherswe are not living an exclusive lifewe are constantly associated with others and in the presence of God. We should be careful so to live in eating and drinking and observing as to never put a stumbling block in our brother's path. There is one act which we shall all perform: we must all die; but even dying can be an example to others. Indeed it shall befor good or bad. We can read into this verse that we are responsible for the eternal destiny of the souls of our brothers and sisters. They will come up to death in about the same way you do. Will this be adequate? Are you ready to die? If you are not, and others are following you, are you not also responsible to and for them? Let us live in such a manner in all things that our life will a be true example of the preparation for death.

358.

Is Sunday a special day? In what respect?

359.

What is the meaning of the expressionLet each one be fully assured in his own heart.?

360.

What is the great, eternal reason behind our need for full assurance of faith?

Verse eight is the foundation on which this whole discussion (Romans 14:1-7) rests. We live for the honor of Christ and we die for the honor of Christ; i.e., in such a manner as to bring him honor. This we do because we belong to him. Being the living property of another, we essentially have no will in the matter. Most especially is this true when we consider the circumstances of our purchase.

What a wonderful Lord we serve. He not only rules as king here, but also over those in eternity. We indeed belong to him for he ever lives. We are owned and ruled by him in heaven as well as on earth.

There is a question for the weak and the strong in Romans 14:10. Paul asks the weak, Why do you judge your brother? He asks the strong, Why do you despise your brother? Paul also has an answer: We all shall appear before the judgment seat of God. This being true, why should we enter into the prerogatives of God? Since every inequality will be balanced, every question answered, why attempt it ourselves? Indeed, we sin when we do. The prophet Isaiah speaks of God's lordship. It shall be enough to account for our sins on judgment day. Our brother rests in the hands of an all-wise God.