Romans 14:21

Romans 14:21. It is good; admirable, honorable, morally good, in view of what has been said; hence this is the general principle of action, for the strong brother.

Not to eat flesh, etc. This suggests that the weak brother had special scruples on the two points here named, totally abstaining from animal food and wine.

Nor to do anything. It is best to supply ‘to do,' since other things than eating and drinking are included.

Whereby; lit, ‘in which,' referring to all that precedes,

Stumbleth. Some of the most ancient authorities omit the rest of the verse. While it is difficult to decide which is the correct reading, the preponderance is slightly in favor of the briefer form. The principle is included in the word ‘stumbleth,' which is related to that rendered ‘offence' (Romans 14:20). (If the longer reading be accepted, ‘made weak' should be changed to ‘is weak;' the meaning being that we should avoid the weak point of a Christian brother, even when knowing that his scruple is incorrect.) A strong Christian should strive to act upon the principle of this verse, but the weak brother has no right to demand it of him; such a demand is a confession that he is wrong in his scruple. The self-denial of the strong is not a warrant for the tyranny of the weak, who should study the passages meant especially for him.