William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Romans 14:13

Observe here, 1. How the apostle advises persons to be very cautious in the use of their Christian liberty: Put not. stumbling-block, or an occasion of falling, into your brother's way.

Learn thence, That to use our Christian liberty when it may be an occasion of sin, by laying. stumbling-block before others, although we do not use it with an intent or purpose to make them stumble, is very sinful.

Observe, 2. The apostle's final determination concerning those meats which some of the Jews scrupled as unclean, was taken away by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Observe, 3. That although the apostle pronounces that there is no meat unclean in itself, yet notwithstanding this, to him that esteemeth any thing unclean, to him, as to the use of it, it is unclean.

Observe, 4. With what tenderness the apostle directs all Christians to carry themselves towards their weaker brethren, even to the abridging themselves of their lawful liberty in the use of indifferent things, rather than give the weak an occasion of offence. If thy brother be grieved with thy meat, (though no meat be unclean of itself,) yet in eating thou doest amiss, for three reasons:

(1.) Because it is against the laws of charity so to act in things indifferent: If thy brother be grieved, now walkest thou uncharitably.

(2.) Because it is the way to occasion him to sin, and consequently to do what in us lies to bring destruction upon him, for whom Christ died: Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

(3.) Because eating thus with offence to the weak, causeth Christian liberty, purchased by Christ, to be evil spoken of before the world: Let not then your good be evil spoken of.

The sum of the whole is this, To show how uncharitable, unsafe, and unchristian. thing it is, to make such an undue use of our Christian liberty, as may occasion our weak brother to fall or stumble.

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William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Romans 14:13

Old Testament

New Testament