CHAPTER XIV. _In things indifferent, Christians should not condemn each_ _other_, 1. _Particularly with respect to different kinds of food_, 2-4. _And the observation of certain days_, 5, 6. _None of us should live unto himself, but unto Christ, who lived_ _and died for us_, 7-9. _We must not... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:2. _ONE BELIEVETH THAT HE MAY EAT ALL THINGS_] He believes that whatsoever is _wholesome_ and _nourishing_, whether _herbs_ or _flesh_-whether enjoined or forbidden by the Mosaic law - may be safely and conscientiously used by every Christian. _ANOTHER, WHO IS WEAK, EATETH HERBS._]... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:3. _LET NOT HIM THAT EATETH_] The _Gentile_, who eats flesh, _despise him_, the _Jew_, who _eateth not_ flesh, but _herbs_. _And let not him_, the Jew, _that eateth not_ indiscriminately, _judge _- condemn _him_, the Gentile, _that eateth_ indiscriminately flesh or vegetables. _FOR... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:4. _WHO ART THOU THAT JUDGEST ANOTHER MAN'S SERVANT?_] Who has ever given thee the right to condemn the servant of another man, in things pertaining to his own master? _To his own_ _master he standeth or falleth_. He is to judge him, not thou; thy intermeddling in this business is bo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:5. _ONE MAN ESTEEMETH ONE DAY ABOVE ANOTHER_] Perhaps the word ημεραν, _day_, is here taken for _time, festival_, and such like, in which sense it is frequently used. Reference is made here to the _Jewish institutions_, and especially their _festivals_; such as the _passover, penteco... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:6. _HE THAT REGARDETH THE DAY_] A beautiful apology for _mistaken sincerity_ and _injudicious reformation_. Do not condemn the man for what is indifferent in itself: if he keep these _festivals_, his purpose is to honour God by the religious observance of them. On the other hand, he... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:7. _NONE OF US LIVETH TO HIMSELF_] The Greek writers use the phrase, εαυτω ζην, to signify acting according to one's own judgment, following one's own opinion. Christians must act in all _things_ according to the mind and will of God, and not follow their own _wills_. The apostle see... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:9. _CHRIST BOTH DIED AND ROSE_] That we are not our own, but are the Lord's both in life and death, is evident from this-that Christ lived, and died, and rose again, _that he might be_ _the Lord of the dead and the living_; for his power extends equally over both worlds: _separate_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:10. _BUT WHY DOST THOU_] _Christian Jew_, observing the rites of the Mosaic law, _judge_-condemn _thy brother_-the Christian _Gentile_, who does not think himself bound by this law? _OR WHY DOST THOU_] Christian _Gentile, set at nought_ thy Christian Jewish brother, as if he were un... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:12. _EVERY ONE OF US SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF_] We shall not, at the bar of God, be obliged to account for the conduct of _each other_-each shall give account of himself: and let him take heed that he be prepared to give up his accounts with joy.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:13. _LET US NOT, THEREFORE, JUDGE ONE ANOTHER ANY MORE_] Let us abandon such rash conduct; it is dangerous, it is uncharitable: judgment belongs to the Lord, and he will _condemn_ those only who should _not_ be _acquitted_. _THAT NO MAN PUT A STUMBLING BLOCK_] Let both the converted... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:14. _I KNOW, AND AM PERSUADED BY THE LORD JESUS_] After reasoning so long and so much with these contending parties on the subject of their mutual misunderstandings, without attempting to give any opinion, but merely to show them the folly and uncharitableness of their conduct, he n... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:15. _IF THY BROTHER BE GRIEVED_] If he think that thou doest wrong, and he is in consequence stumbled at thy conduct. _NOW WALKEST THOU NOT CHARITABLY._] κατα αγαπην, _According to_ _love; for love worketh no ill to its neighbour_; but by thy eating some particular kind of meat, on... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:16. _LET NOT THEN YOUR GOOD BE EVIL SPOKEN OF_] Do not make such a use of your _Christian liberty_ as to subject the _Gospel_ itself to reproach. Whatsoever you do, do it in such a manner, spirit, and time, as to make it productive of the greatest possible good. There are many who ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD_] That holy religion which God has sent from heaven, and which be intends to make the instrument of establishing a counterpart of the kingdom of glory among men: Matthew 3:2, Matthew 3:2. _IS NOT MEAT AND DRINK_] It consists not in these outward and indifferent thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _FOR HE THAT IN THESE THINGS_] The man, whether _Jew_ or _Gentile_, who _in these things_-righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, _serveth Christ_-acts according to his doctrine, is _acceptable to God_; for he has not only the _form_ of godliness in thus _serving Christ_, but he h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _LET US THEREFORE FOLLOW_] Far from contending about _meats, drinks_, and _festival times_, in which it is not likely that the _Jews_ and _Gentiles_ will _soon_ agree, let us endeavour to the utmost of our power to promote _peace_ and _unanimity_, that we may be instrumental in edifying ea... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:20. _FOR MEAT DESTROY NOT THE WORK OF GOD_] Do not hinder the _progress of the Gospel_ either in your own souls or in those of others, by contending about lawful or unlawful meats. And do not destroy the soul of thy Christian brother, Romans 14:15, by offending him so as to induce hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:21. IT IS _GOOD NEITHER TO EAT FLESH_, C.] The spirit and self-denying principles of the Gospel teach us, that we should not only avoid every thing in eating or drinking which may be an occasion of offence or apostasy to our brethren, but even to lay down our lives for them should it... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:22. _HAST THOU FAITH?_] The term _faith_ seems to signify in this place a _full persuasion in a man's mind that he is right_, that what he does is _lawful_, and has the _approbation of God_ and his _conscience_. Dr. Taylor has a judicious note on this passage. "There is no necessity... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 14:23. _AND HE THAT DOUBTETH_] This verse is a necessary part of the preceding, and should be read thus: _But he that_ _doubteth is condemned if he eat_, because he eateth _not of faith_. The meaning is sufficiently plain. He that feeds on any kind of meats prohibited by the Mosaic law,... [ Continue Reading ]