Romans14
New International Version
1Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.
2One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
3The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.
4Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
5One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.
6Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
7For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.
8If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
10You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
11It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
12So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
14I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.
15If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.
16Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.
17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
18because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
19Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.
21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
23But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Romans 14.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Jewish converts cautioned against judging, and Gentile believers against despising one the other. (1–13). And the Gentiles exhorted to take heed of giving offence in their use of indifferent things. (14–23).
vv1-6
Differences of opinion prevailed even among the immediate followers of Christ and their disciples. Nor did St. Paul attempt to end them. Compelled assent to any doctrine, or conformity to outward observances without being convinced, would be hypocritical and of no avail. Attempts for producing absolute oneness of mind among Christians would be useless. Let not Christian fellowship be disturbed with strifes of words. It will be good for us to ask ourselves, when tempted to disdain and blame our brethren; Has not God owned them? and if he has, dare I disown them? Let not the Christian who uses his liberty, despise his weak brother as ignorant and superstitious. Let not the scrupulous believer find fault with his brother, for God accepted him, without regarding the distinctions of meats. We usurp the place of God, when we take upon us thus to judge the thoughts and intentions of others, which are out of our view. The case as to the observance of days was much the same. Those who knew that all these things were done away by Christ's coming, took no notice of the festivals of the Jews. But it is not enough that our consciences consent to what we do; it is necessary that it be certified from the word of God. Take heed of acting against a doubting conscience. We are all apt to make our own views the standard of truth, to deem things certain which to others appear doubtful. Thus Christians often despise or condemn each other, about doubtful matters of no moment. A thankful regard to God, the Author and Giver of all our mercies, sanctifies and sweetens them.
vv7-13
Though some are weak, and others are strong, yet all must agree not to live to themselves. No one who has given up his name to Christ, is allowedly a self-seeker; that is against true Christianity. The business of our lives is not to please ourselves, but to please God. That is true Christianity, which makes Christ all in all. Though Christians are of different strength, capacities, and practices in lesser things, yet they are all the Lord's; all are looking and serving, and approving themselves to Christ. He is Lord of those that are living, to rule them; of those that are dead, to revive them, and raise them up. Christians should not judge or despise one another, because both the one and the other must shortly give an account. A believing regard to the judgment of the great day, would silence rash judgings. Let every man search his own heart and life; he that is strict in judging and humbling himself, will not be apt to judge and despise his brother. We must take heed of saying or doing things which may cause others to stumble or to fall. The one signifies a lesser, the other a greater degree of offence; that which may be an occasion of grief or of guilt to our brother.
vv14-18
Christ deals gently with those who have true grace, though they are weak in it. Consider the design of Christ's death: also that drawing a soul to sin, threatens the destruction of that soul. Did Christ deny himself for our brethren, so as to die for them, and shall not we deny ourselves for them, so as to keep from any indulgence? We cannot hinder ungoverned tongues from speaking evil; but we must not give them any occasion. We must deny ourselves in many cases what we may lawfully do, when our doing it may hurt our good name. Our good often comes to be evil spoken of, because we use lawful things in an uncharitable and selfish manner. As we value the reputation of the good we profess and practise, let us seek that it may not be evil-spoken of. Righteousness, peace, and joy, are words that mean a great deal. As to God, our great concern is to appear before him justified by Christ's death, sanctified by the Spirit of his grace; for the righteous Lord loveth righteousness. As to our brethren, it is to live in peace, and love, and charity with them; following peace with all men. As to ourselves, it is joy in the Holy Ghost; that spiritual joy wrought by the blessed Spirit in the hearts of believers, which respects God as their reconciled Father, and heaven as their expected home. Regard to Christ in doing our duties, alone can make them acceptable. Those are most pleasing to God that are best pleased with him; and they abound most in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. They are approved by wise and good men; and the opinion of others is not to be regarded.
Key Words
ἀσθενέω (asthenéō): to be feeble (in any sense)
πίστις (pístis): persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself
προσλαμβάνω (proslambánō): to take to oneself, i.e. use (food), lead (aside), admit (to friendship or hospitality)
δέ (dé): but, and, etc.
μή (mḗ): (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 (οὐ) expects an affirmative one)) whether
εἰς (eis): to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
διαλογισμός (dialogismós): discussion, i.e. (internal) consideration (by implication, purpose), or (external) debate
διάκρισις (diákrisis): judicial estimation
μέν (mén): properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with G1161 (δέ) (this one, the former, etc.)
ὅς (hós): the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
Cross References
Romans 14Direct Old Testament citation establishing that every knee shall bow to the Lord and swear allegiance.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallels the warning against letting anyone judge you regarding food, drink, or observance of festival days.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Explicit parallel asserting that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to give account.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Detailed treatment of weak consciences, scrupulous eating, and avoiding being a stumblingblock to others.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Warns against judging a brother, reminding that there is only one Lawgiver and Judge.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Addresses the controversial Galatian practice of scrupulously observing days, months, seasons, and years.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Reinforces that believers are not their own; they were bought with a price to glorify God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Confirms that Christ died for all so that those who live should live for Him.
Supported by JFB
Echoes Jesus' teaching that nothing entering a man's mouth defiles him; it is unclean only to him.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Reflects Peter's vision where God declared that what He has cleansed is no longer to be called common.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Immediate sequel urging the strong to bear with the failings of the weak.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Historical example of Daniel refusing defiling food, choosing pulse and water instead of royal meat.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Condemns those commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Command to eat and drink to the glory of God, echoing giving thanks to the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jesus' warning against causing one of these little ones who believe in Him to stumble.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Affirms that to the pure all things are pure, matching Paul's statement on food.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul's vow to never eat meat if it makes his brother stumble.
Supported by JFB