Romans 14:

[Preliminary Note: We continue to provide a brief summary of previous sections to provide present context:

• Part 1: Ch.1-8 Our lost state & God’s Justification & the New Life
• Part 2: Ch.9-11 Considering the State of Israel
• Part 3: Ch.12-15 Living the Christian Life  

(Notes: The matters Paul deals with here arise partly because of the Law and partly because of pagan practices. The Law held some days as special, but of course we are no longer under that Law. Similarly, the Law held certain foods were ‘unclean’ (having been forbidden for health reasons mostly) but we are not under that Law either (see Acts 10 & 15). There was also the matter of meat that pagans in the community offered to idols which, when it was removed from the pagan temple some considered polluted, and others thought it all right to eat. Paul’s teaching suggests the big issue is not whether something is clean or unclean but whether disagreeing about it undermines the Christian community, the church)

• v.1-6 Accept Different Beliefs about food and keeping days
• v.7-13 General Principles about Unity
• v.14-23 Clean or Unclean Foods

v.1-6 Accept Different Beliefs about food and keeping days

v.1 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.

v.2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.

v.3 The 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.

v.4 Who 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.

v.5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.

v.6 Whoever 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.

[Note: Recognize we’re all different so accept those weaker than you. Some people don’t mind what they eat, others are wary of some foods, and so neither must judge the other. We are each servants of Christ so don’t judge his servant, let him judge. It’s also true about different days, so accept differing views, and so, whether keeping days or eating food, do it as to the Lord.]

v.7-13 General Principles about Unity

v.7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.

v.8 If 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.

v.9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

v.10 You, 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.

v.11 It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

v.12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

v.13 Therefore 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.

[Note: Realize that we don’t live in isolation and so everything is to be related to the Lord. Remember, Jesus is Lord of all. So don’t judge others, leave it to Judgement Day. That day will come [Isa 45:23] and then we’ll each have to speak for ourselves. Therefore, no judging, no stumbling blocks, just unity.]

v.14-23 Clean or Unclean Foods

v.14 I 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.

v.15 If 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.

v.16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.

v.17,18 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

v.19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

v.20 Do 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.

v.21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

v.22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

v.23 But 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.

[Note: I’m fine about any foods but not everyone thinks the same, but if others are upset by what you eat, consider them in love and act accordingly. Don’t let food become an issue of division, for the kingdom isn’t about this but right living, peace and joy, and that’s enough! So, do all you can for peace, unity and encouragement and don’t destroy the church for the sake of food, just be sensitive to one another. It’s simply better not to do somethings if they undermine another’s faith, so keep your thoughts between you and God, and don’t have an uneasy conscience. If you have doubts but still do something that’s not faith, that’s bad. Let faith be in all we do.]

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: