Romans 14

Romans 14:1-4

Romans 14:1-4 : In this chapter and in 1 Cor. chapter 8 and 1 Corinthians 10:14-33, Paul discusses the matter of eating meat; but in the main the points of emphasis in the two letters are different. In Corinthians he warns brethren against eating meat under circumstances that might lead others to eat certain meat in honor of an idol, but the main point in this fourteenth chapter is somewhat different.

 

The Christian Jews, at least, many of them, had not entirely broken away from the law of Moses. They observed certain days, and were disposed to condemn the Gentile Christians for not doing so. They would not eat meat that the law declared unclean. Some ate only herbs, lest they might eat meat that had been dedi-cated to an idol. The Gentile Christians would con-sider their conduct as foolishness. Perhaps some Gen-tile converts, having been used to eating certain meats dedicated to idols, feared to eat any meat, lest they honor an idol in so doing. All these matters were grounds for a lot of criticisms and strife.

 

Romans 14:1-4 But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples. One man hath faith to eat all things; but he that is weak eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth set at nought him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand. This weakness in faith consisted in doubts as to the propriety of eating meat, and not in the truth that Jesus is the Christ.

Many Jewish Christians held that the law of Moses was still in force. They could not always be sure that the meat bought in the market was not from an animal which the law declared unclean, nor could they be sure that it had not been dedicated to an idol. They therefore ate herbs. Others had faith to eat any kind of meat. The sticklers for the law would brand the others as sinners, and themselves be condemned by the others as foolish. Neither would be willing to give the other full fellow-ship; each would question the other’s scruples or lack of scruples.

So long as one’s faith in Christ is strong and unwavering, no one should condemn him for what he eats or does not eat but no one should try to force others to comply with his notions about eating or not eating. No servant has a right to condemn another man’s servant; his standing or falling is entirely between him and his lord. And so it is with our Lord and his servants. For one to condemn the Lord’s servant does not change the Lord’s attitude toward him. The Lord is able to make him stand, so long as his opinions do not interfere with his faith or obedience, or he does not try to force his opinions on others. Of course no one has a right to do anything that would lead an-other into sin.

Romans 14:5-6

Romans 14:5-6 : One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. The sabbath was not the only day set apart in the law of Moses for the children of Israel to observe. Many Jewish Christians still held that the law was binding and demanded that Gen-tile Christians also keep the law. The decrees of the apostles and elders in Jerusalem had no effect on some of them, as Paul’s letters abundantly show.

Such men would not only be contentious about eating meat, but would demand that Gentile Christians observe the days set apart in the law. In Paul’s discussion of these matters of opinion, the Lord’s appointments were not included. The Lord has set apart the Lord’s day for worship; its observance is therefore not a matter of opinion or indifference. “Let each man be fully assured in his own mind” as to whether he will or will not devote any other day to study, meditation, and prayer. Concerning this the Lord has bound no one, and concerning such matters no one should seek to bind his notions on others. It is therefore evident that the leaders of a church could not adopt these Jewish holidays and demand that all the members observe them. The Judaizing teachers had got in their work among the churches of Galatia, which led Paul to say, “Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.

I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain” (Galatians 4:10-11). If the leaders should set any such days to be observed by the church, the members should not submit to such an arrangement. “Let no man judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day” (Colossians 2:16).

Romans 14:7-9

Romans 14:7-9 : For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. The point in verse 7 is generally missed by assuming that Paul was speaking of our relations one with an-other. It is true that we cannot cut ourselves off from all relations with our fellow men, but that is not the lesson Paul is teaching. He was speaking of our relations to the Lord.

The connection shows this plainly. Verse 8 really explains verse 7. None of us lives to himself, “for whether we live, we live unto the Lord . . . " No one lives to himself, but to the Lord, for he is the Lord’s servant. Paul was speaking of Christians. The Christian cannot cut himself off from any connection with the Lord, and live his own life as he pleases. Even in death the Christian is the Lord’s. “Whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” Christ died and lived again, that this very relationship might be established–“that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” So far as the Greek is concerned we might as well have “for” in Romans 14:7-8 as “to” and “unto.” “No one lives for himself, and no one dies for himself.

For whether we live, we live for the Lord; or whether we die, we die for the Lord.” In life and in death we are his.

Romans 14:10-13

Romans 14:10-13 : But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or thou, again, why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another anymore; but judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion of falling. To judge, as here used, is to condemn. Those who believed they should observe the days required in the law, and refused to eat meats prohibited by the law, would condemn as sinners those who did not do likewise; and those who ate meat and refused to observe certain days would count as foolish and unworthy of consideration those who did not eat meat and observed days.

It was a bad situation. Such sentiments could not long prevail without serious con-sequences to the church.

Hence, Paul’s rebuke. God is the judge, and he will make final adjustment of all things when we all stand before his judgment-seat. If we do not voluntarily bow the knee to his authority here, we will have to do so when we stand before him; and then every tongue shall confess to him. Then everyone shall give account of himself, and not of another; and then none of us shall judge another. “Let us therefore not judge one another.” But it seems to me that this injunction against judging must be confined to such matters as Paul was discussing. How could any one beware of false prophets, unless we first judge them to be false prophets? (Matthew 7:15). And we must judge a man to be an evil worker, or we could not obey the command to “beware of the evil workers” (Philippians 3:2).

Neither could we obey Paul’s injunction in Romans 16:17-18 without judging which men belong to the class he mentions. And how could a church withdraw from the disorderly without first judging a man to be disorderly?

And we must be very strict in judging our own actions and their possible results. “Judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block in his brother’s way, or an occasion of falling.” If a man’s eating meat as food led some brother to think he was eating it in honor of an idol, and was thereby led to eat meat in honor of an idol, his eating the meat became a stumbling-block over which his brother stumbled and fell. A man should never insist on exercising his rights or liberties, if harm comes of his doing so.

Romans 14:14

Romans 14:14 : I know, and ant persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself: save that to him who accounteth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. By this emphatic statement Paul declared that the distinction the law made between clean and unclean animals was no longer in force. The Gentiles were right and the Jews were wrong in the matter of eating meats. On this point it took a special revelation to Peter to convince him that such legal distinctions were no longer in force (Acts 10:9-16). And yet, if a man thought the Lord prohibited the use of certain animals for food, he should not so use them. A man should not go against his convictions, and thus wound his conscience.

No thoughtful Christian will try to cause any one to go against his convictions, however foolish he may think his convictions are. Teach him what is right, but do not try to induce him to do what he thinks is wrong. Do not destroy his conscience.

Romans 14:15-16

Romans 14:15-16 : For if because of meat thy brother is grieved, thou walkest no longer in love. Destroy not with thy meat him for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of. Romans 14:14 is parenthetical. Romans 14:15 connects directly with Romans 14:13. Read these two verses, leaving out Romans 14:14, and you will see the connection.

The connection shows clearly that the warning against doing anything whereby a brother is grieved means more than simply a warning against doing anything to hurt his feelings; for the next sentence says, “Destroy not with thy meat him for whom Christ died,” that is, do not destroy him as a Christian. You do not destroy a Christian by violating his prejudices or notions. “Is grieved”–is brought to grief. No one should, by eating meat, bring his brother to grief, that is, destroy him as a brother. He would do this, if eating meat led a brother to eat it in honor of an idol, under the impression that you were eating in honor of an idol. A man’s freedom in Christ should not therefore be so used as to lead a brother into sin, and thereby destroy one for whom Christ died. Such conduct would make one an enemy of both his brother and Christ.

Hence a Christian may do a thing that is good within itself, and yet under certain circumstances evil may result from doing what within itself is good. If that should be the result, then his good would be evil spoken of. His influence as a Christian would be greatly injured.

Romans 14:17-18

Romans 14:17-18 : For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he that herein serveth Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of men. The kingdom of God does not consist in distinctions about meats and drinks; but no man should conclude that freedom from the law in which such distinctions were made gives him the right to eat and drink as he pleases regardless of consequences. Righteousness has to do primarily with our treatment of others; it is doing right by others. You do not treat your fellow-Christian right, if in the exercise of your supposed freedom you lead him to do wrong. And peace in this connection refers to peace among members of the church.

In a church where all members treat one another right, and are at peace among themselves, there is joy in the Holy Spirit. And the one who promotes such condi-tions in a church is well-pleasing to God, and is ap-proved by all right thinking people.

Romans 14:19-21

Romans 14:19-21 : So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another. Overthrow not for meat’s sake the work of God. All things indeed are clean; howbeit it is evil for that man who eateth with offense. It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth. No Christian should push his opinions and personal rights to the disturbance of the church. Peace is so delightful and helpful that no thoughtful Christian will needlessly cause confusion and strife, but will give “diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). Peace with one another is necessary to edifying one another. To edify is to build up–to build up in knowledge, faith, and right living.

Confusion does not edify any one; it builds up nothing but strife and par-ties in the church. But if the truth of God is at stake, the good soldier of Jesus Christ will fight the good fight. He will contend earnestly for the faith, but not for traditions, opinions, and customs. If a professed Christian indulges in questionable practices, or in his determination to have his way about things of no importance, he may overthrow the faith of one whose faith is not very strong. A Christian is a work of God. The command, “Overthrow not for meat’s sake the work of God,” will apply to any matter of indifference or of personal rights. In overthrowing the faith of a Christian we destroy the work of God, and that is a serious matter. The statement that “all things are clean” applies to meats.

The law declared certain animals unclean; that law was no longer binding. Legally no animal was now unclean, but it is evil to the man who eats with offense. And this has no reference to merely hurting the feelings of another. Here are some of the meanings of offense as given by Webster: “An occasion of sin; a stumbling block. . . . A breach of conduct; an infraction of law; crime; sin; transgression misdeed.” Thayer gives this definition and explanation of the Greek word: “A stumbling block, i.e. an obstacle in the way which if one strikes his foot against he necessarily stumbles or falls; trop., that over which the soul stumbles, i.e. by which it is impelled to sin.” To eat with offense was to eat certain meat under circumstances that would lead a weaker person to eat against his convictions. A Christian stumbles, or sins, when he violates his convictions; and it is evil for anyone to lead a person to go against his convictions, no matter how innocent the act within itself may be.

Romans 14:21 shows clearly that to eat with offense is to eat under circumstances that causes a brother to stumble. There is no danger in this country that eating meat will cause any one to go against his convictions, nor to eat in honor of an idol, and thereby destroy him; but a person by moderate drinking may lead another to become a drunkard.

A Christian should think of the possible influence of his actions before he engages in things that seem to him to be innocent. It is good to keep out of anything that might cause another to stumble.

Romans 14:22

Romans 14:22 : The faith which thou halt, have thou to thyself before God. Happy is he that judgeth not himself in that which he approveth. The Christian is not charged to keep his faith in Christ and the gospel to himself; that faith must be spread abroad throughout the world. The Christian who was well taught knew that the legal distinction between clean and unclean animals had been done away; he would therefore likely believe that he could eat any meat he chose to eat. Romans 14:2 : “One man hath faith to eat all things.” But the whole chapter shows that such faith must not be exercised under circumstances that might in his own home in the presence of God. Bloomfield has this: “Keep this persuasion to yourself, and your God; use it when you have no other witness.” A man condemns himself in what he approves, if in holding to it and practicing it he causes others to stumble.

Romans 14:23

Romans 14:23 : But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Believing a thing is right does not make it right; but doing a wrong thing, believing it is right, shows honesty of purpose. Saul of Tarsus thought he was doing right in persecuting Christians; he was true to what he believed was right–that commended him to God. He was a sinner, but an honest sinner. The Jew who believed it wrong to eat certain meat, and yet ate the meat rather than to be called odd or foolish, sinned against himself and against God. If a man even has a doubt about the rightfulness of a certain thing, he should not engage in it.

He is con-demned if he does a doubtful thing. A man cannot go against his idea of right without great injury to his character. “He eateth not of faith,” means that he did not fully believe that such eating was right. And that principle holds good concerning any practice about which we have doubts. “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” This does not refer to faith in Christ or the gospel; but to faith in the righteousness of what we do. If a Christian does a thing without being fully persuaded that it is right, he sins. A man may sin believing he is doing right; but he sins in doing anything, if he doubts that it is right. If he doubts, the act is not of faith.

 

There is this truth about the whole matter of eating meat and observing days: If the Christian Jews had had an undivided faith in Christ instead of dividing it between Moses and Christ, between the law and the gospel, they would have known that all things centered in Christ, and that the regulations about meats and days was no part of the gospel.