Romans
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Romans 14
Romans 14
1But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples.
1Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Commentary · verse 1
2One man hath faith to eat all things: but he that is weak eateth herbs.
3Let 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.
4Who 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.
2For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Commentary · verses 2-4
Doctrine: God is the judge of other people, not us. The word "judge" in these verses was krino which meant "to take an action to equal out justice." This was not simply determining if someone was wrong. This was the same word used in Romans 2 and Romans 3, as well as Matthew 7. This was the opposite of forgiveness: to state your will you won't equal out justice. The rest of this chapter will take this concept further.
5One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind.
5One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Commentary · verse 5
Doctrine: Being fully assured in your own mind meant having understanding, knowing the WHY! Clearly, the WHAT should not be the focus. In verse 2, Paul stated two different WHAT's (eating everything vs. eating only herbs). Paul wanted us to see that sin depended on faith (individual understanding and experience), our WHY and HOW, not the WHAT.
6He 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.
7For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself.
8For 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.
6He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
Commentary · verses 6-8
Doctrine: The WHY/HOW behind the actions you take are more important than WHAT your actions are.
9For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10But 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.
9For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Commentary · verses 9-10
Doctrine: God is the judge of other people, not us. We will all be judged, so we ought not to judge others. When you judge others you are stating your will, through your words and actions, that Christ will not judge and that God is not Just. This would be an example of not glorifying God, of not recognizing the value within Him. Paul stated this critical premise twice, which was first introduced at the end of Chapter 1 and the beginning of Chapter 2, and we can now see was one of the first effects of not glorifying Him as God.
11For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, And every tongue shall confess to God.
11For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Commentary · verse 11
Paul referenced Isaiah 45:23.
12So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.
12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Commentary · verse 12
Doctrine: Everyone, believers and non-believers, will give an account of themselves to God.
13Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock in his brother’s way, or an occasion of falling.
13Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
Commentary · verse 13
Doctrine: The only thing we ought to judge is a believer ("brother") putting a stumblingblock in the path of another believer. This is an action. Judge the stumblingblock in another believer's path. Even if the believer does not stumble, we still should judge the action, not the person. Despite Paul's repeated clear statements not to judge people, some "Christians" today want to interpret Jesus words in Matthew 7:1 ("Judge not, that ye be not judged") as Jesus encouraging us to judge and discouraging us from judging hypocritically. That misinterpretation would contradict everything we have read from Paul in this letter to the Romans.
14I know, and am 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.
14I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Commentary · verse 14
Doctrine: Nothing is sin because of the WHAT. It is sin because of the faith of the person.
Doctrines on this passage
15For if because of meat thy brother is grieved, thou walkest no longer in love. Destroy not with thy meat him for whom Christ died.
15But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Commentary · verse 15
If your action puts a stumblingblock in the path of another believer, then you are not walking in love. This would be the opposite of thinking well of others, which would be an effect of not thinking well of God.
16Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
16Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Commentary · verses 16-17
Doctrine: The Kingdom of God is not physical: eating and drinking. The Kingdom of God is spiritual: Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18For he that herein serveth Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of men.
19So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.
18For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Commentary · verses 18-19
We ought to do things that edify (build up) each other and create harmony between people. We ought to think well of others as an effect of thinking well of God. Recognizing God's intrinsic value (His glory) will help people recognize the value within the people He created.
20Overthrow not for meat’s sake the work of God. All things indeed are clean; howbeit it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth.
20For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Commentary · verses 20-21
Doctrine: Anything we do that causes a brother to stumble is not good.
22The faith which thou hast, have thou to thyself before God. Happy is he that judgeth not himself in that which he approveth.
22Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
Commentary · verse 22
Happy are those who do not condemn themselves (feel guilt) about the actions they choose to do. You can be happy when you know the cause behind your actions. If you feel guilt over an action, you have two choices:
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stop doing the action, or
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stop feeling guilty,
and the only way to remove guilt is to confess and repent.
23But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
23And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Commentary · verse 23
Doctrine: God's definition of "sin" is "whatsoever is not of faith." See also - James 4:17. Faith is built through understanding and experience. Sin is that which the individual does that is apart from their experience and understanding of what is right, otherwise they will feel guilt. This was the powerful conclusion that tied together everything Paul stated in this chapter.
Theme of Chapter 14: Paul built on the foundation of the previous chapter which showed us that we have nothing to worry about if we are loving our neighbor which was the fulfillment of the Law. Paul stated the only thing we ought to judge is a specific action: a believer putting a stumblingblock in the path of another believer. Paul gave the definition of sin: anything that is not of faith.
Doctrines on this passage
Doctrine: Believers receive those weak in faith by helping them grow in faith and avoiding anything that would cause confusion to those weaker in the faith. When someone tells you that your behavior is causing them distress/confusion, you ought to avoid the behavior if that person admits they are weaker than you in the faith. If this person will not state they are weaker in the faith, they are in pride and trying to control you.