The strong must bear with the weak. Cautions against judging and giving scandal.
14:1. Now him that is weak in faith, take unto you: not in disputes about thoughts.
14:2. For one believeth that he may eat all things: but he that is weak, let him eat herbs.
Eat all things. Viz., without observing the distinction of clean and unclean meats, prescribed by the law of Moses: which was now no longer obligatory. Some weak Christians, converted from among the Jews, as we here gather from the apostle, made a scruple of eating such meats as were deemed unclean by the law; such as swine"s flesh, etc., which the stronger sort of Christians did eat without scruple. Now the apostle, to reconcile them together, exhorts the former not to judge or condemn the latter, using their Christian liberty; and the latter, to take care not to despise or scandalize their weaker brethren, either by bringing them to eat what in their conscience they think they should not, or by giving them such offence, as to endanger the driving them thereby from the Christian religion.
14:3. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not: and he that eateth not, let him not judge him that eateth. For G.o.d hath taken him to him.
14:4. Who art thou that judgest another man"s servant? To his own lord he standeth or falleth. And he shall stand: for G.o.d is able to make him stand.
14:5. For one judgeth between day and day: and another judgeth every day. Let every man abound in his own sense.
Between day, etc... Still observing the sabbaths and festivals of the law.
14:6. He that regardeth the day regardeth it unto the Lord. And he that eateth eateth to the Lord: for he giveth thanks to G.o.d. And he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not and giveth thanks to G.o.d.
14:7. For none of us liveth to himself: and no man dieth to himself.
14:8. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord: or whether we die, we die unto the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord"s.
14:9. For to this end Christ died and rose again: that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
14:10. But thou, why judgest thou thy brother? Or thou, why dost thou despise thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
14:11. For it is written: As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to G.o.d.
14:12. Therefore every one of us shall render account to G.o.d for himself.
14:13. Let us not therefore judge one another any more. But judge this rather, that you put not a stumblingblock or a scandal in your brother"s way.
14:14. I know, and am confident in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
14:15. For if, because of thy meat, thy brother be grieved, thou walkest not now according to charity. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
14:16. Let not then our good be evil spoken of.
14:17. For the kingdom of G.o.d is not meat and drink: but justice and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
14:18. For he that in this serveth Christ pleaseth G.o.d and is approved of men.
14:19. Therefore, let us follow after the things that are of peace and keep the things that are of edification, one towards another.
14:20. Destroy not the work of G.o.d for meat. All things indeed are clean: but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
14:21. It is good not to eat flesh and not to drink wine: nor any thing whereby thy brother is offended or scandalized or made weak.
14:22. Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before G.o.d. Blessed is he that condemneth not himself in that which he alloweth.
14:23. But he that discerneth, if he eat, is condemned; because not of faith. For all that is not of faith is sin.
Discerneth... That is, distinguisheth between meats, and eateth against his conscience, what he deems unclean. Of faith... By faith is here understood judgment and conscience: to act against which is always a sin.
Romans Chapter 15
He exhorts them to be all of one mind and promises to come and see them.
15:1. Now, we that are stronger ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves.
15:2. Let every one of you Please his neighbour unto good, to edification.
15:3. For Christ did not please himself: but, as it is written: The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me.
15:4. For what things soever were written were written for our learning: that, through patience and the comfort of the scriptures, we might have hope.
15:5. Now the G.o.d of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind, one towards another, according to Jesus Christ:
15:6. That with one mind and with one mouth you may glorify G.o.d and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15:7. Wherefore, receive one another, as Christ also hath received you, unto the honour of G.o.d.
15:8. For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circ.u.mcision for the truth of G.o.d, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
Minister of the circ.u.mcision... That is, executed his office and ministry towards the Jews, the people of the circ.u.mcision.
15:9. But that the Gentiles are to glorify G.o.d for his mercy, as it is written: Therefore will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles and will sing to thy name.
15:10. And again he saith: rejoice ye Gentiles, with his people.
15:11. And again: praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles: and magnify him, all ye people.
15:12. And again, Isaias saith: There shall be a root of Jesse; and he that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in him the Gentiles shall hope.
15:13. Now the G.o.d of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing: that you may abound in hope and in the power of the Holy Ghost.
15:14. And I myself also, my brethren, am a.s.sured of you that you also are full of love, replenished with all knowledge, so that you are able to admonish one another.
15:15. But I have written to you, brethren, more boldly in some sort, as it were putting you in mind, because of the grace which is given me from G.o.d,
15:16. That I should be the minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles: sanctifying the gospel of G.o.d, that the oblation of the Gentiles may be made acceptable and sanctified in the Holy Ghost.
15:17. I have therefore glory in Christ Jesus towards G.o.d.
15:18. For I dare not to speak of any of those things which Christ worketh not by me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
15:19. By the virtue of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Ghost, so that from Jerusalem round about, as far as unto Illyric.u.m, I have replenished the gospel of Christ.
15:20. And I have so preached this gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man a foundation.