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Romans Chapter
Fourteen
I.
Content of the Chapter
Conditions that Believers Should Have Among
Them
A. We should not judge one another:
1. Concerning food (v.1-4);
2. Concerning the day (v.5);
3. Everyone should be responsible to the Lord
respectively (v.6-12).
B. We should not stumble others:
1. Though what man does is according to the
truth, stumbling brothers is sin (v.13-21).
2. Everyone should seek to have no
self-condemnation in him (v.22-23).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Rom.
14:1 “Receive one who is weak in the
faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.”
YLT: “And him who is weak in the faith
receive ye -- not to determinations of reasonings;”
Literal Meaning: “one
who is weak in the faith”, according to the following text, they
only eat vegetables (v.2), so it may refer to the Jewish Christians who cling
to the customs of the law. And they also observe
the day (v.6) and esteem one
day above another (v.5).
“Receive”, it means having fellowship with
each other without any obstruction.
“But not to
disputes over doubtful things”, “doubtful things” referred to the matters
which had not involved in the teachings of the apostles at that time (see Acts
2:42), or things of which the apostles had not reached the same conclusion (see
Acts 15:28-29). In other words, it refers to things that the Scriptures have
not clearly taught.
Enlightenment in
the Word:
1) The foundation of the fellowship with each
other is the redemption of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:14-15) and the word of life
(1John 1:1-3), not everyone has the same idea of all the truth. If so, there
are never two Christians who see eye to eye. That is to say, any Christian can
accept the fellowship of another Christian.
2) If we want to accept those Christians whose
opinions are different from us, we should go beyond knowledge and treat others
in spirit and life.
3) A true church of the Lord can accept various
believers who hold different views on truth. Any church can not accept various
Christians can not be regarded as the church that the Lord pleases.
4) We should differentiate between men and
things. We should accept men, but not all things.
5) Dispute is unprofitable. It not only deals
with nothing but also raises more controversial issues and misunderstandings,
thus damaging the affections of one another and providing nothing in the
establishment of faith.
6) Doubts and disputes can only bring troubles
to the church. The church can only be increasingly built, when we do not pay
attention to “right and wrong”, but focus on accepting “men”.
7) Christians should distinguish what is
important and what is not, and what should be kept and what can be borne.
Except for heresies, we should learn to bear various believers who hold
different views instead of disputing with others.
Rom.
14:2 “For one believes he may eat all
things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.”
YLT: “one doth believe that he may eat all
things -- and he who is weak doth eat herbs;”
The Background: at that time, in the
Roman market it was filled with meat and sacrifices offered to idols, from
which the Jews abstained. Therefore, many Jewish believers abstained from meat,
and ate vegetables only. And there were also many believers who thought they
had knowledge and idols were nothing, so those sacrifices offered to the idols
were also nothing (see 1Cor. 8:4, 10). They held nothing was under taboo.
Literal Meaning: “for
one believes he may eat all things”, “one” refers to the
one who is strong in faith, who is opposite to the one who is weak. “Believe”,
it refers to a belief, namely, a firm conclusion drawn from the knowledge about
the truth of the gospel. “He may eat all things”, no food to be refused, if it
be received with thanksgiving (see 1Tim. 4:4).
“But he who
is weak eats only vegetables.” ---- “He
who is weak” refers to the one
who is weak in the faith (v.1). Since he has vague knowledge about
the truth of the gospel, he has doubts as to whether some food can eat or not
and has no firm assurance. “Eats only vegetables”,
it refers to abstaining from meats (1Tim. 4:3, the original).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) It runs counter to the Scriptures (see v.14;
1Tim. 4:3, the original) that one believes only vegetables are eatable, but
Paul still exhorts us to accept such man (v.1). Obviously, the difference of
the ideas of the truth can not be the reason of the division of believers.
2) Christians who are weak in faith stick to
the outward rules, and Christians who are strong in faith keep the inward
spirit.
3) Christians should seek the will of God from
the words of the Scriptures. We need not fuss about the outward forms or
methods, but shall have surpassing insight and see everything from the
perspectives of God.
Rom.
14:3 “Let not him who eats despise him who
does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has
received him.”
YLT: “let not him who is eating despise
him who is not eating: and let not him who is not eating judge him who is
eating, for God did receive him.”
Meaning of Words:
“despise”: contemptible, least esteemed, set at
naught; “judge”: esteem, condemn, sentence to;
Literal Meaning: “let not him who
eats despise him who does not eat”, “him who eats” refers to the one who eats
all things. “Him who does not eat” refers to the one who eats
vegetables only.
“Despise” refers to negatively
acceptance; since God has accepted the one who does not eat, he who eats has to
accept him but sees him at naught.
“He who does
not eat judge him who eats”, “judge”: to condemn the other one and
cavil about him.
“For
God has received him”, it also mentions the word “receive” in
verse one. Therefore, believers should receive all those whom God has received.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) How the assembly and believers accept one is
according to how God receives. We receive all those whom God receive, and
refuse all those whom God refuses.
2) We should not despise or judge others. He
who is strong may tend to despise him who is weak, and he who is weak is
inclined to judge him who is strong. Actually, we are all servants of the Lord
and have equal status and are all governed by God. Therefore, we should respect
each other.
3) We shall know that Christians have no
authority to decide that the lifestyle of others should be according to our own
will. Only Christ has such authority. Therefore, man should not judge others
wantonly.
Rom.
14:4 “Who are you to judge another's
servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to
stand, for God is able to make him stand. ”
YLT: “Thou -- who art thou that art
judging another's domestic? to his own master he doth stand or fall; and he
shall be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.”
Literal Meaning: “who are you to
judge another’s servant?” ---- “Another” refers to the Lord. Christians should
not despise or judge brothers, for they are servants of the Lord.
“To his own master he stands or falls”,
he who “stands” refers to the Christian who has strong faith (see
“He will be made to stand, for God is
able to make him stand”, the standing power of a believer is not of himself,
but of the Lord. Though it seems that one has been fallen, he is still in the
Lord’s hands and the Lord will discipline, deal with and restore him. And
finally, the Lord “can” and “will” make him stand, so we need not take the
Lord’s job into our own hands.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) What the assembly needs is active perfecting
of the saints (Eph. 4:12) instead of negative criticism or judgment. The former
makes one saved and the latter makes one sorrowful and stumbled (see v.13, 15).
2) Many times, our attitude towards brothers in
the assembly has robbed the Lord’s position. We should know we are all
servants. Though we can show concern to one another, we should still know how
far to go and when to stop.
3) The best help and care we can show to saints
are to bring them to the Lord and let them establish direct relationship with
the Lord.
YLT: “One doth judge one day above
another, and another doth judge every day ; let each in his own mind be fully
assured.”
Meaning of Words:
“be fully convinced”: completely assure, fully know
(persuade), make full proof of;
Literal Meaning: “one person esteems
one day above another”, “one person” refers to the one who is weak in faith;
“one day” refers to the Sabbath or other special days in the customs and laws
of the Old Testament, e.g. the Feast of Passover, and the Feast of Tabernacles
and etc. “Another” refers to the common days. “One day above another”, it means
that the feasts are more important than other days.
“Another esteems every day alike”,
“another” refers to the one who is strong in faith; “alike” means they are both
important. Christian should live before the face of God everyday.
“Let each be fully convinced
in his own mind”, “be fully convinced in his own mind”, it means that one has
no doubt about or self-reproach for what can be done in his mind and is
confident he is right. Christians should be firmly convinced of the knowledge
and opinions about the truth, but should not voice one's opinions to others.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) It is not the
central point whether Christians eat meat or not or
whether we observe the day or not. What is really important is whether our
heart is upright. Therefore, to what we have attained the truth, let us walk in
the same steps (see Phil. 3:15-16).
2) The Lord has not asked us to unify all the
opinions and doings of every believer, but has encouraged everyone to have
different ideas. A true spiritual man is a man who can bear various opinions of
others.
3) We need not interfere with opinions
concerning spiritual things of others. However, we should always seek until we
are fully convinced our own understanding conforms to the will of God.
Rom.
14:6 “He who observes the day, observes it
to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not
observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who
does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. ”
YLT: “He who is regarding the day, to the
Lord he doth regard , and he who is not regarding the day, to the Lord he doth
not regard . He who is eating, to the Lord he doth eat, for he doth give thanks
to God; and he who is not eating, to the Lord he doth not eat, and doth give
thanks to God.”
Literal Meaning: “he
who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the
day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord”,
“observe the day”, it refers to spiritual pursuit
and service. “Eat”, it refers to the expression and testimonies in life. “To
the Lord”, it relates to one’s heart and motive. Paul means that as long as
one’s motive in his heart is right, even though his outward deeds are not
utterly right, it does not matter.
“For
he gives God thanks”, it indicates that he
confesses that God is the origin of days and food and God bestows them to him
to let him enjoy.
“And
he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks”, the motive of
one’s not eating is to serve God, and he thanks God that God grants him such
piety to not eat.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Many times, disputes in the assembly are not
for the sake of the Lord, but for some details and the so-called truth
(actually, it cannot be called truth) besides the Lord.
2) If we live for the Lord, problems that
whether we shall observe the day and whether we eat meat are not difficult to
be dealt with.
3) Whatever Christians do, we should be
thankful to God. Once we thank God, what we are doing is connected with God,
thus what is common has become sanctified.
YLT: “For none of us to himself doth live,
and none to himself doth die;”
Literal Meaning: “none of us lives to
himself”, Christ is the value of our life. We are living to please the Lord,
not ourselves.
“No one dies to himself”, even though we
come to the crucial point concerning life and death, what should really be paid
attention to is still our relationship with the Lord.
Rom.
14:8 “For if we live, we live to the Lord;
and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are
the Lord's. ”
YLT: “for both, if we may live, to the
Lord we live; if also we may die, to the Lord we die; both then if we may live,
also if we may die, we are the Lord's;”
Literal Meaning: “if we live, we live
to the Lord”, living to the Lord is to let the Lord reign in our daily life
---- the Lord has full authority over man and man has no authority of his own.
Here, it points a great principle of
Christians’ life: no matter live or die, we should always firmly believe that
we are of the Lord. Christ is the lord of believers.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) After we have been saved, we are completely
of the Lord. No matter we live or die, “we are the Lord’s”. Therefore, if we
live, we should live to the Lord and die to the Lord.
2) “Live to the Lord”. All the occupations and
careers of Christians are subsidiary businesses. Only serving the Lord is our
major occupation. We should take serving the Lord as the center and purpose of
our life. We only undertake our occupations with our hands to maintain our life
and supply for the need of the Lord’s work.
Rom.
14:9 “For to this end Christ died and rose
and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”
YLT: “for because of this Christ both died
and rose again, and lived again, that both of dead and of living he may be
Lord.”
Literal Meaning: since Christ has
risen from the dead, He is worthy of being the Lord of both the dead and the
living.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
For the love of the Christ constrains us, having
judged this: that one died for all, then all have died. And he died for all,
that they who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who died for
them and has been raised (2Cor. 5:14-15).
2)
Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. Therefore, for me to live Christ, and to die gain (Phil. 1:21).
Rom.
14:10 “But why do you judge your brother?
Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ. ”
YLT: “And thou, why dost thou judge thy
brother? or again, thou, why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall
all stand at the tribunal of the Christ;”
Literal Meaning: “why do you judge
your brother?” “Judge” refers to the outward deeds.
“Why do you
show contempt for your brother?”, “contempt” refers to the inward deeds.
“For we
shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ”, “we” refers to
all the Christians; “the judgment seat of Christ” refers to the judgment seat
of God ---- it is not the judgment before the “great white throne” (Rev.
20:11-15), but the judgment before “the judgment-seat of the Christ” (2Cor.
5:10) when Christ comes again. Since God has given all judgment to Christ (John
5:22, 27), the judgment seat of Christ is the judgment seat of God. The
judgment seat of God is the judgment seat of Christ.
Controversial Clarification: many theologians
give a wrong teaching that believers will never be punished by God after death.
Because it is mentioned in the Scriptures that when Christ comes again, the
dead shall be raised incorruptible (1Cor. 15:52) and be caught up in clouds to
meet the Lord in air, and thus we shall be always with Lord (1Thess. 4:16-17).
Therefore, the judgment upon believers after death is for the purpose of
choosing those who have overcome and shall reign (Rev. 20:4). Christians who
have failed will never be punished by God after death. In order to justify
themselves, they explain the parables of the evil servant, the foolish virgin
and the wicked and slothful servant and etc. (see Matt. 24:45-51; 25:1-13,
14-30) as those who believe. Here, the author lists several points in conflict
with other verses for readers’ reference only:
1) The judgment must begin from the house of
God ---- it admonishes believers against sinning. And this judgment related
one’s “end” (1Pet. 4:15, 17).
2) We (believers) all may receive the things in
the body, according to those he has done, whether good or evil (2Cor. 5:10).
Here, it mentions not only that he who does good things shall be rewarded
(reward), but also that he who does evil shall also be rewarded (punishment).
3) If the work of any one shall be consumed, he
shall suffer loss, but he shall be saved, but so as through fire (1Cor. 3:15).
Here, it does not talk about the matter of being saved or not, but the matter
of loss or no loss. If the work of believers in the world has failed in trial
of the judgment, he shall suffer loss, and such loss is as painful as through
fire.
4) The Lord says, “He that overcomes shall not
be hurt of the second death” (Rev. 2:11). In other words, believers who have
failed shall be “hurt of the second death”. The hurt of the second death is
different from “the second death” (Rev. 20:14) ---- the former is to
temporarily taste the pain of burning of fire, and the latter is being cast in
the lake which burns with fire.
5) The Lord says again, “he that overcomes, I
will not blot his name out of the book of life” (Rev. 3:5). In other words, the
names of believers who have failed may temporarily be blotted out of the book
of life. That is to say, they cannot be recognized before God the Father and
all the angels.
6) God is a righteous God. He will not ignore
our walking after we have been saved (see Heb. 6:10). Otherwise, He is not
righteous. Actually, in the counsel of God’s salvation, He has before ordained
that we who have been saved do good works (Eph. 2:10). Then each of us shall
give an account concerning himself to God (
7) The conclusion is that the evil servant, the
foolish virgin and the wicked and slothful servant in the Lord’s parables all
refer to believers who have failed (please see the commentary on the Gospel of Matthew) ---- they will be
disciplined of Lord after death. Before believers’ meeting the Lord in
resurrection and being with the Lord forever, there must be a period of time
(about one thousand years, see Rev. 20:4-6) for the purpose of reward. But the
Scriptures have not mentioned it in detail.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Judgment is of God, and man has no right to
interfere with it. Therefore, Christians should not criticize or judge other
brothers.
2) Since we are “brothers”, our status is
equal. If anyone thinks he can judge or despise his brothers, he has arrogantly
exalted himself, hasn’t he?
3) All that cannot be spoken out before God can
also not be spoken before man, for all things God will being man into judgment
(see Eccl. 11:9).
4) If we have really know that the severity of
the judgment of God that day, we shall not judge others in ourselves today.
Rom.
14:11 “For it is written: "As I live,
says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to
God." ”
YLT: “for it hath been written, `I live!
saith the Lord -- to Me bow shall every knee, and every tongue shall confess to
God;'”
Literal Meaning: “it
is written”, it is quoted from the Book of Isaiah (45:23).
“As I live”, there is another
verse after it, “the word is gone out of
my mouth righteousness and shall not return”.
“Every
knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God”, “every knee” and
“every tongue” refer to all things in heaven, and things in earth, and things
under the earth (Phil. 2:10). It indicates that all is subject to the
righteousness and truth of God’s judgment.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Our criticism and judgment may often be
wrong, but the judgment of God is always righteous and shall never be wrong.
2) Man’s word is nothing, but the word of God
abides forever.
Rom.
14:12 “So then each of us shall give
account of himself to God.”
YLT: “so, then, each of us concerning
himself shall give reckoning to God;”
Literal Meaning: “so then each of
us…”, when the Lord comes again, all of us shall stand before the judgment seat
of Christ.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Though we have been saved, we shall not thus
loosen ourselves or walk wildly, but shall walk in the world in the fear of
God, because when Christ comes again, we shall be judged before His judgment
seat and give account of us to God.
2) Each of us is of the Lord and shall be
responsible to the Lord. Therefore, we should not be responsible to anyone, for
each of us shall give account of himself to God (see 2Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:4).
3) A hymn goes like this, “I am daily gazing at
the light out of His judgment seat, That all my living and my works may stand
the test of fire”. The more we live in the light of the God, and the more we
are willing to let the Spirit of God search and judge us, the more we will find
the lowliness and poorness of us and the less we dare to judge others.
Rom.
14:13 “Therefore let us not judge one
another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a
cause to fall in our brother's way.”
YLT: “no longer, therefore, may we judge
one another, but this judge ye rather, not to put a stumbling-stone before the
brother, or an offence.”
Literal Meaning: “therefore
let us not judge one another anymore”, “therefore”, it
draws a conclusion from the words from verse ten to twelve. Since we will be
under the judgment of Christ in the last day, we shall not judge one another
anymore.
“But
rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our
brother's way”, “a
stumbling block”, it is a public attack. “A
cause to fall”, it refers to the hidden trap.
“Resolve” and
“judge” are the same word in the original. Therefore, this verse means that we
should not judge others any more, but we should only judge whether we can
“stumble brothers or cause them to fall”. In other wise, it is better to judge
ourselves than to judge others, so that we shall not hurt others.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The spiritual knowledge of us can be used in
the fellowship in love, but should not be used as the proof of judging others.
2) We have many things to do. Is there any time
for us to judge others?
Rom.
14:14 “I know and am convinced by the Lord
Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers
anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.”
YLT: “I have known, and am persuaded, in
the Lord Jesus, that nothing unclean of itself, except to him who is reckoning
anything to be unclean -- to that one unclean;”
Meaning of Words:
“unclean”: common;
Literal Meaning: “I know and am
convinced by the Lord Jesus”, the theological idea of the apostle Paul had been
transformed after he had been saved, and it was surely on account of the
special revelation given by the Lord Jesus (see 2Cor. 12:1-4; Gal. 1:16; Eph.
3:3-4; Col. 1:26).
“There is nothing unclean of itself”,
for every creature of God good, and nothing to be rejected, for it is
sanctified by God's word and freely addressing (1Tim. 4:4-5).
“But to him who considers anything to be
unclean, to him it is unclean”, “unclean”, it is opposite to the sanctified
food, so it refers to the food that is not accepted by God (see Lev. 11:1-22,
41-47). In the times of the New Testament, there is no distinction of “clean”
and “unclean” of food itself. He who is weak in faith still keeps the rules
concerning food in the law, so he holds that some food is unclean in his heart.
If the concept of the one who eats has not been changed, he puts his
consideration aside and forces himself to eat what is unclean in his eyes, he
will feel be condemned in his conscience. Besides, if others eat what is
unclean in the eyes of him before him, it will still make him unrest in his
conscience and even hurt his spiritual life.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “There is nothing unclean of itself”,
obviously, Paul is utterly convinced that man can eat all things (see v.2).
However, for the sake of brothers, he has not insisted on it. It is important
to let everything conform to the truth, but it is more important to let
brothers gain.
2) The same food may produce different effects
because of different knowledge of men. Therefore, the real problem does not lie
in outside substances, but in inside hearts. What believers in the New
Testament should pay attention to is inward things instead of outward things,
and is spirit instead of letter (
Rom.
14:15 “Yet if your brother is grieved
because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with
your food the one for whom Christ died. ”
YLT: “and if through victuals thy brother
is grieved, no more dost thou walk according to love; do not with thy victuals
destroy that one for whom Christ died.”
Literal Meaning: “if your brother is
grieved because of your food”, it means that though he who is strong in faith
thinks he may eat all things, if he recklessly eats the food that is “unclean”
in the eyes of the one who is weak in faith, it will make him grieved.
“You are no
longer walking in love”. It means that if one
does not care for the feeling of others in his walking, he has run counter to
“love”.
“The
one for whom Christ died”, the Lord paid the highest cost to die for
the one you have sinned against. Why do you not pay a little cost to make him
peace?
“Do
not destroy with your food”, “destroy”, it carries the meaning of
ruin.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Love is the basic principle that Christians
should keep. When we Christians face ideas that are different from us, we
should rather bear than destroy love.
2) Love is the highest principle in the church.
Love is the best material in building the church. Without love, there will be
no true building.
3) The basic meaning of love is not to seek
one’s own gain. The positive purpose is to perfect others. This is “love”.
4) God sees us through the blood of Christ on
the cross. If we also have learnt to see brothers through the divine blood, we
will have no problem towards brothers. This is walking in love.
5) We should know every believer is precious in
the Lord’s heart, for the Lord died for him. Therefore, we should take heed of
it. If we make brothers that the Lord loves grieved or even destroy them
because of food, how shall we not be reproved by the Lord?
6) Food represents some insignificant details
of life. However, if we are not careful, it may cause very serious result that
not only makes brothers grieved but also destroy them. He who is strong in
faith should look clearly before he leaps.
Rom.
14:16 “Therefore do not let your good be
spoken of as evil;”
YLT: “Let not, then, your good be evil
spoken of,”
Literal Meaning: “your good” refers
to good things in your eyes. “Be spoken of as evil”, it means that men
speak evil of one (see 1Cor. 10:30) because of not agreeing with him.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We believers should not be too subjective in
the church, but objectively consider the ideas and position of others.
2) Though Christians have much freedom in the
Lord, if we do not care for others nor love others (see v.15), we can still not
glorify God nor profit men (see 1Cor. 10:31, 33).
YLT: “for the reign of God is not eating
and drinking, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit;”
Literal Meaning: “for the
Christians are living in the reality of
the
“Righteousness
and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”, “righteousness” means being just and
equitable to God and men. “Peace” is having peace with God and men. “Joy” is a
natural result of walking according to the Holy Spirit. Righteousness
brings about peace,
and peace brings about
joy.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Since the
2) Righteousness
is to man himself, and
peace is to others, and joy in the Holy Spirit
towards God. Believers should be righteous and strict to themselves, and show
peace and mercy to others, and be joyful towards God in the Holy Spirit.
Whenever one walks according to the Holy Spirit and lives in the Spirit, he
will have joy before God. Joy proves that one has right life before God.
3) If we walk in righteousness to God, to men
and to everything, we will have peace with God, with men and with everything
and will naturally be filled with joy in the Holy Spirit.
4) The church is the vivid manifestation of the
5) This verse here shows that accepting
believers who have different opinions is absolutely connected with living in
the reality of the
Rom.
14:18 “For he who serves Christ in these
things is acceptable to God and approved by men.”
YLT: “for he who in these things is
serving the Christ, acceptable to God and approved of men.”
Literal Meaning: “he who serves
Christ in these things”, “these things” refer to righteousness, peace and joy
in the Holy Spirit.
“Is acceptable to God and approved by
men”, to serve Christ in this way makes both God and men rejoice.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) To serve Christ in things concerning
righteousness, peace and joy (v.17) is real service. Otherwise, even though one
does right outwardly, it is still vain.
2) Actually, “righteousness, peace and joy” are
manifestation of Christ. To manifest Christ is the best service to Christ and
is acceptable to God and approved by men.
3) We serve the Lord and please Him in things
concerning righteousness, peace and joy, not drinking or eating (v.17). We
should have clear judgment of ourselves, but should never let others be
sacrifice of our judgment.
Rom.
14:19 “Therefore let us pursue the things
which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”
YLT: “So, then, the things of peace may we
pursue, and the things of building up one another;”
Literal Meaning: “therefore let us
pursue the things which make for peace”, “therefore”, it draws a conclusion
from verse 17 to 18. “Peace”, it shows that the pursuit of good interpersonal
relationship in the church is more important than the pursuit of knowledge in
letter.
“And things by which one may edify
another”, “edify another”: be built together.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christians should pay more attention to
“brethren’s dwelling together in unity” (Ps. 133:1) than the belief of personal
practice.
2) When we put our belief into practice, we
should consider whether such action will affect the peace of brothers and our
relationship.
3) All things are lawful, but all are not
profitable. All things are lawful, but all do not edify. Let no one seek his
own, but that of the others (1Cor. 10:23-24).
Rom.
14:20 “Do not destroy the work of God for
the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who
eats with offense. ”
YLT: “for the sake of victuals cast not
down the work of God; all things, indeed, pure, but evil to the man who is
eating through stumbling.”
Literal Meaning: “do not destroy the
work of God for the sake of food”, “the object of the work of God is mainly
believers (Eph. 2:10) and the church (2Cor. 3:9)”. Therefore, “destroy the work
of God”, it on one hand means believers whose faith is weak are stumbled and on
the other hand refers to the destruction to the building of the church.
“All things indeed are pure”, it is
spoken to those whose faith is strong (see v.14).
“But it is evil for the man who eats
with offense”, if he who is strong in faith eats without considering the
feeling of those who are weak in faith and even makes them fall, it is evil.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) To serve the Lord is to accomplish the
building with Him together, so we should never do any work to pull the building
down. If any most right thing may destroy the work of God, we would rather not
do it.
2) The Lord says, “But whosoever shall offend
one of these little ones who believe in me, it were profitable for him that a
great millstone had been hanged upon his neck and he be sunk in the depths of
the sea.” (Matt. 18:6).
Rom.
14:21 “It is good neither to eat meat nor
drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is
made weak.”
YLT:
“Right not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to I,
n
which thy brother doth stumble, or is made to fall, or is weak.”
Literal Meaning: “it is good neither
to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything”, here, food and doing are mentioned
together to represent all the walking before men.
“By which
your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak”, one should
abstain from things that may stumble his brothers and shall control himself.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) He who is strong in faith has the
responsibility of caring for those who are weak in faith. And he should be
willing to sacrifice his liberty in Christ in order to prevent his brothers
from being offended.
2) The more spiritual one is, the more he shall
care for the feeling of others. The more grown one’s spiritual life is, the
more he can give up himself and consider others in everything.
Rom.
14:22 “Do you have faith? Have it to
yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he
approves. ”
YLT: “Thou hast faith! to thyself have
before God; happy is he who is not judging himself in what he doth approve,”
Literal Meaning: “you have faith”, it
means that one believes he can eat all things.
“Have it to yourself before God”, your
belief in food is a personal matter before God. You should be responsible to
God, but not force others to have the same belief.
“Happy is
he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.” ---- “In what he
approves”, it means that one holds that it has no problem to eat any food
before God. “Do not condemn himself”, one has no condemnation in his conscience
since he has not stumbled others. “Happy”, he is happy for he shall not be
condemned because of this thing.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We often measure others by ourselves.
Actually, the portion of everyone given by God is different, and each of us has
what is of our own. Therefore, we should not measure others, but keep before
God.
2) After we have been saved, our conscience is
revived and we have obtained the indwelling Spirit. If there is anything wrong,
there will be the feeling of condemnation in us. Therefore, if we feel no
condemnation, doubt, or inappropriateness of all our words and deeds in our
conscience, it proves that God has pleased us and we will be blessed.
3) The Lord says, “For there is a necessity for
the stumbling-blocks to come. Yet woe to that man by whom the offence comes!”
(Matt. 18:7). Therefore, happy is he who walks carefully in the church and
stumble no one.
Rom.
14:23 “But he who doubts is condemned if he
eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is
sin.”
YLT: “and he who is making a difference,
if he may eat, hath been condemned, because not of faith; and all that not of
faith is sin.”
Literal Meaning: “he who doubts is
condemned if he eats”, he who is weak in faith has doubts of the cleanness of
food (see v.1-2, 14) on one hand and on the other hand he eats when seeing that
others eat. Therefore, he is condemned in himself.
“Because he does not eat from faith”, he
does not eat because he is convinced that he can eat. That is to say, he eats
in spite of doubts in him.
“For whatever is not
from faith is sin”, “condemn” refers to sense of quilt, and “sin” relates to
transgression.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If we have doubts about anything, or we
hesitate to do anything, it is better for us not do it.
2) Any work that believer forces him to do is
often not of faith, and it is sin in the eyes of God.
III. Outlines of the Spiritual
Lessons
The Principle of the
Church Life
A. The principle of faith (v.1-5) ---- one
should have faith, no matter he is weak or strong;
B. The principle of thanks (v.6) ---- one can
eat all things as long as he gives thanks to God;
C. The principle of being for the Lord (v.6-9)
---- everyone does to the Lord and lives to the Lord;
D. The principle of being responsible to God
(v.10-12) ---- everyone shall
be responsible to God and give account of himself to
God.
E. The principle of love (v.13-16) ---- if one
stumbles his brothers, he has not walked in love;
F. The principle of the kingdom:
1. The
2. The work of God is man, not things.
3. One should walk by faith, not in doubts.
The Oneness in
Christ ---- the Attitude We Should Have Towards Those Who Have Different
Opinions
A. Why do we have different opinions?
1. Because we have different interpretation on
the Scriptures.
2. Because we have different life background
(difference in life environment and cultural tradition).
B. We shall keep the principle of oneness of
believers:
1. We shall receive one another (v.1-3), not
despise nor judge others.
2. We shall respect one another (v.4) and keep
pure faith.
3. We shall be responsible to the Lord
(v.5-12).
Why Should Believers
Not Judge One Another?
A. Because God has received him (v.3);
B. Because one has his own master, and the Lord is able to make him stand (v.4);
C. Because one is responsible to the Lord
(v.6);
D. Because one lives to the Lord, and dies to
the Lord (v.7-9);
E. Because it is God that judges him (v.10-12);
F. Because judgment is to put a stumbling block or a cause to
fall in our his way (v.13);
The Pursuit in
Christ ---- the Pursuit of Peace
A. One should no longer judge one another
(v.13):
1. One should not “judge” others ---- not
consider oneself always right;
2. One should not “judge” one another ---- not
judge others to respond to others;
3. One should “no longer” judge one another
---- one shall cast off the habit of judgment;
B. One should not let his good be spoken of as evil (v.16-17):
1. One should not focus only on the liberty
obtained from the knowledge of truth but ignore the opinions or feeling of
others and cause loss to the spiritual life of others.
2. Firstly, one’s behavior should be guided by
love.
3. Secondly, one’s behavior should be guided by
spiritual moral merits.
C. One should not seek to please himself (
1. The life of Christians is not self-centered,
but paying attention to the feeling of others.
2. He who imitates the examples of Christ (
The Principle of
Life of the Kingdom
A. Principles in positive aspects:
1. One shall walk in
love (v.15).
2. One shall seek righteousness and peace and joy in the
Holy Spirit (v.17).
3. One shall seek to be acceptable to God and
approved by men (v.18).
4. One shall peace and the things by which one may
edify another (v.19).
5. One shall have faith. All things are of
faith (v.22-23).
B. Principles in negative aspects: (v.11):
1. One should not judge one another for the sake of food (v.13).
2. One should not destroy oneself because of
food (v.14).
3. One should not cause his brother to fall or destroy him (v.15, 20-21).
4. One should not let his good be spoken of as evil (v.16).
5. One should not destroy the work of God for the sake
of food (v.20).
6. One should do nothing in doubts (v.22-23).
One Shall Sympathize
With the One Who Is Weak in Faith
A. One shall not put a stumbling block or a cause to
fall in his brother's way (v.13).
B. One shall not let his brother be grieved, for it is not walking in love (v.15).
C. One shall not corrupt his brother, for
Christ has died for him (v.15).
D. One shall not let his good be spoken of as
evil (v.16).
E. One shall establish good interpersonal
relationship (v.18-19).
F. One shall not cause his brother to fall to
destroy the work of God (v.20-21).
G. One shall not hurt the faith of others
before God (v.22-23).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou