Frameworks:
Romans 14
(The
objective of these ‘Frameworks' is to provide an easy-to-read
layout of the text in order then to use these individual verses
for verse-by-verse study or meditation. To focus each
verse we have also added in italic a description of what is happening)
CHAPTER
14
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
[Context:
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 because partly because
of the Law and partly because of pagan practices. The Law held
some days as special but 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.1
(recognise we're
all different so accept hose weaker than you) Accept
the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable
matters.
v.2
(some people
don't mind what they eat, others are wary of some foods)
One person's faith allows them to
eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
v.3
(neither must
judge the other) 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
(we are each
servants of Christ so don't judge his servant, let him judge)
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
(it's also true
about different days, accept differing views) 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
(whether keeping
days or eating food, do it as to the Lord) 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.
v.7-13
General Principles about Unity
v.7
(we don't live
in isolation) For none of us
lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.
v.8
(everything
is to be related to the Lord) 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
(Jesus
is Lord of all ) 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
(don't judge
others, leave it to Judgement Day) 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
(that day will
come) It is written: “‘As surely
as I live,' says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every
tongue will acknowledge God.'” [Isa 45:23]
v.12
(then we'll
each have to speak for ourselves) So
then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
v.13
(therefore,
no judging, no stumbling blocks, just unity) 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.
v.14-23
Clean or Unclean Foods
v.14
(I'm fine about
any foods but not everyone thinks the same) 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 others are
upset by what you eat, consider them in love and act accordingly)
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
(don't let food
become an issue of division) Therefore
do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.
v.17,18
(the kingdom
isn't about this but right living, peace and joy and that's enough)
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
(do all you
can for peace, unity and encouragement) Let
us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to
mutual edification.
v.20
(don't destroy
the church for the sake of food, be sensitive to one another)
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's simply
better not to do somethings if they undermine another's faith)
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
(keep your thoughts
between you and God, and don't have an uneasy conscience)
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
(if you have
doubts but still do something that's not faith and that's bad)
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.