Romans 14:1–12. This is a very useful passage because Paul shows us how Christians should treat one another when they reach different conclusions about matters where God has allowed freedom.
We need to keep one guardrail clear: Paul is not saying, “Nothing matters; everyone can decide for himself what is right.” He is dealing with matters such as eating certain foods and observing particular days—not adultery, dishonesty, idolatry, or other things God has clearly condemned.
WELCOME HIM—DON'T QUARREL
Romans 14:1–12
Paul has just told Christians:
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor.”
Now he applies that love to a problem Christians still have:
What do we do when another Christian doesn't see something the way we do?
Paul begins:
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”
— Romans 14:1
Notice the first command:
Welcome him.
Not:
Fix him first.
Not:
Win the argument first.
Not:
Make him agree with you first.
Welcome him.
WHAT DOES PAUL MEAN BY “WEAK”?
Paul gives us an example:
“One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.”
— Romans 14:2
The weak brother has a more restrictive conscience.
For some reason, he believes certain foods should not be eaten.
The stronger Christian understands that he is free to eat them.
Paul clearly has an opinion about which one understands Christian freedom better.
He calls one:
weak.
But notice what Paul does not say.
He doesn't say:
Get rid of the weak brother.
He says:
Welcome him.
BOTH SIDES HAVE A TEMPTATION
Paul says:
“Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains.”
— Romans 14:3
That's the temptation of the stronger brother.
He may think:
How ridiculous.
Why can't he understand something so simple?
I've moved beyond all those restrictions.
Paul says:
Don't despise him.
But the weaker brother has a temptation too:
“And let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats.”
He may think:
I would never do that.
Therefore:
He must not be faithful to God.
One side is tempted toward:
contempt.
The other toward:
condemnation.
Paul allows neither.
WHY?
Paul gives a simple reason:
“For God has welcomed him.”
That changes things.
Before I reject another Christian over a matter of opinion, perhaps I should ask:
Has God rejected him?
If God has welcomed someone, I should be very careful about making my personal judgment the entrance requirement for fellowship.
“WHO ARE YOU TO PASS JUDGMENT?”
Paul continues:
“Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?”
— Romans 14:4
That's a strong question.
The other Christian isn't:
my servant.
He belongs to:
the Lord.
Paul continues:
“It is before his own master that he stands or falls.”
And then:
“And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”
We sometimes act as though another Christian's final standing before God has been placed in:
our hands.
It hasn't.
THEN PAUL BRINGS UP DAYS
Paul gives another example:
“One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike.”
— Romans 14:5
That is interesting.
One Christian treats a particular day as special.
Another does not.
What does Paul command?
“Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.”
Notice what Paul doesn't do.
He doesn't command the person who observes the day:
Stop observing it.
Nor does he command the other:
Start observing it.
He allows different practices.
“FULLY CONVINCED IN HIS OWN MIND”
That doesn't mean:
Whatever I feel is right becomes right.
Paul isn't making each person the author of truth.
He is discussing an area where God has permitted different choices.
Within that area, each Christian should act from genuine conviction before God.
That means we should not violate our conscience merely because someone else pressures us.
But it also means we shouldn't turn our conscience into:
someone else's law.
BOTH ARE TRYING TO HONOR THE LORD
Paul says:
“The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord.”
— Romans 14:6
And the one who eats:
“Eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God.”
The person who abstains also:
“Abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.”
That is important.
Two Christians can do different things while both sincerely trying to:
honor God.
Sometimes we see only the difference.
God sees the:
heart.
NOT EVERYTHING IS A ROMANS 14 ISSUE
We need an important caution here.
Paul isn't saying every disagreement belongs in Romans 14.
Suppose someone says:
“Adultery is wrong for you, but my conscience allows it.”
Romans 14 doesn't apply.
Why?
Because God has already spoken clearly about adultery.
In fact, Paul just quoted:
“You shall not commit adultery.”
Romans 14 concerns matters in which different practices can legitimately be followed while honoring God.
We shouldn't use “It's a matter of conscience” to erase something Scripture clearly teaches.
HOW DO WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?
That's the harder question.
Before calling something a Romans 14 matter, ask:
Has God clearly commanded it?
Has God clearly forbidden it?
If so, personal preference doesn't overrule Scripture.
But if Scripture allows freedom, we should be very cautious about creating a law where God has not created one.
That principle can save Christians from a great deal of unnecessary fighting.
“NONE OF US LIVES TO HIMSELF”
Paul now broadens the discussion:
“For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.”
— Romans 14:7
Then:
“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord.”
Our lives don't ultimately belong to:
us.
They belong to:
Christ.
Paul concludes:
“So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.”
That is the controlling relationship.
CHRIST IS LORD
Paul continues:
“For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”
— Romans 14:9
Why shouldn't I try to become lord over another Christian's conscience?
Because someone already holds that position.
Jesus.
Christ died.
Christ rose.
Christ is:
Lord.
Not me.
PAUL SPEAKS TO BOTH SIDES AGAIN
Paul asks:
“Why do you pass judgment on your brother?”
— Romans 14:10
That's aimed at one side.
Then:
“Or you, why do you despise your brother?”
That's aimed at the other.
Again we see the two dangers:
judging
and
despising.
The restrictive Christian may condemn the one exercising freedom.
The Christian exercising freedom may look down on the restrictive Christian.
Paul tells both:
Stop.
WE WILL ALL STAND BEFORE GOD
Why?
“For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”
That should produce humility.
I will not ultimately judge:
you.
You will not ultimately judge:
me.
We will both stand before:
God.
Paul then quotes Isaiah:
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
The final Judge doesn't need our help taking His seat.
“EACH OF US”
Paul concludes:
“So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
— Romans 14:12
Notice:
himself.
There are certainly times when Christians must correct one another.
Paul does that himself.
Church discipline exists elsewhere in the New Testament.
Romans 14 does not eliminate discernment or correction.
But it does eliminate the idea that I have been appointed to supervise every decision another Christian makes in an area where God has granted freedom.
I have enough responsibility preparing to answer for:
myself.
A VERY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION
There is a difference between:
God's command
and
my conclusion.
There is a difference between:
Scripture
and
my tradition.
There is a difference between:
sin
and
something I personally would never do.
Those differences matter.
If God has commanded something, obey Him.
If God has forbidden something, don't do it.
But if God has left room for judgment, be careful about turning your judgment into:
God's commandment.
THIS IS WHERE TRADITION CAN BECOME DANGEROUS
Traditions are not automatically bad.
Some traditions are useful.
Some are beautiful.
Some help Christians serve God.
The problem begins when we move from:
“This is how we have chosen to do it”
to:
“This is what God requires everyone to do.”
Those are not the same statement.
Before binding something on another Christian's conscience, we should be able to ask:
Where did God bind it?
That question belongs right at the heart of:
Text B4 Tradition.
BUT DON'T USE CHRISTIAN FREEDOM SELFISHLY
Paul isn't finished.
Someone might read the first twelve verses and conclude:
“Fine. Nobody has the right to judge me. I'll do whatever my conscience allows.”
Paul is about to stop that thinking.
Christian freedom isn't merely about:
what I have the right to do.
Love asks another question:
What effect will my choice have on my brother?
That is where the next paragraph goes.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Ask the text:
What should we do with a Christian who is weak in faith?
“Welcome him.”
For what purpose?
“Not to quarrel over opinions.”
What must the stronger Christian avoid?
Despising.
What must the weaker Christian avoid?
Judging.
Why?
“God has welcomed him.”
Can Christians sometimes make different choices and both honor God?
Yes.
Paul gives examples involving:
food
and
days.
Does that mean every moral question is a matter of opinion?
No.
Romans 14 does not overturn God's clear commands.
Who is Lord of the other Christian?
Christ.
Who will finally judge us?
God.
And:
“Each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
But now Paul takes the discussion one step further.
It isn't enough to say:
“I have the right to do this.”
Love asks:
“Could what I do hurt my brother?”
NEXT: DON'T PUT A STUMBLING BLOCK IN YOUR BROTHER'S WAY
Romans 14:13–23
TEXT B4 TRADITION
Read First. Conclude Later.
Questions, comments, or disagreements?
We welcome them. Use the response form on our HOME page to send us a note.
Return to New Testament Books