Romans 14

The Law of Liberty

1Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.[#(Rom. 14:2; 15:1; 1 Cor. 8:9; 9:22)]

2For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.[#1 Cor. 10:25; (Titus 1:15)]

3Let 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.[#(Rom. 14:10, 13; Col. 2:16)]

4Who 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.[#Rom. 9:20; James 4:11, 12]

5One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.[#Gal. 4:10]

6He 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.[#Gal. 4:10; #Matt. 14:19; 15:36; (1 Cor. 10:31; 1 Tim. 4:3)]

7For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.[#(1 Cor. 6:19; Gal. 2:20); 1 Thess. 5:10; (1 Pet. 4:2)]

8For 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.[#2 Cor. 5:14, 15]

9For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.[#2 Cor. 5:15; #Acts 10:36]

10But 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.[#Rom. 2:16; 2 Cor. 5:10]

11For it is written:

“As I live, says the ,

Every knee shall bow to Me,

And every tongue shall confess to God.”

12So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.[#Matt. 12:36; 16:27; (Gal. 6:5); 1 Pet. 4:5]

13Therefore 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.[#1 Cor. 8:9]

The Law of Love

14I 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.[#1 Cor. 10:25]

15Yet 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.[#Rom. 14:20; 1 Cor. 8:11]

16Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;[#(Rom. 12:17)]

17for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.[#1 Cor. 8:8; #(Rom. 8:6)]

18For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.[#2 Cor. 8:21; Phil. 4:8; 1 Pet. 2:12]

19Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.[#Ps. 34:14; Rom. 12:18; 1 Cor. 7:15; 2 Tim. 2:22; Heb. 12:14; #1 Cor. 14:12; 1 Thess. 5:11]

20Do 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.[#Rom. 14:15; #Acts 10:15; #1 Cor. 8:9–12]

21It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.[#1 Cor. 8:13]

22Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.[#(1 John 3:21)]

23But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.[#Titus 1:15]

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Published by: Thomas Nelson, Inc.