Do Not Judge Another
14:1But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples. 14:2One man hath faith to eat all things: but he that is weak eateth herbs.1 14:3Let not him that eateth set at nought him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 14:4Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand.
14:5One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. 14:6He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
14:7For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself. 14:8For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 14:9For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
14:10But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or thou again, why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God.
14:11For it is written,
As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow,
And every tongue shall confess to God.
14:12So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Do Not Make Another Stumble
14:13Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock in his brother's way, or an occasion of falling.14:14I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself: save that to him who accounteth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 14:15For if because of meat thy brother is grieved, thou walkest no longer in love. Destroy not with thy meat him for whom Christ died. 14:16Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 14:17for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 14:18For he that herein serveth Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of men. 14:19So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.14:20Overthrow not for meat's sake the work of God. All things indeed are clean; howbeit it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 14:21It is good not to eat flesh1 , nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth. 14:22The faith which thou hast, have thou to thyself before God. Happy is he that judgeth not himself in that which he approveth. 14:23But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
- but he that is weak eateth herbs (2), It is good not to eat flesh (21) See the Metaphysical Bible Interpretations. For the Fillmores, “man is healthier and clearer in mind, when he subsists on a strictly vegetarian diet ... there is no occasion for taking the life of birds or animals for food.” But the commentaries imply that judging people who eat meat is a bigger problem than eating meat itself.
For Paul, this verse is not about vegetarianism nor about a plant-based diet. Rather, this passage is about the judgement of the wealthy toward the poor. Paul is critical of those who refrain from eating meat because they are restricted by religious custom—fear of eating meat that had been sacrificed to pagan rituals. Eating such food was a necessity for the poor—distributing sacrificed meat was a form of “government assistance” of the day. The wealthy could refrain from eating such food. Paul is addressing the judgment of the wealthy regarding the poor.
Following Entry: Romans 15