Romans 14

Passage overview

Romans 14 is a chapter in which the apostle Paul emphasizes that believers should not judge or criticize one another within the community for their different religious viewpoints and daily habits—especially regarding food and festivals—and should instead treat each other with love and consideration. Paul acknowledges that there will inevitably be those whose faith is strong and those whose faith is weak, and he teaches that each person should act according to their own convictions before God, without getting into conflict with one another or causing anyone to stumble because of those differences.

1verseNow accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions.

2verseOne man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

3verseDon’t let him who eats despise him who doesn’t eat. Don’t let him who doesn’t eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.

4verseWho are you who judge another’s servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand.

5verseOne man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind.

6verseHe 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. He who doesn’t eat, to the Lord he doesn’t eat, and gives God thanks.

7verseFor none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself.

8verseFor if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

9verseFor to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

10verseBut you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

11verseFor it is written, “‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.’”

12verseSo then each one of us will give account of himself to God.

13verseTherefore let’s not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion for falling.

14verseI know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean of itself; except that to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

15verseYet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don’t destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.

16verseThen don’t let your good be slandered,

17versefor God’s Kingdom is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

18verseFor he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

19verseSo then, let’s follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up.

20verseDon’t overthrow God’s work for food’s sake. All things indeed are clean, however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating.

21verseIt is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.

22verseDo you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn’t judge himself in that which he approves.

23verseBut he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it isn’t of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin.

24verseNow to him who is able to establish you according to my Good News and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages,

25versebut now is revealed, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known for obedience of faith to all the nations;

26verseto the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

Flow of the Main Content

  • Verses 1-4: Do not criticize those whose faith is weak; recall that God has accepted them
  • Verses 5-9: Act according to what each person is convinced of in matters of festivals and food, while remembering that everything is for the Lord
  • Verses 10-13: Do not judge one another; live with the awareness that each person stands before God’s judgment seat
  • Verses 14-23: Emphasize that even if you are personally free in matters of food, you must act in love so as not to cause a fellow believer to stumble

Overall Meaning and Message

Romans 14 acknowledges that within the faith community, people may differ in their religious convictions and ways of life. In the midst of this diversity, it emphasizes the idea of “accepting one another through love.” Paul encourages respect for freedom in faith, while reminding believers that the essence of faith is to consider others and build up the community’s peace and goodness. In other words, he urges that “the common good of one another” should take priority over the freedom you think is right—“I am right”—in your own convictions.

Points for Reflection

  • Am I living while respecting other people’s religious convictions and actions?
  • Is my freedom becoming a temptation or a stumbling block for someone?
  • Let us think about what it means to build peace and goodness within the community.

Try Applying It to Yourself

Today, reflect on whether you can put into practice an attitude of acknowledging and accepting differences in your home, church, workplace, or wherever you are. Keep your own faith principles clearly in view, but pray that you can live with a heart that always offers consideration from another person’s perspective as well.