Romans

The Letter from Yeshua's Emissary Sha’ul(Paul) to the Messianic Community in Rome

Chapter 14 - (CJB)*

A Study to Help New and Young Christians - Previous Study

Chapter 14:1-23 (CJB)

1. Now as for a person whose trust is weak, welcome him—but not to get into arguments over opinions.

2. One person has the trust that will allow him to eat anything, while another whose trust is weak eats only vegetables.

3. The one who eats anything must not look down on the one who abstains; and the abstainer must not pass judgment on the one who eats anything, because God has accepted him—

4. who are you to pass judgment on someone else’s servant? It is before his own master that he will stand or fall; and the fact is that he will stand, because the Lord is able to make him stand.

5. One person considers some days more holy than others, while someone else regards them as being all alike. What is important is for each to be fully convinced in his own mind.

6. He who observes a day as special does so to honor the Lord. Also he who eats anything, eats to honor the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; likewise the abstainer abstains to honor the Lord, and he too gives thanks to God.

7. For none of us lives only in relation to himself, and none of us dies only in relation to himself;

8. for if we live, we live in relation to the Lord; and if we die, we die in relation to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord—

9. indeed, it was for this very reason that the Messiah died and came back to life, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

10. You then, why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For all of us will stand before God’s judgment seat;

11. since it is written in the Tanakh, “As I live, says ADONAI, every knee will bend before me, and every tongue will publicly acknowledge God.”

12. So then, every one of us will have to give an account of himself to God.

13. Therefore, let’s stop passing judgment on each other! Instead, make this one judgment—not to put a stumbling block or a snare in a brother’s way.

14. I know—that is, I have been persuaded by the Lord Yeshua the Messiah—that nothing is unclean in itself. But if a person considers something unclean, then for him it is unclean;

15. and if your brother is being upset by the food you eat, your life is no longer one of love. Do not, by your eating habits, destroy someone for whom the Messiah died!

16. Do not let what you know to be good, be spoken of as bad;

17. for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, shalom and joy in the Ruach HaKodesh.

18. Anyone who serves the Messiah in this fashion both pleases God and wins the approval of other people.

19. So then, let us pursue the things that make for shalom and mutual upbuilding.

20. Don’t tear down God’s work for the sake of food. True enough, all things are clean; but it is wrong for anybody by his eating to cause someone to fall away.

21. What is good is not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

22. The belief you hold about such things, keep between yourself and God. Happy the person who is free of self-condemnation when he approves of something!

23. But the doubter comes under condemnation if he eats, because his action is not based on trust. And anything not based on trust is a sin.

Study - Chapter 14

Ch 14: verses, 1-9,

Paul begins to talk about how we should respect other members of the Church. Some early Christians who were not developed in their faith (trust), believed certain foods should not to eaten based on their earlier life. Although Jesus had pronounced that all food was good to eat when the giving of thanks to God who provides all good things some Chirstians still had these habits.

Here Paul instructs those who faith (trust), is strong should not think less of these who have less faith. Our strength of faith which allows us to eat whatever should not be a stumbling block to those whose faith is 'weak'.

When those that are 'strong' by their eating whatever food is likely to cause a 'weaker brother', to feel they can do the same it causes them to go against their conscience. This will bring them into a self condemnation and a falling away that should not have happen had the stonger refrained from eating.

Some members were observing certain 'days' as more holy that others while others considered all days the same. What is more important is to be convinced that what you are doing honours God and you have a clear conscience.

So whether you observe a certain day or not, avoid eating certain foods or not, you need to do it with out causing an offence. As it has been said that "No man is an island", is really true here. Our behaviour needs to modified by the company we are with. Our witness to those that are outside of the church as well as to all in the church needs to one of considration.

Just as Verse 8: states - "for if we live, we live in relation to the Lord; and if we die, we die in relation to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord—".

The "reason that (Jesus) the Messiah died and came back to life, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Verse 9: Just as Jesus is our example we must show His consideration to other Christians, in fact this should be our behaviour towards everyone.

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Ch 14: verses, 10-13,

Next Paul sets out how we should relate to the Brethren, other members of the Church. We need to be careful not to be acting in a judgemental way. In all our ways in relating to fellow members of the Church we are to respect their personal space.

True, we are to bring correction to our fellow members but it must be done with love and reseect because all or our actions will be judged before "God’s judgment seat;". Verse 10: This not a judgement for 'our sin'. It is a rewarding for all that we have done that has been of benefit to the Body of Christ.

Be aware that in Matthew 12:36–37(CJB)*: - It Stated, "Moreover, I tell you this: on the Day of Judgment people will have to give account for every careless word they have spoken; 37 for by your own words you will be acquitted, and by your own words you will be condemned."

You don't want to be a "stumbling block or a snare in a brother’s way", by being too judgemental. Verse 13:

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Ch 14: verses, 14-23,

Paul wraps up this passage about eating, drinking, and considering special days in these next few verses: -

Each person needs to decide what they need to do to have a clear conscience in what ever they do. The main thing is what each is doing brings Glory to Our Father through the life of Christ living through us.

As long as my freedom to do what I feel is OK, is not injuring another then my doing is good. But, 'I should not let what I know to be good, be spoken of as bad;', my paraphrase of Verse 16:

Verse 17: is a most important verse to understand. I will paraphrase this verse too.

'The Kingdom of God' - a place where the nature, the character, the very essence of God has full expression and rule - 'it is not about eating or drinking' nor about what you are doing to please God - but is about is 'righteousness,' - knowing you have a Right Standing with God, a clear not a sin consicence before Him - 'shalom' - is Peace knowing you have the right to stand in God's Presense - and 'joy in the Ruach HaKodesh' - also knowing The Holy Spirit, Ruach HaKodesh, has plans to give us all the best that God our Father has set aside for you to enjoy.

The most important thing we need to know is: - as long as what we are doing is pleasing to God and we are not causing someone else to "stumble' because of our actions then we can have a clear conscience.

Verse 23: Spells this out very clearly. If what we do is not based 'on trust', faith, then we need to examine our motive. The last part of Verse 23: make this point: - 'And anything not based on trust (faith) is a sin.'

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(CJB)* The Complete Jewish Bible" used with permission.