Romans 14:1-12

Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another

THE DANGER OF CRITICISM

Romans 14:1-23

Life Application New Testament Commentary:

Paul has already established the equality of Jewish and Gentile believers. In this chapter he continues to discuss how that equality could work out in daily living. Paul focuses on two issues: dietary restrictions and observance of special days. Next to circumcision, diet and calendar were the most sensitive issues that separated Jews from all Gentiles. Now, as Jews and Gentiles attempted to work out their distinctive character as Christians, these issues had to be resolved.

Rom 14:1  Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.

My wife and I have a small group. When people join that are new Christians I hear comments about how biblical we are, or you have so much knowledge. None of that is trued. I listen to a webinar yesterday that was being put on but Dallas Theological Seminary. The professor was quoting verse after verse without look them up. He was the first to admit that there was much he did not know. I think that when you have passed on to our next eternal life we may have a much better understanding. Just think how much you will learn in the first minute after death. God is real, you will be judged, you have an eternal soul etc.

Rom 14:2  For instance, one person believes it's all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Rom 14:3  Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don't. And those who don't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.

If you had been Jewish for 60 years and Paul comes and says you can have pork tomorrow, would you? No likely. I have two children with Crones disease and one is controlling symptoms with diet alone. My daughter is trying that also not sure how that is going. The cannot have dairy. Food is something that we eat or do not eat. All our tastes are different. Do we condemn someone for not eating what you like?

Rom 14:4  Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval. Rom 14:5  In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Rom 14:6  Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor Him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.

Rom 14:7  For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves. Rom 14:8  If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Rom 14:9  Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

Life Application New Testament Commentary:

14:7-8 We do not live in a vacuum; everything we do affects others. We need to consider our responsibility to others. We can demand freedom for ourselves, but we must also allow other believers that same freedom. If demonstrating our freedom causes us to act in an uncaring, hurtful way toward other believers, we are not yet free. Ultimately we are not our own masters. Our entire life, from beginning to end, belongs to the Lord. We live to him and die to him. Our relationship with the Lord is more important than life or death, and life and death are more important than religious observances. So all our discussions must never interfere with our relationship to Christ, who is our Lord. It is the Lord’s judgment that matters. With respect to the way we treat other believers, we ought to consider the question, “Am I treating people as though they also belong to the Lord?”14:9 Christ died to free us and to deliver us from judgment. He alone is our judge. For any believer to claim to have the authority to tell others how they should think or act in matters of opinion is to usurp the position that Christ alone holds.

Rom 14:10  So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. Rom 14:11  For the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the LORD, 'every knee will bend to Me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God. '" Rom 14:12  Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.

One thing should be very clear here. We are not to condemn another Christian but we can come along side another and help them understand. “Rom 14:12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.” Does that worry you? I does worry me, did I do all that I can, will the Lord approve of my life. Things to think about.