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Romans 14:13
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11 For it is written:
a“As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”  
12 So then aeach of us shall give account of himself to God.  
13 Therefore let us not judge one another1 anymore, but rather resolve this, anot to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.  

The Law of Love

14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus athat there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.  
15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. aDo not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.  
16 aTherefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;  
17 afor the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and bpeace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  
18 For he who serves Christ in1 these things ais acceptable to God and approved by men.  
19 aTherefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which bone may edify another.  
20 aDo not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. bAll things indeed are pure, cbut it is evil for the man who eats with1 offense.  
21 It is good neither to eat ameat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles1 or is offended or is made weak.  
22 1Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. aHappy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.  
23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for awhatever is not from faith is sin. 
Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
<< Romans 14:12   Romans 14:14 >>


Romans 14:13

Let us not therefore judge ... - Since we are to give account of ourselves at the same tribunal; since we must be there on the same "level," let us not suppose that we have a right here to sit in judgment on our fellow-Christians.

But judge this rather - If disposed to "judge," let us be employed in a better kind of judging; let us come "to a determination" not to injure the cause of Christ. This is an instance of the happy "turn" which the apostle would give to a discussion. Some people have an irresistible propensity to sit in judgment, to pronounce opinions. Let them make good use of that. It will be well to exercise it on what can do no injury, and which may turn to good account. Instead of forming a judgment about "others," let the man form a determination about his own conduct.

That no man ... - A "stumbling-block" literally means anything laid in a man' s path, over which he may fall. In the Scriptures, however, the word is used commonly in a figurative sense to denote anything which shall cause him to "sin," as sin is often represented by "falling;" see the note at Matthew 5:29. And the passage means that we should resolve to act so as not "by any means" to be the occasion of leading our brethren into sin, either by our example, or by a severe and harsh judgment, provoking them to anger, or exciting jealousies, and envyings, and suspicions. No better rule than this could be given to promote peace. If every Christian, instead of judging his brethren severely, would resolve that "he" would so live as to promote peace, and so as not to lead others into sin, it would tend more, perhaps, than any other thing to advance the harmony and purity of the church of Christ.




Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Romans 14:13:

1 Corinthians 8:9
1 Corinthians 10:32
1 John 2:10

 

<< Romans 14:12   Romans 14:14 >>

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