Romans 14:13–23

Explore the Bible
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile

GUARD YOUR ACTIONS
Romans 14:13–23
While in Romans 14:1–12 Paul addresses both sides in the dispute at Rome, his main criticism is leveled at the weak believer. In 14:13–23, he focuses on the strong believer. Negatively Paul warns the strong believers not to use their liberty in a way that brings spiritual harm to their weaker brothers and sisters. Positively he wants them to use their freedom on these matters in accordance with love in order to build up the body. 

Erect No Barriers (13–14)
The command, “Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another,” is transitional, summing up Paul’s point in 14:1–12 and preparing for what follows. Both the weak and strong in faith are to accept one another as brothers and sisters in Christ’s body. Paul uses the Greek verb krino in two different senses in verse 13. In the first part of the verse, the verb means “to pass judgment or criticize,” while in the second half of the verse, the verb means “to decide or determine.” Turning specifically to the strong, he warns them about putting “a stumbling block or pitfall” in the way of another believer. Paul is saying that believers who pride themselves as being strong should display their spiritual maturity by doing everything they can to avoid bringing spiritual downfall to a fellow member of the body of Christ. Paul, attempting to get the attention of the strong, concedes that they are right on the basic issue: “Nothing is unclean in itself.”

The word unclean was used by Jews to describe something that had been defiled by coming into contact with the ordinary, secular world. Paul is stating that all food is kosher.

Act in Love (15–18)
Having explained how food can bring spiritual downfall to a believer, Paul shows that this is what the strong are doing to the weak. Their eating food that weak believers are convinced is unclean hurts them, and it may even destroy their faith. Paul is clear that the strong are not acting out of love. Christ has given His life for these weak believers, and the strong are not willing to give up some food. Believers should act in love toward one another in order to encourage spiritual growth. The strong are not wrong to think they have freedom to eat whatever they want. They are wrong, however, for using their freedom without regard to the effect it may have on weaker believers. The strong need to re-evaluate their priorities, allowing Kingdom values to take precedence over selfish interest and pleasure.

Seek Positive Results (19–23)
Paul states that believers must (a command) live out the values of the Kingdom by acting in ways that promote peace and mutual edification, building up one another in the faith. The strong ought to be more concerned about the growth of the body as a whole rather than their own freedom and spiritual advancement.In verse 20, Paul commands the believer not to tear down or ruin God’s work because of food. Disputes over food can produce disunity and eventually the breakup of the congregation. He then repeats that all food is clean. The strong believer needs to recognize that it is wrong for him to eat food in such a way that spiritual harm comes to another believer. In verse 21, Paul formalizes his point in a general principle: Christians should avoid doing anything that brings spiritual harm to another believer.

Paul concludes this section by addressing the strong and the weak. The strong should keep their convictions about the matters in dispute to themselves. They should act in such a way that they have no reason to condemn themselves with respect to the practices that they approve. Paul wants strong believers to have clear consciences about the way they use their freedom in Christ, out of love and concern for the building up of the church.

The weak, who still “doubt,” should not eat. While the eating in itself may not be wrong, it is wrong to violate one’s conscience. The weak believer who eats would not be eating “from faith” — that is, on the basis of a sincere conviction that eating meat is OK. Such eating then is sin, since “everything that is not from faith is sin.” The great principle here is that any action that does not arise from faith, in a general sense, is sin.