A low wooden table in a plain Roman room in morning light, set for two, with a round loaf, a bowl of vegetables and a clay cup.

The Book of

Romans 14

The believers in Rome disagreed about food and holy days. Paul doesn’t settle every question. He shows them how to share one table.

23 verses≈ 4 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–3:20The problemEveryone needs the gospel
3:21–5The answerRight with God by faith
6–8New lifeFree in Christ, led by the Spirit
9–11God and IsraelHis promises stand
12–16Living itLove in a church of Jews and GentilesChapter 14

The Law of Liberty

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions.

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Paul

For none of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone.

Romans 14:8

For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

Reflect

To the Lord

Paul says the one who eats and the one who abstains both do it “to the Lord” and give thanks to God. It is easy to assume that a believer who does things differently must care less about God. Who comes to mind? Write down one way you could welcome them this week, remembering that “God has accepted him.”

Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.

every knee will bow before Me

Romans 14:11

each of us will give an account of himself to God

Romans 14:12

Question

Quick question

Paul asks the believers in Rome why they judge and belittle each other. Then he gives the reason to stop.

What reason does Paul give for not judging a brother?

The Law of Love

Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.

your brother, for whom Christ died

Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil.

A small group of friends sharing a meal around a low table in lamplight in a Roman house, seen from behind.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

0:17

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.

Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that is not from faith is sin.

One table, one Lord

Whiteboard

Paul doesn’t hand down a rule about menus or calendars. He gives a way to live together: welcome each other, stop judging, remember that each of us answers to God, never trip up a brother, and “pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”

Pray

Peace at the table

Paul reminds us that “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Ask God to show you where your freedom might trip up someone else. Ask Him to help you “pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification” with the believers around you.

You’ve experienced

Romans 14

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A verse to carry with you

If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Romans 14:8

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