Romans 14:1-12

Romans 14:1-2 Kings : . A Lesson in Toleration.— A special homily for Rome ( Romans 14:1 to Romans 15:13) follows the comprehensive exhortation of chs. 12 f. Some ascetic circle in the Roman Church (p. 650 ), led perhaps by Jews of Essenic tenets (see Lightfoot’ s Colossians, on the Essenes), practised vegetarianism; others made much of sacred days. On such matters Christians should not judge or quarrel with each other.

Romans 14:1-Numbers : . “ The man who eats herbs only,” has a feeble apprehension of the Gospel, imagining his salvation affected by his diet; see Romans 14:17; cf. Mark 7:14-Isaiah : Still he has faith and “ must be received” as a brother, “ for God has received him; but not received so as to raise questions of doubtful debate.” The atmosphere of controversy is injurious to the Christian society. The man free from scruples “ despises” the stickler, who retorts by “ judging” the libertarian. Both are “ servants of” God’ s “ household,” who “ stand or fall to their own Master— yes, and will stand,” though they try to pull each other down, for “ mighty is the Lord, the upholder.”

Romans 14:5 . So in regard to sabbath and festa observance: conscientious conviction is the essential thing (p. 647 ).

Romans 14:6 . “ He who minds the day” ( cf. Romans 8:5-Judges :, Romans 12:16, for the verb), “ minds it” with a view “ to” serve “ the Lord” ; “ and he who eats flesh, eats it to the Lord, for he gives God thanks” ( cf. 1 Timothy 4:4 f.), while the vegetarian does the same over his spare diet— they are agreed in the vital point (see 1 Corinthians 10:30 f.).

Romans 14:7-1 Kings : lifts the reader into the realm of “ Christ’ s lordship, won by His death and resurrection,” which covers “ life and death alike” ; in both estates, the fact that “ we are the Lord’ s” determines everything. Now, “ to judge” or “ to despise your brother,” with whom you “ must stand side by side at God’ s tribunal”— a certainty expressed in solemn words of Scripture ( Romans 14:11)— is an encroachment on Christ’ s sovereignty. Paul puts the “ dead” before the “ living” ( Romans 14:9), the former being nearer to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:8, Php_1:23 , 1 Thessalonians 4:14-Nehemiah :).

Romans 14:12 . Instead of meddling with other men’ s responsibilities, let each see to himself in view of the final account.