(Romans 14:3-4) Judging our brother is inappropriate because we are not their masters. Do not let your good be spoken of as evil: Our liberty in Jesus and freedom from the law is good, but not if we use it to destroy another brother in Christ. It is explained by the word akatharton, Acts 10 14, nothing common or unclean. (5.) 6. Secondly, He is approved of menof all wise and good men, and the opinion of others is not to be regarded. 2. The apostle Paul knew the mysteries of the kingdom of God as well as ever any man; yet he confesses himself at a loss; and despairing to find the bottom, he humbly sits down at the brink, and adores the depth. This is laid down v. 5, Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind; that is, "Practise according to your own judgment in these things, and leave others to do so too. For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto , The Leading of the Spirit, the Secret Token of the Sons of God Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: He is as much the Son of God as he was the Son of man. But are any destroyed for whom Christ died? When Jesus was here among men, the world saw him in a certain sense, but yet in truth it did not see him at all. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. The spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord, and it is a dangerous thing to debauch and put a force upon conscience, though it be under a mistake. [1.] Romans 14 Romans 14 He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. He has the love and favour of God; his person, his performances, are accepted of God, and we need no more to make us happy. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point Wake Up! That which for the matter of it is good and unexceptionable may sometimes, by mismanagement, be rendered liable to a great deal of censure and reproach. Qui credit, vescatur quibusvis: qui autem infirmus est, olera edit. It may not be that the thing itself is clearly good or bad, but it is enough that God speaks to us about the matter. Is it for us then to judge or despise them, as if we were their masters, and they were to make it their business to please us, and to stand or fall by our dooms? Those are most pleasing to God that are best pleased with him; and they are those that abound most in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. See 1 Cor 1 10; Phil 3 15, 16. 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. But the rules are general, and of standing use in the church, for the preservation of that Christian love which he had so earnestly pressed in the foregoing chapter as the fulfilling of the law. Good praying, preaching, and discourse, may often, for want of prudence in ordering the time, the expression, and other circumstances to edification, be evil spoken of. "Hast thou clearness in such a particular? Poetical Books All things indeed are pure: Paul will concede the point that there is nothing impure in the food itself; but he likewise insists that there is nothing pure in causing a brother to stumble. But why do you judge your brother? (2.) And why dost thou that art strong set at nought thy brother that is weak? But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members. Romans vii. Now in this chapter we are furnished with the sovereign balm of Gilead; the blessed apostle prescribes like a wise physician. The works of peace and comfort are destroyed by such an offence given; take heed of it therefore; do not undo that which God hath done. This epistle is supposed to have been written some time before that to the Galatians. The kingdom of God is not meat, etc. "If thy weak brother, purely by thy example and influence, without any satisfaction received concerning his Christian liberty, be drawn to act against his conscience and to walk contrary to the light he has, and so to contract guilt upon his soul, though the thing were lawful to thee, yet not being so to him (he having not yet thereto attained), thou art to be blamed for giving the occasion." (1-2) Receiving the weaker brother. Poetical Books It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Because both the one and the other must shortly give an account, v. 10-12. Many do for meat and drink destroy the work of God in themselves (nothing more destructive to eh soul than pampering and pleasing the flesh, and fulfilling the lusts of it), so likewise in others, by wilful offence given. See to what degrees of mortification and self-denial a tender conscience will submit. We must understand it with an exception of the Lord's day, which all Christians unanimously observed; but they made no account, took no notice, of those antiquated festivals of the Jews. THIS chapter contains Paul's loving salutation to the various Christians dwelling at Rome. Because God hath received them; and we reflect upon him if we reject those whom he hath received. For this is the word of promise. See Matt 18 6, 10. There it is, I have sworn by myself; here it is, As I live. 5001 North Oak Trafficway Kansas City, Missouri 64118 Visit Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and . Luke-Acts If we do that, then it could rightly be spoken of as evil. The beginning of sin is as the letting forth of water; we are not sure that it will stop any where on this side of eternal destruction. Romans 14 - God Likes it When We Think About Others A. Don't judge each other in doubtful things. There is a lot of useless, harmful division among Christians over silly, bigoted things. They may be malnourished (by lack of good teaching). Nay, and thou mayest utterly destroy some whose profession may be so justifiable that thou art bound to believe, in a judgment of charity, that Christ died for them. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. Think what thou destroyestthe work of God, whose work is honourable and glorious; think for what thou destroyest itfor meat, which was but for the belly, and the belly for it. Romans 6:10. 1. , Zealous, But Wrong He grants that all things indeed are pure. Where he cannot be beneficent he is benevolent. (Romans 14:5-6) Judging our brother is inappropriate because these are matters of conscience. (2) All men need a Savior. 15, 16. They may be a babe in Christ (babies are weak). Children of God, born of the grandest of all parents, regenerated by the almighty energy of , THE SPIRIT OF BONDAGE AND OF ADOPTION. 7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. Now walkest thou not charitably. So for the other instance: He that eateth whatever is set before him, though it be blood, though it be swine's flesh, if it be food convenient for him, he eateth to the Lord. If a man were verily persuaded (it is Dr. Sanderson's instance, sermon on ch. Legalism has a way of making us think that we are strong and those who dont keep the rules the way we do are weak. It is seldom that any such contention exists but there is a fault on both sides, and both must mend. Grace is the soul's cheerful, entire, and avowed subjection to Jesus Christ. True love would make us tender of their peace and purity, and beget a regard to their consciences as well as to our own. And therefore, First, We have little to do to judge others, for they are not accountable to us, nor are we accountable for them (Gal 2 6): Whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me, God accepteth no man's person. Pentateuch We have an account of our own to make up, and that is enough for us; let every man prove his own work (Gal 6 4), state his own accounts, search his own heart and life; let this take up his thoughts, and he that is strict in judging himself and abasing himself will not be apt to judge and despise his brother. Every creature of God is good, 1 Tim 4 4. (Romans 14:22-23) The concluding principle of faith. He that regards the daythat makes conscience of the observance of the Jewish fasts and festivals, not imposing it upon others, nor laying a stress upon it, but willing to be as he thinks on the surer side, as thinking there is no harm in resting from worldly labours, and worshipping God on those daysit is well. Here the apostle speaks of the distinction of meats and days as a thing indifferent, when it went no further than the opinion and practice of some particular persons, who had been trained up all their days to such observances, and therefore were the more excusable if they with difficulty parted with them. for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. It is proclaimed before our Joseph, Bow the knee, Gen 41 43. On the other hand, he that eatest not those meats which were forbidden by the ceremonial law, to the Lord he eateth not. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. It is grounded upon Christ's absolute sovereignty and dominion, which were the fruit and end of his death and resurrection. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. Is made weak, that is, takes occasion to show his weakness by his censures and scruples. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. He argues against both these jointly: we must not despise nor judge our brethren. If the contending parties will but submit to this fair arbitration, each abate of his rigour, and sacrifice their differences to their graces, all will be well quickly. Receive him into your company, and converse, and communion, entertain him with readiness and condescension, and treat him with all possible endearments. In either case, the attitude is wrong because we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (1.) Did Christ quit a life for souls, such a life, and shall not we quit a morsel of meat for them? This, which had been bred in the bone with them, could hardly be got out of the flesh, even after they turned Christians; especially with some of them, who were not easily weaned from what they had long been wedded to. That, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now As the particular end specifies the action, so the general scope and tendency specify the state. If you have [strong] faith, and feel liberty to partake of certain things, praise God! Clearness in doubtful matters contributes very much to our comfortable walking, as it frees us from those scruples, jealousies, and suspicions, which those who have not such clearness are entangled in endlessly. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. To clear this argument against rash judging and despising, he shows how essential it is to true Christianity to have a regard to God and not to ourselves, which therefore, unless the contrary do manifestly appear, we must presume concerning those that in minor things differ from us. Paul speaks about the stumbling of a sincere heart, not catering to the whims of someones legalism. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. c. He who is weak eats only vegetables: In Pauls mind, the weak brother is the stricter one. (Romans 14:13) Summary: dont make it an issue of judging, but dont use your liberty to stumble another brother. 14. b. But this would not serve any more than Paul's erroneous conscience would justify his rage against Christianity (Acts 26 9), or theirs, John 16 2. We make ourselves our brethren's masters, and do in effect usurp the throne of God, when we take upon us thus to judge them, especially to judge their thoughts and intentions, which are out of our view, to judge their persons and state, concerning which it is hard to conclude by those few indications which fall within our cognizance. a. This chapter, rightly understood, made use of, and lived up to, would set things to rights, and heal us all. But why do you judge your brother? The business of our lives is not to please ourselves, but to please God. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? Another rule here given is this, that in these doubtful things every one not only may, but must, walk according to the light that God hath given him. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. General Epistles None know but those that experience it how great both the restraining and the constraining power of conscience is. 1. we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, Not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brothers way, I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself, Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died, Do not let your good be spoken of as evil, The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food, Nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak, Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves, David Guzik :: Hechos 2 El Espritu Santo Es Derramado Sobre la Iglesia, Four Views on the Millennium - Study Resources, Matthew Henry :: Commentary on Lamentations 4, Harmony of the Gospels - Study Resources - Study Resources, David Guzik :: Gnesis 2 La CreacinTerminada; Adn en el Jardn del Edn, Jonathan Edwards :: Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, David Guzik :: Apocalipsis 20 Satans, el Pecado y la Muerte son Finalmente Eliminados, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus and the Holy Trinity (Walter Martin), 1 Samuel 17-25 (1979-82 Audio) (Chuck Smith), Lamentations 1-5 (1979-82 Audio) (Chuck Smith). 14 23) that it were evil to ask his father's blessing, that mispersuasion would make it become evil to him: but, if he should be as verily persuaded that it were good to curse his father, this would not make it become good. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. Major Prophets 4. Those who know most in this imperfect state, feel their own weakness most. We can discourage or beat them down through our legalism against them, or we can do it by enticing them to sin through an unwise use of our liberty. The Whole Bible 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. An account of the unhappy contention which had broken out in the Christian church. Such censures as these discovered a great deal of rashness and uncharitableness, and would doubtless tend much to the alienating of affection. CHILDREN are expected to bear some likeness to their parent. "Nay, God doth not only receive him, but hold him up, v. 4. But. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. Nothing more destructive to true Christianity than placing it in modes, and forms, and circumstantials, which eat out the essentials. Given to hospitality. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 11. or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? Proud member Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Of guilt to our brother. It will not be asked at the great day, "Who ate flesh, and who ate herbs?" (Romans 14:14-15) Destroying a brother makes a privilege wrong. . When we are ready to reproach and reflect upon the name and memory of those that are dead and gone, and to pass a censure upon them (which some the rather do, because such judgments of the dead are more likely to pass uncontrolled and uncontradicted), we must consider that Christ is Lord of the dead, as well as of the living. Kansas City, Missouri 64118, 2017 The Spurgeon Center and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Because they are servants to their own master (v. 4): Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? It is a prophecy, in general, of Christ's dominion; and here very fully applied to the judgment of the great day, which will be the highest and most illustrious exercise of that dominion. As to our brethren, it is peaceto live in peace and love, and charity with them, following peace with all men: Christ came into the world to be the great peace-maker. Compare this with 1 Cor 8 10, 11. We live to glorify him in all the actions and affairs of life; we die, whether a natural or a violent death, to glorify him, and to go to be glorified with him. This was, and is, the mark of the true believer, that he see Jesus. Every time you hear a sermon, if it be such a sermon as God would have us preach, it pleads with you to turn unto the Lord and live." (Spurgeon) c. Not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance: Many people misunderstand the goodness of God towards the wicked. The bowing of the knee to him, and the confession made with the tongue, are but outward expressions of inward adoration and praise. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Therefore, whatever we do, we do it to the Lord because Jesus is our Lord (that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living). [2.] If a thing be indifferent, so that it is not in itself a sin not to do it, if we really think it a sin to do it it is to us a sin, though not to others, because we act against our consciences, though mistaken and misinformed. We may lawfully eat flesh, even those meats which were prohibited by the ceremonial law; but, if we abuse this liberty, it turns into sin to us: It is evil to him that eats with offence. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. It is observable that the apostle directs his reproof most against those who gave the offence; not as if those were not to be blamed who causelessly and weakly took the offence from their ignorance of Christian liberty, and the want of that charity which is not easily provoked and which thinketh no evil (he several times tacitly reflects upon them), but he directs his speech to the strong, because they were better able to bear the reproof, and to begin the reformation. God is well pleased with such a one, though he be not in every thing just of our length. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. Romans 8:1. The Pharisees taught people to plead conscience, when they made corban an excuse for denying relief to their parents, Matt 15 5, 6. Did he think it worth while to deny himself so much for them as to die for them, and shall not we think it worth while to deny ourselves so little for them as abstaining from flesh comes to?with thy meat. Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. They were not well instructed touching the cancelling of the ceremonial law by the death of Christ, and therefore retained the ceremonial institutions, and practised accordingly; while other Christians that understood themselves better, and knew their Christian liberty, made no such difference. Do you have faith? General Epistles A verification email has been sent to the address you provided. When we come to die actually, neither is that to ourselves; it is not barely that we would be unclothed, and eased of the burden of the flesh, but it is to the Lord, that we may depart and be with Christ, may be present with the Lord. In such a case we must rather cross ourselves than shame ourselves. That which puts an acceptableness upon all our good duties is a regard to Christ in the doing of them. Whedon's Commentary Clarke's Commentary Verse Romans 14:23. The judgment seat of Christ: This is the bema seat, equivalent to the judges seat in the Olympic Games. It is indeed their sin who do speak evil of that which is good for the sake of any such circumstantial errors, but it is our folly if we give any occasion to do so. Romans 10 He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. We must deny ourselves in many cases for the preservation of our credit and reputation, forbearing to do that which we rightly know we may lawfully do, when our doing it may be a prejudice to our good name; as, when it is suspicious and has the appearance of evil, or when it becomes scandalous among good people, or has any way a brand upon it. General Epistles 1. There are many reasons why a Christian might be weak. For one believes he may eat all things indeed are pure, which were the and. The one and the opinion of others is not meat, etc and would doubtless tend much to whims! Hath received ) the concluding principle of faith ; here it is I... Likes it When we Think About others A. Don & # x27 ; s Commentary &... 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