Explanation: In Romans 14, Paul discusses Christian liberty, a subject which he continues into the next chapter. In today's chapter Paul primarily discusses food issues, which was of concern because Jewish believers had numerous food and eating issues arising from the Mosaic law. Also, the pagans, among whom the Gentile and Jewish believers lived, often ate things sacrificed to idols as an act of worship.
     As Paul begins to address these issues, he lays down a crucial ground rule. He tells his readers to welcome brethren who are weak in the faith and to not quarrel with them about opinions. He mentions that one person believes that he can eat anything, but another person believes that he can only eat vegetables. Neither person should pass judgment on the other because God has welcomed each of them. You have no right to pass judgment on another man's servant. He stands or falls to his own master. And God, his master, will cause him to stand (1-4).
     The same is true in regard to observing days. All of them involve food issues, especially questions of preparation, feasting, or fasting. The larger question, however, in regard to these days is whether they should be special above other days. Each one should be convinced in their own mind. Likewise, those who partake of food give God thanks, as do those who abstain. Both honor the Lord. All of us live or die to the Lord. We are the Lord's whether we live or die. He died and lived again that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living (5-9).
     We must not judge our brother, and we must not despise him, because both of us will stand before the judgment seat of God and give an account of ourselves (10-12).
     Instead of passing judgment on one another, we should be careful not to put a stumbling block or a hindrance in the way of a brother. Nothing is unclean or itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it is unclean. We should not bring distress on a brother by what we eat. We should act lovingly and not injure him for whom Christ died. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." There is a way, in reference to these things, to be acceptable to God and approved of men. Therefore, we should do the things which bring peace and edification (13-19).
     We must not destroy the work of God for the sake of having certain kinds of food, even though the food is pure. It is, nevertheless, impure for someone who eats it as an offense against his conscience. We should eat or drink nothing which causes our brother to fall, to be entrapped, or to be made weak. We should keep our faith in these matters between ourselves and God. And we should remember that those who eats in spite of his doubts is condemned because he is not eating in faith. Anything that does not proceed from faith is sin (20-23).
     [Sermons: Eric Alexander. William Still. Various. ]
     [Illustration: Today's image is of a feast. In today's chapter, Paul discusses issues of eating and abstinence. Both have their place and both are matters of conscience, not of command. ]

     ²⁰ For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. ²¹ It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. ²² Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. ²³ And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

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