Do Not Judge Your Brother
1 Receive him that is weak in the faith, but not for passing judgment.
2 For one believes that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eats herbs.
3 Let not him that eats despise him that eats not; and let not him who eats not judge him that eats: for God has received him.
4 Who are you that judge another man's servant? to his own master he stands or falls. Yea, he shall be held up: for God is able to make him stand.
5 One man esteems one day above another: another esteems every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He that regards the day, regards it unto the Lord; and he that regards not the day, to the Lord he does not regard it. He that eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he that eats not, to the Lord he eats not, and gives God thanks.
7 For none of us lives to himself, and no man dies to himself.
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.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10 But why do you judge your brother? or why do you despise your brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteems anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 But if your brother is grieved with your food, you no longer walk in love. Destroy not him with your food, for whom Christ died.
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of God is not food and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things with which one may edify another.
20 For food destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eats with offense.
21 It is good neither to eat meat, nor to drink wine, nor anything by which your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak.
22 Have you faith? have it to yourself before God. Happy is he that condemns not himself in that thing which he allows.
23 And he that doubts is condemned if he eats, because he eats not of faith: for whatever is not of faith is sin.
— Romans 14 | King James 2000 Bible (KJB2K)
The King James 2000 Bible, copyright © Doctor of Theology Robert A. Couric 2000, 2003. All rights reserved.
Cross References: Ruth 3:14; Psalm 34:14; Ecclesiastes 11:9; Zechariah 14:21; Matthew 7:1; Matthew 12:36; Matthew 13:21; Mark 7:2; Mark 7:19; Luke 1:1; Luke 18:9; Acts 10:15; Romans 2:1; Romans 8:38; Romans 15:1; 1 Corinthians 8:8; 1 Corinthians 8:11; Philippians 2:10; Titus 1:15; James 4:11-12; 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 4:5; Revelation 14:13
Notes: A judgment day is coming for Christians when Christ will examine all our works. He will determine which of our deeds were worthwhile and which were worthless.
Key Passages in Romans 14
1. Men may not condemn one another for disputable matters;
13. but must take heed that they give no offense in them;
15. which the apostle proves unlawful by many reasons.
