RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY

Passage: Romans 14:13-23

Key verse: 17

NIV

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment(A) on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.(B) 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself.(C) But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.(D) 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.(E) Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.(F) 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.(G) 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,(H) but of righteousness, peace(I) and joy in the Holy Spirit,(J) 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.(K)

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace(L) and to mutual edification.(M) 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.(N) All food is clean,(O) but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.(P) 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.(Q)

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn(R) himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts(S) is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.[a]

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 14:23 Some manuscripts place 16:25-27 here; others after 15:33.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Do Not Cause Another to Stumble

13 (A)Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide (B)never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus (C)that nothing is unclean in itself, (D)but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, (E)you are no longer walking in love. (F)By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 (G)So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 (H)For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but (I)of righteousness and (J)peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is (K)acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us (L)pursue what makes for peace and for (M)mutual upbuilding.

20 (N)Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. (O)Everything is indeed clean, but (P)it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 (Q)It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.[a] 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. (R)Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.[b]

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 14:21 Some manuscripts add or be hindered or be weakened
  2. Romans 14:23 Some manuscripts insert here 16:25–27
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Stop passing judgment (13-21) If we love our brothers and sisters, we are not to judge them. Nor are we to put any kind of stumbling block in their way. We must make sure we act so as to build up the faith of our brothers and sisters, and not do anything that might tear their faith down. Although people of strong faith have no problem with eating meat or drinking wine, others with weaker faith may see it as sin. If so, we should not do these things around them. We should do everything we can to build up their faith, not tear it down. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of food or drink, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 2. Do everything from faith (22,23) If we differ from our brother or sister in these matters, we should keep it between ourselves and God and don't air our differences. In airing our differences we may cause that person to sin. For if he or she does something that is not form faith, they are sinning. Why should what we do end up condemning our fellow Christian? Let us do what we can to build others up.

Prayer: Lord, help me to do everything in building up my weaker brothers and sisters. Help me not to be a stumbling block to anyone.

One Word: Do everything in faith