Romans 14:14-17
14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
After telling the believers to not put a stumbling block in the way of their brothers, Paul goes on to say that he is convinced by the Lord Jesus Himself, that there is no food that is unclean by itself, but then adds that if someone considers any food unclean, then to that person it is unclean. That should settle the matter about clean and unclean foods – all foods are clean, but to him who considers a food unclean, to him it is unclean.
Once again Paul encourages the believers to be considerate about the feelings of one another in the context of food preferences. He says that if a brother or sister is grieved because of our choice of food in their presence, then we are not walking in love, meaning that we are not demonstrating love to that person, but are merely concerned about our own feelings. He goes on to say that we should be careful to not destroy a person’s faith on account of the choices of our food, because Christ died for that person. If Jesus was willing to die to save a person, we should not do anything that would destroy the faith of that person, because that person is precious to God.
Sometimes we might kindly invite someone home (or out) for a meal, but if we eat food that’s offensive to them, we are actually hurting them, and our act of kindness could be evil spoken of. So Paul cautions the believers to bear in mind the food preferences of one another, when eating together.
He goes on to say that the Kingdom of God is not really about what we eat or drink but is rather about righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, meaning that when we were invited to, and included in the Kingdom of God, in which we now live, it was not so that we would focus on things like food and drink, but rather on living a life that demonstrates the righteousness that God has freely bestowed upon us; that we live in peace with one another, and that we live with the joy that the Holy Spirit produces in our lives. These are the things that we need to be focusing on in our lives, and not seeking to dispute about things pertaining to food and drink. And if our food preferences offend another brother in our midst, then we need to choose to love him rather than try to bring him to our point of view, and thereby offend him further.
Romans 14:18-20
18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.
Paul goes on to say that whoever serves Christ, by being righteous, peaceful and joyful, is both acceptable to God, (because these qualities reflect God’s own character), and will also be approved by people, because there’s nothing wrong in living a righteous, peaceful and joyful lives, but is rather a pleasant thing.
Since food and drink is not the end-all in our relationship with God, let us then pursue a lifestyle where we live in peace with one another, and where we edify or strengthen one another in our faith in Jesus.
Paul goes on to reiterate that all things are pure, but it is not pure for the person who does not believe that it is pure. This means, that if a person believes that a particular food is unclean, then he should not eat it, as he would be going against his own belief.
Romans 14:21-23
21 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. 22Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Paul then says that if the food we eat or the drinks we drink are going to cause one of our brothers to be offended (or become weak in his faith in Christ, and begin to doubt Christ), then we should not eat or drink it for his sake.
He goes on to say that if one is strong in his faith, and is not affected by any food or drink, then that person may eat or drink whatever they wish, but in private, and before God, because that person believes that food and drink don’t affect their relationship with God. Such people may go ahead and eat what they want, but should not condemn themselves in the process.
But if one is weak in their faith, and actually believes that certain foods and drinks are unclean, and if that person consumes those foods and drinks, then they would be condemning themselves because they would not eating and drinking with faith, but rather with doubt. He goes on to say that whatever is done without faith is sin. If one believes one can do something and doesn’t do it, it is sin, and if one believes that one can’t do something, and does it that is also sin. Paul is saying in effect, that if we do anything that goes against our belief, we are sinning, because we are being hypocritical. We claim to believe something, but our behaviour portrays something else.
