Uploaded April 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In Romans 14, Paul commanded the Christians to "Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things" (Romans 14:1). He then goes on to describe how to treat people who have different traditions and preferences than you have.
In this video we will walk through Romans 14:1-15:3 to comprehend Paul's teaching.
Note about the timing of the expulsion of the Jews from Rome: In the video, I gave the years 49-54 AD, and said it was 15 years. A little math shows that will not work. According to research, the actual dates of the Claudius expulsion vary--it could have been anywhere between 41 and 49 ending in the early 50's. So, the Jewish Christians were probably out of their church between 5 and 15 years--more than enough time for the church to take on Gentile ways, thus allowing pork at the potlucks.
Here are the 5 takeaways from this passage:
1. Sin and false doctrine are not OK. This is not about sin!
2. Everything we do should be about pleasing God.
3. We should never do what we believe is wrong.
4. Do not cause others to sin (violate their conscience).
5. Seek edification over personal freedom.
If bringing pork to the potluck will cause people to sin and spark division in the church, then I won't bring it.
#weakerbrother #Romans14 #conscience #violate #Jews #Gentiles #strong #faith #Rome #Claudius #Romans15 #Law #diet #holidays #pork #potluck #unity #edification #disputations #strongerbrother #doubtfuldisputations #tradition #preference
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 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. Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. 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. 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. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 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. 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. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
(Romans 14:1-23)
We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME."
(Romans 15:1-3)
Check out my ASL channel here:
youtube.com/channel/UC3lyvykCXlmGZ7V-XwHdhlg?sub_confirmation=1
youtube.com/channel/UCW3e7xQd0mThCLvu2QIVSxw?sub_confirmation=1
In Romans 14, Paul commanded the Christians to "Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things" (Romans 14:1). He then goes on to describe how to treat people who have different traditions and preferences than you have.
In this video we will walk through Romans 14:1-15:3 to comprehend Paul's teaching.
Note about the timing of the expulsion of the Jews from Rome: In the video, I gave the years 49-54 AD, and said it was 15 years. A little math shows that will not work. According to research, the actual dates of the Claudius expulsion vary--it could have been anywhere between 41 and 49 ending in the early 50's. So, the Jewish Christians were probably out of their church between 5 and 15 years--more than enough time for the church to take on Gentile ways, thus allowing pork at the potlucks.
Here are the 5 takeaways from this passage:
1. Sin and false doctrine are not OK. This is not about sin!
2. Everything we do should be about pleasing God.
3. We should never do what we believe is wrong.
4. Do not cause others to sin (violate their conscience).
5. Seek edification over personal freedom.
If bringing pork to the potluck will cause people to sin and spark division in the church, then I won't bring it.
#weakerbrother #Romans14 #conscience #violate #Jews #Gentiles #strong #faith #Rome #Claudius #Romans15 #Law #diet #holidays #pork #potluck #unity #edification #disputations #strongerbrother #doubtfuldisputations #tradition #preference
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 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. Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. 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. 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. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 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. 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. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
(Romans 14:1-23)
We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME."
(Romans 15:1-3)
Check out my ASL channel here:
youtube.com/channel/UC3lyvykCXlmGZ7V-XwHdhlg?sub_confirmation=1
youtube.com/channel/UCW3e7xQd0mThCLvu2QIVSxw?sub_confirmation=1
