Shemini 6th Portion Part 2
Rom 14:3
The one who eats everything must not
treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat
everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.
Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Treat with contempt the one, &c.—Regard him with contempt, as weak and narrow minded.
Judge the one, &c.—Condemn him as guilty of idolatry.
Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament
The one who eats . . . must not—That is, he who has no scruples about eating “meat,” etc., who is
not restrained by the law of the Jews respecting the clean and unclean, or by
the fact that meat “may” have been offered to idols.
Treat with contempt the one—Hold him in contempt, as being unnecessarily scrupulous, etc. The
words “treat with contempt” here are happily chosen. The Gentile would be very
likely to “treat with contempt” the Jew as being restrained by foolish scruples
and mere distinctions in matters of no importance.
The one who does not—The one who is restrained by scruples of conscience, and that will
eat only “vegetables;” Rom 14:2. The reference here is doubtless to the “Jew.”
Judge the one—To “judge” here has the force of “condemn.” This word also is very
happily chosen. The Jew would not be so likely to “treat with contempt” the
Gentile for what he did as to “judge” or condemn him. He would deem it too
serious a matter for contempt. He would regard it as a violation of the law of
God, and would be likely to assume the right of judging his brother, and
pronouncing him guilty. The apostle here has happily met the whole case in all
disputes about rites, and dress, and scruples in religious matters that are not
essential. One party commonly “treats with contempt” the other as being
needlessly and foolishly scrupulous; and the other makes it a matter of
“conscience,” too serious for ridicule and contempt; and a matter, to neglect
which, is, in their view, deserving of condemnation. The true direction to be
given in such a case is, “to the one party,” not to treat the scruples of the
other with derision and contempt, but with tenderness and indulgence. Let him
have his way in it. If he can be “reasoned” out of it, it is well; but to
attempt to “laugh” him out of it is unkind, and will tend only to confirm him
in his views. And “to the other party,” it should be said they have no “right”
to judge or condemn another. If I cannot see that the Bible requires a
particular cut to my coat, or makes it my duty to observe a particular
festival, he has no right to judge me harshly, or to suppose that I am to be rejected
and condemned for it. He has a right to “his” opinion; and while I do not “treat”
him “with contempt,” he has no right to “judge” me. This is the foundation of
true charity; and if this simple rule had been followed, how much strife, and
even bloodshed, would it have spared in the church. Most of the contentions
among Christians have been on subjects of this nature. Agreeing substantially
in the “doctrines” of the Bible, they have been split up into sects on subjects
just about as important as those which the apostle discusses in this chapter.
For God has accepted them—This is the same word that is translated “accept” in Rom 14:1. It
means here that God has accepted them kindly; or has acknowledged them as his
own friends; or they are true Christians. These scruples, on the one side or
the other, are not inconsistent with true piety; and as “God” has acknowledged
them as “his,” notwithstanding their opinions on these subjects, so “we” also
ought to recognise them as Christian brothers. Other denominations, though they
may differ from us on some subjects, may give evidence that they are recognised
by God as his, and where there is this evidence, we should neither treat with
contempt nor judge them.
Family Bible New Testament
The one who eats—All kinds of wholesome food indiscriminately, having attained, in
this respect, to a true idea of the liberty of the gospel.
Treat with contempt—The sin to which men of liberal views are especially tempted.
God has accepted them—As a Christian, and admits him to fellowship with himself. We
should never treat with contempt any on account of their errors, or their
supposed inferiority to ourselves; nor condemn them for following their own
consciences, not ours; but we should endeavor to enlighten them as to the will
of God, and set them an example of obeying it.
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on
the Whole Bible
Judge the one who does—As profane, or taking undue liberties.
The Adam Clarke Commentary
The one who eats . . . must not—The Gentile, who eats flesh, treat with contempt the one, the Jew,
who does not eat flesh, but herbs. And the one . . . must not, the Jew, who does
not eat indiscriminately, judge—condemn him, the Gentile, who eats indiscriminately
flesh or vegetables.
For God has accepted them—Both being sincere and upright, and acting in the fear of God, are
received as heirs of eternal life, without any difference on account of these
religious scruples or prejudices.
The Bible Study New Testament
Is not to treat with contempt—The one who is fully aware of his freedom in Christ is not to feel
contempt for the ignorance and immaturity of his brother in Christ.
Is not to pass judgment—The man whose religious opinions force him to be a vegetarian is
not to accuse his more mature brother of sinning because he eats everything.
Whedon’s Commentary on the Bible
God has accepted them—A protective against the strong judgment of the weakling,
continued through next verse (Rom 14:4).
Rom 14:14
I am convinced, being fully persuaded
in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards
something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.
Mark Dunagan Commentaries on the
Bible
Nothing is unclean in itself—Paul therefore in this chapter is discussing things which are clean
in themselves! Matters of indifference.
Paul isn’t discussing fornication,
murder, adultery, homosexuality, stealing or the like.
But if anyone regards something as
unclean
Regards—3049.
logizomai {log-id"-zom-ahee}; middle voice from 3056; to take an
inventory, i.e. estimate (literally or figuratively): -conclude, (ac-)count
(of), + despise, esteem, impute, lay, number, reason, reckon, suppose, think
(on).
It is not the something in the “meat”
but rather something in the man. Eating meat or doing anything, when it
violates my conscience, is wrong (23).
But again, if Paul is here discussing
matters of sin and error, then you would have Paul saying that “all things”—i.e.
even sinful things are pure, but they only become sinful went they violate our
conscience. So adultery committed in a pure conscience would be right?
Rom 14:15
If your brother or sister is distressed
because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your
eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.
Family Bible New Testament
Is distressed because of what you
eat—If your eating meat grieves and injures a
brother.
You are no longer acting in love—Provided you continue to eat it. Love to him requires you to
abstain from it.
Do not . . . destroy someone—By doing that which tends to ruin him or make him miserable.
Christ endured the agonies of the cross to make him blessed; you, as a friend
of Christ, redeemed with his blood, ought, if need be, to deny yourself for the
same end.
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on the
Whole Bible
If your brother . . . is distressed—That is, wounded, led into sin.
Do not . . . destroy someone for
whom Christ died—So we see, he for whom Christ
died may be destroyed.
By your eating—Do not value your eating more than Christ valued his life.
Mark Dunagan Commentaries on the
Bible
Starting from verse 13 Paul is
addressing the meat-eater. He was right, he had a right to eat meat, but that
right could be abused!
The following verses will express the
same truth as addressed in 1Co 8. In certain situations, eating meat, and
espeically that sacrificed to idols, could do harm to another.
Here is another verse that proves that
the items under consideration are “indifferent in themselves.” But for those
that agrue Rom 14 is dealing with or covers matters of sin and error. Can sin
become more sinful? Whatever is under consideration here is right, and in
certain settings wrong. But those things inherently sinful are WRONG REGARDLESS
OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES!
The Bible Study New Testament
If you hurt your brother—“Your freedom of action is not worth the price of hurting your
brother in Christ. Love doesn’t act this way!”
Ruin is a strong word. Christian freedom must not be used in such a way
that it might destroy the work of the gospel. [This is dealing with matters of
opinion. In matters of faith, other factors must be considered.]
1Ti 4:4
For everything God created is good, and
nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
Mark Dunagan Commentaries on the
Bible
For everything created by God is
good—Gen 1:31; Mar 7:19; Act 10:15. “Good” in the
sense of being excellent in its nature.
The above statement does not mean that
the Christian can partake of cocaine or marijuana. There are things that God created
as good, but which have been perverted by man or perverted in their use. Drugs
have a use, but not for recreational purposes.
The Adam Clarke Commentary
For everything God created is good—That is: Everything which God has made for man’s nourishment is
good for that purpose, and to be thankfully received whenever necessary for the
support of human life; and nothing of that sort is at any time to be rejected, ουδεν
αποβλητον, rejected or despised. We find a saying very similar to this in Lucian's
Timon: Ουτοι αποβλητα εισι δωρα τα παρα Διος . The gifts which are
from Jove ought not to be despised. This appears to have been a proverbial
saying among the heathens.
1Ti 4:5
because it is consecrated by the word
of God and prayer.
Mark Dunagan Commentaries on the
Bible
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