Romans 14

1. Receive the one who is weak in the faith, but not for divisive arguments.

2. Now on the one hand, one believes he may eat all things that are lawful; but on the other hand, another one, who is weak, eats only vegetables.

3. The one who eats meat should not despise the one who does not eat it. And the one who does not eat meat should not condemn the one who eats it, for God has received him. (see explanation)

4. Who are you to be judging another man’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he shall be made to stand because God is able to make him stand.

5. Again, on the one hand, someone may prefer one day above another day for eating meat; but on the other hand, another may hold every day to be alike. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind. (see explanation)

6. The one who regards the day in his eating is regarding it to the Lord; and the one who does not regard the day is not regarding it to the Lord. The one who eats meat is eating to the Lord because he gives thanks to God; and the one who does not eat meat is abstaining to the Lord, and is giving thanks to God.

7. For no one among us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

8. For if we live, we should live unto the Lord; and if we die, we should die unto the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

9. It is for this very purpose that Christ both died and rose and is living again, so that He might be Lord over both the dead and the living.

10. Now then, 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. Because it is written, ” ‘For as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ ”

12. So then, each one of us shall give account of himself to God.

13. Therefore, we should no longer judge one another, but judge this instead: Do not put an occasion of stumbling or a cause of offense before your brother.

14. I understand and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is common of itself, except to the one who regards anything to be common—to that one it is common.

15. But if, because of meat, your brother is offended, you are no longer walking according to love. With your meat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.

16. Therefore, do not let your good be evil spoken of.

17. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking; rather, it is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit

18. Because the one who serves Christ in these things is well pleasing to God and acceptable among men.

19. So then, we should pursue the things of peace and the things that edify one another.

20. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of meat. All things that are lawful are indeed pure; but it is an evil thing for someone to cause an occasion of stumbling through his eating.

21. It is better not to eat meat, or drink wine, or anything else by which your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak.

22. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

23. But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats because his eating is not of faith; for everything that is not of faith is sin.