At Rome you have brethren who have come to grips with eating meats sacrificed to idols, and some who have not. This is a source of contention and Paul says that it should not be. I want to take a brief survey of what Paul says specifically to the strong; what he says to the weak; and also what he says to both.
DIVINE COUNSEL TO THE STRONG
- Welcome the weak (v. 1). (Don’t be like Diotrophes! – see 3 Jn.)
- Do not quarrel about these things (v. 1). Paul says these were matters of opinion. In other words, it was spiritually inconsequential how they chose to eat.
- He was not to “despise” his weak brother (v. 2). This word carries the idea of looking down on them with animosity. (Don’t treat him as if he was doing something really bad.)
- Paul even tells the strong that they ought to be willing to forfeit what was their right in the interest of their brother (v. 13). Walk in love! (v. 15).
- Don’t cause your brother to stumble (v. 13).
- They also were to understand there were more significant matters, like righteousness, peace and joy (v. 17).
DIVINE COUNSEL FOR THE WEAK
- The weak were not to judge the one who eats (v. 3). They were capable of knowing that God had declared all food clean. If they didn’t want to eat, that’s fine, but they should not seek to bind this as a requirement on their brethren.
DIVINE COUNSEL TO BOTH
- Be fully convinced in your own mind (v. 5). Guard your conscience and respect the conscience of your brother!
- First and foremost, live to please the Lord! (v. 8). Notice that the desire of even those who did not eat what they could eat was very different than what Paul spoke of near the end of chapter 13.
- Realize that you will (individually) stand before God (v. 10).
- Violating the conscience is sin (v. 23). Of course we understand that the weak needed to understand this principle, but what about the strong? They needed to understand that their strength could actually cause a brother to sin in taking a step toward damaging his or her conscience.
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THE BURDEN OF RESPONSIBILITY
What is interesting is that Paul places the greater burden upon the mature Christian. That makes sense, right? After all, he is able to bear more! Jesus said, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more” (Lk. 12:48).
Those who are weaker in faith are more fragile. Knowledge comes a little along. It takes time to fully digest new things and change old habits.
The strong have the ability to use their maturity to help those who are weak. Paul says in Romans 15:1 in fact, “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”
Verse 19 sums things up very well where Paul says, “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” I would argue that this is the most significant verse and most significant principle in this chapter. It is the principle that underlies what Paul says concerning this particular issue in Romans 14.
APPLICATIONS IN OUR DAY
Obviously, what we eat and don’t eat is pretty much a non-issue in our day, but yet we can apply some principles. Think about just a couple…
- First, if you were raised in the church and have been a Christian for many decades, understand that your young brother or sister in Christ is not likely to be where you are in their knowledge and spiritual maturity in general. Use the blessing of your roots in Christ to be a blessing to them! They need you. They need your example. They need your compassion. They need your encouragement. Above all, they need your love!
- Secondly, if you were not raised in the church or have not been a Christian for decades, understand that you are only beginning the very journey that some are close to finishing. Sorry to borrow the slogan from Farmer’s Insurance, but “They know a thing or two because they have seen a thing or two.” Be eager to learn from them, from their lives and from their counsel. They are going to seem out of touch in some ways, but that may really be because there is something you are not in touch with yet. Cherish them and their desire to encourage you in the ways of our Lord.
May all of us truly seek to walk in love!
Daren Schroeder
