Romans Chapter 14 Vs. 2

 

Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another

For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Rom 14:2

one believeth that... One believeth ... another believeth:

Eight Great Sources of Controversy:

1. What to eat and drink (Rom. 14:2-6, 14:14-23; Col. 2:14-17; 1Tim. 4:1-6)

2. With whom to eat (Acts 11:3; 1Cor. 5:9-12; 2Thes. 3:7-13; Jude 1:12)

3. Where to eat (1Cor. 8:4-13; 10:15-23; 11:17-22)

4. Where to buy meat (1Cor. 10:25)

5. What day to keep as the sabbath (Rom. 14:5-6; Gal. 4:9-11; Col. 2:14-17)

6. Whether to be circumcised or not (Acts 15:1-24; Rom. 4:11; 1Cor. 7:19)

7. Whether to keep the law of Moses or not (note, Acts 15:1)

8. What to wear and what customs to observe (1Cor. 11:4-16; 1Tim. 2:9-11; 1Pet. 3:3-4)

he may eat... The strong believer whose mature faith allows him to exercise his freedom in Christ by eating the inexpensive meat sold at the pagan meat markets. It was inexpensive because a worshiper had first offered it as a sacrifice to a pagan deity.

We know that anything we pray over is clean and may be eaten without fear of condemnation from God. The secret is the prayer, the prayer made it clean for us.

1Tim. 4:4-5 “For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:” “For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”

The person who is eating herbs is doing it from lack of knowledge. We, who know that it is alright to eat meat, should not make fun of a fellow Christian if he feels it is wrong.

1Tim. 4:1-3 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; ” “Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”

One area of differing scruples pertains to food, in particular the eating of meat. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables (lit., “but the one being weak eats vegetables”). The reason some Christians then were vegetarians is not stated. Since the issue is related to their Christian faith, it could be to insure against eating meat offered to idols (cf. 1Cor. 8:1-13; 10:23-30). The reason for a believer’s scruple is not the point, however; its existence alongside a differing opinion was Paul’s concern.