Daily Scripture Reading Romans 13:11 - 14:15
There are believers who take a hard line against judging others and believe Christians should never judge another person for any reason. They have Bible verses they quote to back up their stance. They will even quote those verses when another believer tries to confront a third believer about a particular sin.
Today’s passage contains one of the verses that is used to insist that believers should never judge anyone else. However, the details and context of the passage indicate this passage does not teach us we should never judge anyone for any reason.
At the end of yesterday’s passage, we were reading about love being the fulfillment of the Law. Love summarizes commands such as do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, and do not covet.
Rom. 13:11 ¶ And do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
The pronoun “this” refers to the statements in the previous verses, particularly the command to love one another. Since the time is short, we must be people of love.
Rom. 13:12 The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
The word “night” is a reference to life on earth. The word “day” is a reference to our future in heaven.
Rom. 13:13 Let us walk properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
People do sinful things at night when they can’t be seen, but then during the day when they are seen, they do what is right. Christians should always behave as if everyone is watching us.
Rom. 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Rom. 14:1 ¶ Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on opinions.
Notice the word “weak”. Some people are weak in faith and should be accepted.
Look at the word “opinions”. This verse does not say we should not pass judgement on anything. It only says we should not pass judgement on opinions.
There are some moral areas where right and wrong are black and white. There are other moral areas where right and wrong are not clear. This verse tells us we should not pass judgment on the areas that are not clear.
Rom. 14:2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.
We know from other scripture passages that oftentimes the meat that was for sale in the meat market had been sacrificed to idols. Some believers thought it was wrong to eat that meat, while others believed there was nothing wrong with eating it. There was no direct command from God regarding this; thus, the beliefs on whether it was right or wrong was mere opinion.
Rom. 14:3 The one who eats must not view the one who does not eat with contempt, and the one who does not eat must not judge the one who eats, for God accepted him.
Notice the forbearance goes both ways. This verse not only says those who eat should not condemn those who do not, it also says those who do not eat should not condemn those who do. The previous verse said those who do not eat are weak; therefore, verse 3 says the weak should not condemn the strong.
This is contrary to how this concept is often applied in modern Christianity. Christians are quick to tell mature believers not to condemn immature Christians, but this verse is telling immature Christians not to condemn mature Christians.
Rom. 14:4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Rom. 14:5 ¶ One person judges one day above another, another judges every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.
Jewish believers came from a background in which they did not work on the Sabbath. The Gentile believers did not have that mentality. Eventually, Christians adopted the belief that we should not work on Sunday since Jesus arose on Sunday. The Bible does not give clear direction on whether or not Christians should abstain from work on certain days.
Rom. 14:6 He who regards the day, regards it for the Lord, and he who eats, eats for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who does not eat, for the Lord he does not eat and gives thanks to God.
Rom. 14:7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;
Rom. 14:8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
Rom. 14:9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
Rom. 14:10 ¶ But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you view your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
This command against judging is often treated as a blanket command to never judge a brother about anything. However, the context indicates this command against judging only applies to questions on which the Bible does not give direction.
Notice the last sentence of this verse about everyone standing before the judgment seat of God. Many Christians have the mentality that God is all love; therefore, there is no reason to be afraid of God. However, if we will stand before the judgment seat of God someday, then we should be afraid of God enough that we are afraid of sinning.
Rom. 14:11 For it is written,
“AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, TO ME EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW,
AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD.”
Rom. 14:12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
When we stand before the judgment seat, we will give an account of ourselves; therefore, we should have enough fear of God that we are afraid to sin against Him.
Rom. 14:13 ¶ Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather judge this—not to put a stumbling block or offense before a brother.
This is not a broad prohibition that prevents us from ever judging a brother. Instead, when understood in context, it only tells us not to judge a brother on matters which are opinions and preferences.
Rom. 14:14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is defiled in itself; but to him who considers anything to be defiled, to him it is defiled.
Rom. 14:15 For if because of food your brother is grieved, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
There are believers who take a hard line against judging others and believe Christians should never judge another person for any reason. Today’s passage contains some of the verses their belief is based on. However, when understood in context, today’s passage only prohibits us from passing judgment on opinions. It does not prohibit us from passing judgment regarding matters on which the Bible clearly states right and wrong.
What are some moral issues we grapple with today regarding which some Christians have strong beliefs on what is right and wrong even though the Bible does not take a strong stand on it?
How does today’s passage guide us in how to handle those disagreements?
What are some moral issues on which the Bible is very clear and all Christians should be holding each other accountable, which might mean judging one another?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”