Daily Scripture Reading Romans 14:13 - 15:13
For the most part, modern Christianity ignores most of the Old Testament. There are certain books we are familiar with, such as Genesis, Psalms, and Jonah, but many Old Testament books are rarely mentioned and most Christians know very little about them. Furthermore, missionaries who translate the Bible into tribal languages start with the New Testament, and sometimes the Old Testament never gets translated.
This is a defect of modern Christianity. We will learn in today’s passage that the Old Testament has value for us in the 21st century, which means we should put time and effort into it.
The bulk of chapter 14 is about accepting those who have different opinions regarding the eating of certain foods and the observance of certain days. Those who follow a more restrictive life should not judge those who don’t, and vice versa.
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.
Look at the word “therefore”. In the previous verse, which we read yesterday, Paul wrote that each of us will give an account of himself to God. The word “therefore” means verse 13 and onward tells us what to do in light of that coming judgment.
We are not to judge a brother. This is not a broad prohibition that prevents us from ever judging a brother about anything. 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.
The Mosaic Law prohibited eating unclean foods; however, according to Mark 7:19, Jesus declared all foods clean. Therefore, at the time Paul wrote this, God did not prohibit the eating of any food.
However, some Christians in Rome grew up Jewish and could not shake the mentality that certain foods were unclean. Meanwhile, other Roman Christians came from a pagan background which offered certain foods to idols and then sold it in the meat market, and they could not stop associating food in the meat market with idols. While all foods were clean, for those who still had those associations, some foods were unclean for them.
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.
Those who did not consider any food unclean were not to eat any food in a time, place, or manner that would offend a brother that could not shake prior attachments.
Rom. 14:16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be slandered;
Those who were free to eat any food were not to allow any food to be slandered; meanwhile, those who believed it was good to abstain from certain foods were not to allow their abstention to be slandered.
Rom. 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Ultimately, Christians should not put food above righteousness, peace, and joy.
Rom. 14:18 For he who in this way serves Christ is pleasing to God and approved by men.
Rom. 14:19 So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
Rom. 14:20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.
Rom. 14:21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.
Rom. 14:22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed is he who does not judge himself in what he approves.
Rom. 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
In some ways the conditions which led Paul to write about this do not exist today. When Paul wrote this, it had only been a couple decades since Jesus had declared all foods clean. The accounts of the life of Jesus were still being written and disseminated, so perhaps not all Jewish Christians were aware that all foods were clean.
On the other hand, today we still have people becoming Christians who grew up in Judaism or other religions in which certain foods were prohibited. When they become Christians, it will take them time to adjust their mentality to the fact that all foods are clean. Mature believers must be patient with them. The teaching in this passage should also be kept in mind when witnessing to people who come from a religion in which certain foods are unclean.
Rom. 15:1 ¶ Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.
Rom. 15:2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his building up.
Rom. 15:3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.”
This is a quote from Psalm 69:9. This is a Psalm written by David in which David said the reproaches of those who reproached God also fell on him (David). Paul applied this to Christ because there were events in the life of Christ that mirrored events in the life of David.
Rom. 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through the perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
The phrase “whatever was written in earlier times” refers to the Old Testament.
Look at the phrase “written for our instruction”. The Old Testament was written for our instruction.
For the most part, modern Christianity ignores most of the Old Testament. There are certain books we are familiar with, such as Genesis, Psalms, and Jonah, but many Old Testament books are unknown. Missionaries who translate the Bible into tribal languages start with the New Testament, and sometimes the Old Testament never gets translated.
The ignorance of the Old Testament is a deficiency of Christianity. The Old Testament was written for our instruction. 1Cor 10:6,11 tells us the events in the Old Testament are examples for us to learn from. We must put time and effort into learning it, and Bible translations should be translations of the entire Bible, not just the New Testament.
Rom. 15:5 Now may the God of perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,
Rom. 15:6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom. 15:7 ¶ Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.
If Christ accepted us despite our sin and flaws, then we should and can accept our fellow Christians who have different opinions.
Rom. 15:8 For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers,
There are two reasons Christ served the Jews. The first is listed in verse 8, which was to confirm the promises to the Jewish ancestors. The second is found in the following verses. Notice the word “Gentile” as you read verses 9-12, which are quotations of multiple Old Testament passages.
Rom. 15:9 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written,
“THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES,
AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME.”
Rom. 15:10 And again he says,
“REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE.”
Rom. 15:11 And again,
“PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES,
AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM.”
Rom. 15:12 And again Isaiah says,
“THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE,
AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES,
IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE.”
While the Old Testament is about Israel, there are many verses calling all the nations to praise Yahweh. The coming of Christ resulted in all nations praising God.
Rom. 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Most Christians today know very little about the Old Testament, but that is bad because today’s passage makes it clear that the Old Testament was written for our instruction.
How well do you know every book of the Old Testament?
How much time does your church spend teaching the books of the Old Testament?
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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.”