Romans 14:21 - It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Romans 14:21" mean?
Romans 14:21 is a verse about Christian liberty and the importance of considering the impact of our actions on other believers, particularly those who might have weaker consciences or different convictions. Let's break it down:
"It is good to not eat meat, drink wine...": This refers to things that, in themselves, are permissible for Christians to do. Eating meat offered to idols (a common issue in the early church) and drinking wine weren't inherently sinful. However, the verse suggests that abstaining from these things can be a good choice in certain situations.
"...nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.": This is the core of the verse. It emphasizes the responsibility Christians have to consider the potential impact of their actions on fellow believers.
Stumbles: This implies causing someone to sin or to turn away from their faith. If someone sees you doing something they believe is wrong, it might lead them to question their own convictions and potentially compromise their beliefs.
Is offended: This means causing someone distress, upset, or hurt in their conscience. Even if someone doesn't outright sin, seeing you do something they strongly disapprove of can damage their faith or their relationship with you.
Is made weak: This suggests weakening someone's faith or making them susceptible to doubt or temptation. If someone is unsure about a particular practice, seeing another Christian engage in it might push them to participate before they are ready, potentially damaging their conscience.
In essence, the verse is saying:
While Christians have freedom in Christ to make certain choices (like eating certain foods or drinking wine), that freedom should be exercised with love and consideration for others.
If your actions, even if permissible, could cause a fellow believer to stumble, be offended, or become spiritually weak, it's better to abstain from those actions for their sake.
Key principles highlighted by the verse:
Christian liberty: Christians are not bound by legalistic rules but are free in Christ.
Love and consideration: Christians should prioritize love for one another above their own personal preferences.
Unity and edification: The goal should be to build up the church and promote unity, not to cause division or offense.
Self-control and sacrifice: Christians should be willing to sacrifice their own desires for the sake of others' spiritual well-being.
Context of Romans 14:
The entire chapter of Romans 14 deals with issues of conscience within the early church. There were divisions between believers who felt free to eat all foods and those who had scruples about eating certain things (likely related to the practice of offering food to idols). Paul urged believers to avoid judging one another and to focus on building each other up in love.
In modern application:
While the specific issues of meat and wine may not be as relevant today, the principle of this verse remains timeless. It challenges Christians to examine their actions and consider how they might impact others in the church and beyond. It calls for sensitivity, humility, and a willingness to prioritize the well-being of others over personal preferences, especially when it comes to matters of conscience.
Romans 14:21 - It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.
What does "Romans 14:21" mean?
Romans 14:21 is a verse about Christian liberty and the importance of considering the impact of our actions on other believers, particularly those who might have weaker consciences or different convictions. Let's break it down:
"It is good to not eat meat, drink wine...": This refers to things that, in themselves, are permissible for Christians to do. Eating meat offered to idols (a common issue in the early church) and drinking wine weren't inherently sinful. However, the verse suggests that abstaining from these things can be a good choice in certain situations.
"...nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.": This is the core of the verse. It emphasizes the responsibility Christians have to consider the potential impact of their actions on fellow believers.
Stumbles: This implies causing someone to sin or to turn away from their faith. If someone sees you doing something they believe is wrong, it might lead them to question their own convictions and potentially compromise their beliefs.
Is offended: This means causing someone distress, upset, or hurt in their conscience. Even if someone doesn't outright sin, seeing you do something they strongly disapprove of can damage their faith or their relationship with you.
Is made weak: This suggests weakening someone's faith or making them susceptible to doubt or temptation. If someone is unsure about a particular practice, seeing another Christian engage in it might push them to participate before they are ready, potentially damaging their conscience.
In essence, the verse is saying:
While Christians have freedom in Christ to make certain choices (like eating certain foods or drinking wine), that freedom should be exercised with love and consideration for others.
If your actions, even if permissible, could cause a fellow believer to stumble, be offended, or become spiritually weak, it's better to abstain from those actions for their sake.
Key principles highlighted by the verse:
Christian liberty: Christians are not bound by legalistic rules but are free in Christ.
Love and consideration: Christians should prioritize love for one another above their own personal preferences.
Unity and edification: The goal should be to build up the church and promote unity, not to cause division or offense.
Self-control and sacrifice: Christians should be willing to sacrifice their own desires for the sake of others' spiritual well-being.
Context of Romans 14:
The entire chapter of Romans 14 deals with issues of conscience within the early church. There were divisions between believers who felt free to eat all foods and those who had scruples about eating certain things (likely related to the practice of offering food to idols). Paul urged believers to avoid judging one another and to focus on building each other up in love.
In modern application:
While the specific issues of meat and wine may not be as relevant today, the principle of this verse remains timeless. It challenges Christians to examine their actions and consider how they might impact others in the church and beyond. It calls for sensitivity, humility, and a willingness to prioritize the well-being of others over personal preferences, especially when it comes to matters of conscience.