Romans 14:20-22 KJV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 14:1-23

We have in this chapter, I. An account of the unhappy contention which had broken out in the Christian church. Our Master had foretold that offences would come; and, it seems, so they did, for want of that wisdom and love which would have prevented discord, and kept up union among them. 1. There was a difference among them about the distinction of meats and days; these are the two things specified. There might be other similar occasions of difference, while these made the most noise, and were... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 14:17-20

14:17-20 Do not allow that good gift of freedom which you possess to become a thing which gets you into disrepute. For the Kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but of righteousness and peace and joy, which are the gifts of the Holy Spirit. For the man who rules his life by this principle, and so becomes the slave of Christ, is well-pleasing to God and approved by men. So, then, let it be the things that make for peace that we pursue, and the things which build up one another. Do... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 14:21-23

14:21-23 It is the fine thing neither to eat meat, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything which makes the road more difficult for your brother to walk. As far as you yourselves are concerned you have enough faith to know that these things do not matter--well, then, let that be a matter between yourself and God. Happy is the man who never has cause to condemn himself for doing what he has come to the conclusion it was right to do. But he who has doubts about eating something stands condemned if... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 14:20

For meat destroy not the work of God ,.... The Syriac reads it, "the works of God"; referring either to righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, of which the kingdom of God consists; or to the weak brother, who both as a creature, and as a new creature, is the workmanship of God; and to the good work of grace, the work of faith upon his soul, which is the work of God; or rather to his peace, and the peace of the church of Christ, which is both the will and work of God; peace is what... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 14:21

It is good neither to eat flesh ,.... Any sort of flesh, even that which is not forbidden in the law, rather than offend a weak brother; and the apostle determines for himself, that he would not, where there was any danger of doing this, 1 Corinthians 8:13 . Nor to drink wine ; not only the wine of libations to Heathen deities, but wine in common; which was not prohibited by the law of Moses, but in the case of a Nazarite, and of vows: nor anything , be it what it will, whereby... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 14:22

Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God ,.... Which is to be understood, not of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the doctrines of the Gospel; for a man that has such faith given him, ought not to keep it in his own breast, but to declare it to others; he ought to make a public visible profession of it, before many witnesses; it becomes him to tell the church of God what great things the Lord has done for him; and as he believes with the heart, so he ought to make confession with... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:20

For meat destroy not the work of God - Do not hinder the progress of the Gospel either in your own souls or in those of others, by contending about lawful or unlawful meats. And do not destroy the soul of thy Christian brother, Romans 14:15 , by offending him so as to induce him to apostatize. All things indeed are pure - This is a repetition of the sentiment delivered, Romans 14:14 , in different words. Nothing that is proper for aliment is unlawful to be eaten; but it is evil for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:21

It is good neither to eat flesh, etc. - The spirit and self-denying principles of the Gospel teach us, that we should not only avoid every thing in eating or drinking which may be an occasion of offense or apostasy to our brethren, but even to lay down our lives for them should it be necessary. Whereby thy brother stumbleth - Προσκοπτει , from προς , against, and κοπτω , to strike, to hit the foot against a stone in walking, so as to halt, and be impeded in one's journey. It here... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:22

Hast thou faith? - The term faith seems to signify in this place a full persuasion in a man's mind that he is right, that what he does is lawful, and has the approbation of God and his conscience. Dr. Taylor has a judicious note on this passage. "There is no necessity," says he, " for reading the first clause interrogatively; and it seems to be more agreeable to the structure of the Greek to render it, Thou hast faith; as if he had said: 'I own thou hast a right persuasion.' Farther, there... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:20

Verse 20 20.All things are indeed pure, etc. By saying, that all things are pure, he makes a general declaration; and by adding, that it is evil for man to eat with offense, he makes an exception; as though he had said, — “Meat is indeed good, but to give offense is bad.” Now meat has been given to us, that we may eat it, provided love be observed: he then pollutes the use of pure meat, who by it violates love. Hence he concludes, that it is good to abstain from all things which tend to give... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 14:1-23

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 14:17-20

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 14:21-23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 14:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 14:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 14:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:20

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