Romans 14:20 WEB

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

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

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1-23

F. The duty of enlightened Christians towards weak brethren. From moral duties in general of Christians towards each other and towards all the apostle now passes to such as they owe peculiarly to each other as members of a religious community, united by a common faith. He has already ( Romans 12:16 ) admonished his readers to be "of the same mind one toward another;" but, as was remarked under that verse, this did not imply agreement of view on all subjects, such as is impossible where... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1-23

Christian liberty. The general treatment of the ethics of the gospel is concluded, and now the apostle deals with a particular application which the condition of the Church at Rome required. There were some there, a minority probably, who were more or less in subjection to the spirit of the old Judaic economy, making distinctions of meats and of days. And when they came together for the Christian love-feasts, the differences were of awkward consequence. The stronger ones doubted whether... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:13-23

Deference to weak consciences, not condemnation of them. Having taken his readers up to the judgment-bar of Jesus, the only Lord of the conscience, he now proceeds to show how we are to help weak brethren. It will not be by condemning their scruples, but by following Christ in seeking their salvation. We are to defer to conscience so far as our weaker brother's spiritual interests are concerned, and surrender meat or wine, if by our total abstinence we can promote his salvation. I. WE... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:19-21

Let us therefore follow after the things that make for (literally, the things of ) peace, and the things wherewith one may edify another (literally, the things of the edification of one another ) . For meat's sake destroy not the work of God. "Destroy," or rather, overthrow— the word is κατάλυε , not ἀππόλλυε as in Romans 14:15 —is connected in thought with the edification, or building up ( οἰκοδομήν ) before spoken of. "The work of God" is that of his... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 14:20

For meat - By your obstinate, pertinacious attachment to your own opinions about the distinctions of meat and drinks, do not pursue such a course as to lead a brother into sin, and ruin his soul. Here is a new argument presented why Christians should pursue a course of charity - that the opposite would tend to the ruin of the brother’s soul.Destroy not - The word here is what properly is applied to pulling down an edifice; and the apostle continues the figure which he used in the previous... read more

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

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

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

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:13-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:19-21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 14:20

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