All Things Indeed are Pure Romans 14:20

Paul the apostle told the believers in Rome to, “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another”, and in chapter fourteen and verse twenty of Romans, Paul tells the believers, “all things indeed are pure” where we read:

For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure;

but it is evil for that man who eats with offense.

The verse begins, “For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure;” Paul began with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “meat” or “food or that which is eaten” “destroy not” which means “does not dissolve, disunite, render vain, deprive of success or bring to naught” “the work” which refers to “the business, employment and that which any one is occupied” “of God” or “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. “All things” or “each, every, the whole and everyone of the things which may be performed” “indeed” which means “truly, certainly and surely” “are pure” which means “clean or cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit”. Paul shared how “eating food or meat” has no affect upon God's “business” because “everything” in and of themselves are “cleansed” and made “fit to bear fruit”.

The verse continues, “but it is evil for that man who eats with offense.” Paul added the words, “but” which means “nevertheless, notwithstanding, moreover and” “it is evil” or “the food or that which is eaten exists as of bad nature, not such as it ought to be, base, wrong, wicked, troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive and baneful” “for that man” which refers to “to the human being whether male or female” “who eats” or “that consumes or devours it” “with offense” which means “through and by means of stumbling or an obstacle in the way which if one strikes his foot against he stumbles or falls”. Paul further disclosed how something such as eating of meat becomes “destructive and baneful” for the person who “eats” them while causing another person to “stumble” or “fall”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see that “all things” are “cleansed” within themselves, however, they become “destructive” when they are “consumed” without regard for “stumbling” others. In other words, believers in Jesus Christ are to be conscience of others when they practice their personal convictions. Though their convictions may be “pure” in and of themselves, if it “stumbles” another believer, it becomes “wicked and destructive”. Jesus Christ desires a family of believers who love and care for each other even when they have personal convictions that differ, and when they demonstrate this, the world shall know they belong to God.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome what to do with brothers who might, “stumble, be offended and made weak”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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