Eating All Things or Herbs Romans 14:2

Paul the apostle told the believers in Rome, “Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations”, and in chapter fourteen and verse two of Romans, Paul shared with the believers about those who eat “all things” or “herbs” where we read:

For one believes that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eats herbs.

The verse begins, “For one believes that he may eat all things:” Paul began with the words, “for” which means “even as, indeed, seeing then, verily and therefore” “one believes” or “a certain person or people thinks to be true, is persuaded of, credits and places confidence in ” “that he may eat” which refers to “that they may consume and devour” “all things” or “each, every, the whole and everything edible”. Paul referred to people who have “confidence and are persuaded” that everything that is “edible” is to be “consumed” for food.

The verse goes on to say, “another, who is weak, eats herbs.” Paul continued with the word, “another” which means “moreover a certain other people or person”, “who is weak” or “feeble, without strength, powerless, poor, needy and sick” “eats herbs” or “consumes or devours vegetables” . Paul referred people who eat only “vegetables” as “feeble and powerless”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we recognize his example of the two groups of people he identifies in daily consumption. Some of the believers in Rome “ate all things”, and others only ate “vegetables”. Jesus Christ came to save both, and even as there were differences in the days of Paul, there are indeed differences today. Paul understood there were some people within the church who are “weak and more feeble” in their “faith”, and their dietary laws rendered them so. God desires to have a relationship with every person, and regardless of whether they “eat all things” or only “vegetables”, His Son Jesus came to die for them all.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome, “Let not him that eats despise him that eats not”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.