No More Judging or Stumbling-blocks Romans 14:13

Paul the apostle told the believers in Rome, “every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God”, and he added, “so then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” In chapter fourteen and verse thirteen of Romans, Paul instructed the believers in Rome, “not to judge one another” or “put stumbling-blocks” in fellow believers' way where we read:

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather,

that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

The verse begins, “Let us not therefore judge one another any more:” Paul began with the words, “let us not” which means “do not allow or permit Paul himself, his companions or his believing readers” “therefore” or “then, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “judge one another” which means “separate, put asunder, pronounce opinion, resolve or decree against other brothers and sisters in Christ” “any more” which means “hereafter, no longer and not at all”. Because “every” believer in Jesus shall “give an account” of themselves before God as the “judge”, believers in Christ Jesus should not engage in “judging” one another.

The verse continues, “but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way”. Paul added the words, “but” which means “nevertheless, notwithstanding, moreover and” “judge this rather” or “separate, put asunder, pronounce opinion, resolve or decree against that which Paul is about to declare instead and in it's place”, “that no man” which means “so not one human whether male or female” “put a stumbling-block” which means to “set, place or lay down an obstacle in the way which if one strikes his foot against he stumbles or falls” “or an occasion to fall” or “the moveable stick or trigger of a trap, a snare or an impediment placed in the way and causing one to stumble or fall” “in his brother's way” which means “in the pathway of a fellow believer who is united to another by the bond of affection”. Paul exhorted the believing readers not to “set obstacles or snares” before other believers which would make them “stumble and fall”.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we understand because each person will give their own “account” to God, there is to be no “judgment” between fellow believers nor are they to put “snares and traps” before them. Jesus Christ came to “save” every person who will put their “faith and trust” in Him, and though they have personal convictions or lack thereof, these are not to be used to make others “stumble and fall”. In other words, through love believers in Jesus are to consider one another before their own personal “freedoms” or “liberties”. Jesus desires to have a church who demonstrates love one to another, and when love is shown, consideration for others “weaknesses” and “strengths” are to be constantly upon their minds.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome, “there is nothing unclean of itself”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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