Not Stumbling, Offending or Making Weak Romans 14:21

Paul the apostle told the believers in Rome, “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another”, and he added, “for meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eats with offense.” In chapter fourteen and verse twenty of Romans, Paul tells the believers what to do about, “any thing whereby your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak” where we read:

It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby your brother stumbles,

or is offended, or is made weak.

The verse begins, “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, ...” Paul began with the word, “fit is good” which means “it is beautiful, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable and admirable” “neither” or “not” “to eat flesh” which means “to consume and devour the butchered meat from a sacrificial animal”, “nor to drink which refers to “not to imbibe and refresh with” “wine” or “liquid fashioned from grapes or another fruit”. Paul continued his instructions concerning “eating meat” and “drinking wine” by declaring it “not excellent, precious or useful” when the following statement is true.

The verse goes on to say, “... nor any thing whereby your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak.” Paul continued with the words, “nor any thing” which means “not any certain thing” “whereby” or “by and which” “your brother” which refers to “the fellow believers in Rome who are united to one another by the bond of affection” “stumbles” or “strikes against a stone or other obstacle in the path”, “or is offended” which means “is enticed to sin, an impediment in the way upon which another may trip and fall, cause to distrust whom he ought to trust and obey or fall away”, “or is made weak” which means “to be feeble, without strength, needy, poor, sick or powerless”. Paul asserted there should not be “anything” at all done that would “trip up” or “entice” a fellow believer to “fall” or “sin”.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see how the love of Jesus Christ is to be the main characteristic within Christian brothers and sisters. There should not be any “personal conviction” that is practiced that would “stumble” or “offend” other believers in Christ. In other words, if one person has no conviction pertaining to certain “eating and drinking”, they should avoid practicing their liberty before other believers who hold those convictions. “Love one another”, and and long as the “conviction” is not a direct violation of God's law, then believers are to make “not stumbling, offending or making others weak” the manner in which they live.

Next time Paul questions the believers in Rome, “Do you have faith?” and he instructs, “Have it to yourself before God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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