Rom 14:1-13 AMP AS FOR the man who is a weak believer, welcome him [into your fellowship], but not to criticize his opinions or pass judgment on his scruples or perplex him with discussions. (2) One [man’s faith permits him to] believe he may eat anything, while a weaker one [limits his] eating to vegetables. (3) Let not him who eats look down on or despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains criticize and pass judgment on him who eats; for God has accepted and welcomed him. (4) Who are you to pass judgment on and censure another’s household servant? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he shall stand and be upheld, for the Master (the Lord) is mighty to support him and make him stand. (5) One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike [sacred]. Let everyone be fully convinced (satisfied) in his own mind. (6) He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. (7) None of us lives to himself [but to the Lord], and none of us dies to himself but to the Lord, for If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or we die, we belong to the Lord. (9) For Christ died and lived again for this very purpose, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (10) Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. (11) For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise]. Isa. 45:23. And so each of us shall give an account of himself [give an answer in reference to judgment] to God. (13) Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.

• asthenéo: Weak, without strength, powerless, fainthearted, timid, to doubt, vacillate, hesitate, double-minded or those whose mind is easily disturbed.
• What might astheneo look like in our church? (Paul gives some examples in verses 2-3, 5-6)
• How are we to treat this person and how are they to treat others?
• What relationship do we have with other believers as compared with their relationship with their Master? (verses 4, 7-9)
• What perspective can we adopt that help us to accept and not judge the astheneo among us and in ourselves?

Rom 14:14-23 AMP I know and am convinced (persuaded) as one in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is [forbidden as] essentially unclean (defiled and unholy in itself). But [none the less] it is unclean (defiled and unholy) to anyone who thinks it is unclean. (15) But if your brother is being pained or his feelings hurt or if he is being injured by what you eat, [then] you are no longer walking in love. [You have ceased to be living and conducting yourself by the standard of love toward him.] Do not let what you eat hurt or cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died! (16) Do not therefore let what seems good to you be considered an evil thing [by someone else]. In other words, do not give occasion for others to criticize that which is justifiable for you. [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (18) He who serves Christ in this way is acceptable and pleasing to God and is approved by men. (19) So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding (edification and development) of one another. (20) You must not, for the sake of food, undo and break down and destroy the work of God! Everything is indeed [ceremonially] clean and pure, but it is wrong for anyone to hurt the conscience of others or to make them fall by what he eats. (21) The right thing is to eat no meat or drink no wine [at all], or [do anything else] if it makes your brother stumble or hurts his conscience or offends or weakens him. (22) Your personal convictions [on such matters]–exercise [them] as in God’s presence, keeping them to yourself [striving only to know the truth and obey His will]. Blessed (happy, to be envied) is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves [who does not convict himself by what he chooses to do]. (23) But the man who has doubts (misgivings, an uneasy conscience) about eating, and then eats [perhaps because of you], stands condemned [before God], because he is not true to his convictions and he does not act from faith. For whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin [whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful].

1. What is the new application of the law that Paul is trying to teach in verses 14-23?
2. What is the biblical foundation for Paul’s statement in verse 1?
3. Did Peter understand and immediately apply God\’s teaching to his life? What does this teach you about God and ourselves?
4. How are we incorrectly applying the Law to our lives and to the lives of our brothers? How can we avoid it in the future? (See Acts 10)
5. What is the foundation of God’s law for our lives that helps us to judge wisely? (John 7:21-24)

THEME

CHARACTER OF GOD

APPLICATION

REFERENCES

Act 10:9-20 AMP The next day as they were still on their way and were approaching the town, Peter went up to the roof of the house to pray, about the sixth hour (noon). (10) But he became very hungry, and wanted something to eat; and while the meal was being prepared a trance came over him, (11) And he saw the sky opened and something like a great sheet lowered by the four corners, descending to the earth. (12) It contained all kinds of quadrupeds and wild beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the air. (13) And there came a voice to him, saying, Rise up, Peter, kill and eat. (14) But Peter said, No, by no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unhallowed or [ceremonially] unclean. (15) And the voice came to him again a second time, What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, do not you defile and profane by regarding and calling common and unhallowed or unclean. (16) This occurred three times; then immediately the sheet was taken up to heaven. (17) Now Peter was still inwardly perplexed and doubted as to what the vision which he had seen could mean, when [just then] behold the messengers that were sent by Cornelius, who had made inquiry for Simon\’s house, stopped and stood before the gate. (18) And they called out to inquire whether Simon who was surnamed Peter was staying there. (19) And while Peter was earnestly revolving the vision in his mind and meditating on it, the [Holy] Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are looking for you! (20) Get up and go below and accompany them without any doubt [about its legality] or any discrimination or hesitation, for I have sent them.

Joh 7:21-24 AMP Jesus answered them, I did one work, and you all are astounded. John 5:1-9. Now Moses established circumcision among you–though it did not originate with Moses but with the previous patriarchs–and you circumcise a person [even] on the Sabbath day. (23) If, to avoid breaking the Law of Moses, a person undergoes circumcision on the Sabbath day, have you any cause to be angry with (indignant with, bitter against) Me for making a man’s whole body well on the Sabbath? (24) Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously.