Read & explore together
The Law of Liberty
Romans 14:1–12 explains how brothers should treat one another when they differ about food and the importance of certain days. The passage calls for acceptance, refuses contempt and judgement, and points everyone to the Lord’s authority.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This passage speaks about differences over eating and over regarding one day as more important than another. It says that people may act differently while doing so to the Lord, giving God thanks, and belonging to the Lord in life and death.
Romans 14:1–12Main takeaway
When Christians differ in matters like food and days, they should accept one another because each person belongs to the Lord and will answer to God.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Accept without turning differences into argumentsThe opening instruction is to accept one who is weak in faith, yet not in order to fight over opinions.
Explanation
The opening instruction is to accept one who is weak in faith, yet not in order to fight over opinions. The first example is about food. One person eats all things, while another eats only vegetables. The passage recognises a real difference, but its first concern is how people receive one another.
02Do not despise or judgeBoth sides receive a warning. The one who eats must not despise the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat must not judge the one who eats.
Explanation
Both sides receive a warning. The one who eats must not despise the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat must not judge the one who eats. The reason is that God has accepted him. The picture of a servant also reminds readers that a person stands before his own lord.
03Be assured in your own mind before the LordA second example concerns days. One person regards a day as more important, while another regards every day alike.
Explanation
A second example concerns days. One person regards a day as more important, while another regards every day alike. Each person is told to be fully assured in his own mind. Whether someone observes a day, eats, or refrains, the repeated test is this: is it done to the Lord, with thanks to God?
04Life and death belong to the LordThe passage then gives a deeper reason. None of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself.
Explanation
The passage then gives a deeper reason. None of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself. In life or in death, we are the Lord’s. Christ died, rose, and lived again so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. That truth shapes everyday choices.
05Each person will give account to GodThe warning against judging and despising returns at the end. Brothers should remember that all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Explanation
The warning against judging and despising returns at the end. Brothers should remember that all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. The quotation says every knee will bow and every tongue will confess to God. So the final responsibility is personal: each one will give account of himself to God.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What two opposite wrong responses are named when people differ about food?
Read Romans 14:3 carefully and notice that one person is warned against despising and the other against judging.
02What repeated purpose should shape choices about food and days?
Look in Romans 14:5–6 for the repeated words 'to the Lord' and the mention of giving God thanks.
03What reason does the passage give for stopping judgement of a brother?
Follow the argument in Romans 14:10–12: all will stand before the judgment seat, bow before God, and give account of themselves.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Romans 14:1–12
1Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions.
2One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
3Don’t let him who eats despise him who doesn’t eat. Don’t let him who doesn’t eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.
4Who are you who judge another’s servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand.
5One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind.
6He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks. He who doesn’t eat, to the Lord he doesn’t eat, and gives God thanks.
7For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself.
8For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
9For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11For it is written, “ ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.’ ”
12So then each one of us will give account of himself to God.