The Weak and the Strong

14 Accept the one whose faith is weak,(A) without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.(B) The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt(C) the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge(D) the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?(E) To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

One person considers one day more sacred than another;(F) another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God;(G) and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Read full chapter

14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself.(A) But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.(B) 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.(C) Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.(D) 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.(E) 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,(F) but of righteousness, peace(G) and joy in the Holy Spirit,(H) 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.(I)

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace(J) and to mutual edification.(K) 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.(L) All food is clean,(M) but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.(N)

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends