5 One person considers one day to be above another day. h Someone else considers every day to be the same. Each one must be fully convinced in his own mind. i 6 Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. j Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; k and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, yet he thanks God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. l 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. m 9 Christ died and came to life n for this: that He might rule over both the dead and the living. o 10 But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the tribunal of God. p q 11 For it is written:

As I live, says the Lord,

every knee will bow to Me, r

and every tongue will give praise to God. s t

12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. u

The Law of Love

13 Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another. v Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way. w 14 (I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is * unclean in itself. x Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean. y) 15 For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer * walking according to love. z Do not destroy that one Christ died for by what you eat. a 16 Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, b 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, c but righteousness, peace, and joy d in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever serves Christ e in this way is acceptable to God and approved by men. f

19 So then, we must pursue what promotes peace g and what builds up one another. h 20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is * clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats. i 21 It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble. j 22 Do you have a conviction? k Keep it to yourself before God. The man who does not condemn himself by what he approves is blessed. l 23 But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, m because his eating is not from a conviction, n and everything that is not from a conviction o is sin.