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Romans 14:13–20

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THE LAW OF LOVE

13Therefore, let us no longer judge one another.v Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.w 14I know and am persuaded in 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 15For if your brother or sister is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love.z Do not destroy, by what you eat, someone for whom Christ died.aa 16Therefore, do not let your good be slandered,ab 17for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,ac but righteousness, peace, and joyad in the Holy Spirit. 18Whoever serves Christae in this way is acceptable to God and receives human approval.af

19So then, let us pursue what promotes peaceag and what builds up one another.ah 20Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make someone fall by what he eats.ai

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Cross references

  1. vMt 7:1; Rm 14:3
  2. w1Co 8:13
  3. xAc 10:15; Rm 14:2,20
  4. y1Co 8:7
  5. zEph 5:2
  6. aa1Co 8:11
  7. ab1Co 10:30; Ti 2:5
  8. ac1Co 8:8
  9. adRm 15:13; Gl 5:22
  10. aeRm 16:18
  11. af2Co 8:21; Php 4:8; 1Pt 2:12
  12. agPs 34:14; Rm 12:18; 1Co 7:15; 2Tm 2:22; Heb 12:14
  13. ahRm 15:2; 1Co 10:23; 14:3,26; 2Co 12:19; Eph 4:12,29
  14. ai1Co 8:9–13

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

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

NLTNew Living Translation

So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Therefore, let us no longer pass judgment on one another, but rather decide this: not to place a cause for stumbling or a temptation before a brother. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean of itself, except to the one who considers something to be unclean; to that person it is unclean. For if because of food, your brother is grieved, you are no longer living according to love. Do not destroy by your food that person for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be slandered. For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For the one who serves Christ in this way is well-pleasing to God and approved by people.

So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what edifies one another. Do not destroy the work of God on account of food. All things are clean, but it is wrong for the person who eats and stumbles in the process.

KJV 1900King James Version

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.