The Law of Liberty

14 Receive aone who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he bmay eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and clet not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 dWho are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

5 eOne person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who fobserves the day, observes it to the Lord; 1and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for ghe gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For hnone of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we ilive, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For jto this end Christ died 2and rose and lived again, that He might be kLord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For lwe shall all stand before the judgment seat of 3Christ. 11 For it is written:

m“As I live, says the Lord,

Every knee shall bow to Me,

And every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then neach of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another 4anymore, but rather resolve this, onot to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

The Law of Love

14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus pthat there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. qDo not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 rTherefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 sfor the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and tpeace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in 5these things uis acceptable to God and approved by men.

19 vTherefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which wone may 6edify another. 20 xDo not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. yAll things indeed are pure, zbut it is evil for the man who eats with 7offense. 21 It is good neither to eat ameat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles 8or is offended or is made weak. 22 9Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. bHappy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for cwhatever is not from faith is 1sin.

Bearing Others’ Burdens

15 We athen who are strong ought to bear with the 1scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 bLet each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to 2edification. 3 cFor even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, d“The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4 For ewhatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the 3patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 fNow may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may gwith one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Glorify God Together

7 Therefore hreceive one another, just ias Christ also received 4us, to the glory of God.