Romans 14:21

"Don’t overthrow God’s work for food’s sake. All things indeed are clean, however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating."

Key Reflection

This verse emphasizes that while all foods are inherently clean and can be eaten without sinning (Romans 14:21), one should not allow the consumption of food to become an obstacle or cause others to stumble in their faith (Romans 14:21-23). It underscores the importance of considering how our actions, even seemingly innocuous ones like eating, can impact the spiritual well-being and beliefs of others.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 21. It is good. It is right; or it is better. This verse is an explanation or enlarged specification of the meaning of the former. To eat flesh. That is, such flesh as the Jewish convert regarded as unclean, Ro 14:2. Nor to drink wine. Wine was a common drink among the Jews, and usually esteemed lawful. But the Nazarites were not allowed to drink it, (Nu 6:3) and the Rechabites (Jer 35) drank no wine; and it is possible that some of the early converts regarded it as unlawful for Christians to drink it. Wine was, moreover, used in libations in heathen worship, and perhaps the Jewish converts might be scrupulous about its use from this cause.

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