Motivated by Love

Paul Resolves the Touchy Issues Between Jews and Gentiles (12:1-15:13)

The differences in culture between Jews and Gentiles within the Roman church plainly manifested themselves regarding food and holy days. Some Jews considered food offered to idols and then sold to be a sin to eat. In that day it was difficult to buy well-priced kosher food.  

So, those strong in faith were quarreling with the weaker in faith over these external practices. While Paul sided with the liberty of the strong, he also sought to explain how transformed people walked in love, while living in peace. 

Love Does Not Pass Judgment (1-6) 

Paul takes on two of their biggest quarrels, namely the food they thought they were at liberty to eat and the holy days they thought appropriate to honor. Those who were at liberty in practice were not to despise those more restricted in practice, and those more restricted were not to judge those more liberated (1-3). The most important premise to Paul was that the church not judge—the Jews the Gentiles and the Gentiles the Jews (4). In Paul's mind, there was room for differences of opinion concerning the importance of days and what one should eat. The important matter to Paul was that each should be convinced of what she or he personally practiced (5), and their practice should be something they do to honor and give thanks to the Lord (6).  

Love Lives Accountable to Jesus (7-12)

Paul goes on to explain that believers do not live for food or traditions to celebrate on certain days, but they live and die for the Lord (7-8). Paul claims it was Christ who died and lives, so He is the Lord of the dead and living (9). If Jesus is Lord, then we are not Lord, so Paul reminded the church they would stand before Jesus at the Judgment (10). This standing before Jesus' seat of Judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10) and giving an account before God for their lives would be the destiny of every living soul. Paul quotes from Isaiah 45:23 to make his point that every knee will bow and make a confession to God of what they have done. In an ultimate judgment, every tongue shall confess Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:11) and then every single tongue shall start confessing (11-12).  

Love Does Not Risk Offending Another Over Appetite (13-19)

Then Paul brings his point home: “Do not pass judgment on others any longer.” To judge is to put a stumbling block or to create an offense, which could cause someone to drift from Christ. Paul desires no exercise of rights at the expense of the spiritual health and unity of the body. There is to be no “get a life,” “stop your whining,” or “grow up” backtalk toward those considered weaker in faith (13).

Paul is making it clear which side of the line his faith has brought him to: “Nothing is unclean unless someone's conscience is telling him it is unclean” (14). Paul then shocks the church and directs that the stronger brother, out of love for his neighbor, should not eat what the weaker brothers find sinful (15). Paul further encourages them not to allow what was regarded as good—their freedom—to be slandered as evil (16).  

Still in shock mode, Paul informs the church in Rome that the Kingdom of God is not the right to eat and drink what they wish, but it is the seeking of right relationship and harmony with others, followed by much rejoicing in the Holy Spirit. This was to be their highest goal (17). Paul sees an acceptable life in God (18) as simply to serve the cause of relationship and love and to build others up (19).

Love Is Being Honest with Conscience (20-23) 

Finally, Paul explains faith as being personal and not evenly expressed, but what is universal in Paul's mind is God's desire not to offend the conscience of another by flaunting one's liberty. Faith was the source of their liberty, but each person’s liberty was different, so none should be judged for his or her liberty or lack of liberty. Those liberated in their faith to eat should never use their liberty to harm another's faith in Christ (20-21). Paul then describes faith as being personal and such convictions should be kept personal. Then Paul recognizes a blessing on the ones liberated in faith to eat what they please, who will instead deny themselves and refrain from eating. In this way, they will prevent those of weaker conscience from following their example and violating their own consciences (and faith), which could lead them to lust for more and in time cause them to drift from Christ (22).  

Paul states a principle to the Roman church: if they were to think their liberty to eat or drink something could possibly lead another to eat or drink the same thing and sin, then their conscience was actually convicting them and what they were doing would not be of faith and therefore a sin (23).