Roma 14:1 (NKJV) Receive one who is weak in the faith, [but] not to disputes over doubtful things.
Here we are told to receive one who is weak in the faith. For centuries, mainstream Christianity has taught that this weak person is one who is still hanging onto so called "ceremonial" commandments in the law of Yahweh such as Sabbath observance and refraining from eating unclean animals as outlined in the 15th chapter of Leviticus. If this were the case, we would need to classify Peter (Kepha) as one who is 'weak in faith'! When Yahweh gave him a vision in Acts chapter 10, Kepha said "I have never eaten anything common or unclean." This was many years after Yahushua's resurrection. So was Kepha weak in faith? I think not. Look at Kepha here:
Acts 3:6 (NKJV) Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Yahushua the Messiah of Nazareth, rise up and walk." 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted [him] up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Hardly a man lacking faith! It was through faith that this man was healed. (see verse 16).
Consider also Paul himself would have to be classified as 'weak in faith' if this were the proper interpretation. For his custom was to observe the Sabbath:
Acts 17:2 (NKJV) Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
It can be shown that the disciples all kept the Sabbath 83 times in the New Testament. Were they all weak in faith also? I think not!
I am convinced that what is being talked about in Romans 14 could not be about the eating of pork and other unclean foods. I believe that the situation in Rome has to do with meat offered to idols. However, this is not evident just by looking at the first few verses of Romans. We must read through the whole chapter before we really get an understanding of what is being talked about here. So please have an open mind through this study and toward the end I think you will begin to see why this is evident. But before we get any furthur into Romans, let us examine the situation in Corinth as a backdrop to our study:
1Cor 10:25 (NKJV) Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; 26 for "the earth [is] Yahweh's, and all its fullness."
The reasoning for Paul's stance is that all animals belong to Yahweh. Truly the earth and all the animals that dwell therein does belong to Yahweh. If we with a pure heart are eating an animal that Yahweh has not forbidden us to eat then surely there is no sin in that. The problem was that the believers in Corinth and also in Rome were surrounded by paganism.
1Cor 10:27 If any of those who do not believe invites you [to] [dinner], and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake.
This phrase 'eat what is set before you' is not a new one. Yahushua used it when sending out the seventy:
Luke 10:8 (NKJV) "Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 "And heal the sick there, and say to them, `The kingdom of Yahweh has come near to you.'
Continuing in 1 Corinthians:
1Cor 10:27 If any of those who do not believe invites you [to] [dinner], and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth [is] Yahweh's, and all its fullness." 29 "Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another [man]'s conscience?
How can this scripture ('the earth is Yahweh's and all its fullness') be quoted to support both of these views? Because if one were to tell you that this meat is from an animal sacrificed unto a false idol, by eating it the person who told you this may think that you don't acknowledge that the earth is Yahweh's and all its fullness. Rather they may think that you believe the earth was not created by Yahweh. Knowing that all things were created by Yahweh is the key to proving that all the idols are worthless because Yahweh truly has made all things.
1Cor 10:30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for [the] [food] over which I give thanks?
If we are giving thanks to Yahweh for our food, which He has created, we are acknowledging it was He who has given us these things.
1Cor 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of Yahweh.
This is the whole point of what is being said to those in Corinth. Even though they do not recognize that an idol is anything, we do not want to eat anything that might cause Yahweh to be looked upon with a lesser degree of glory. For truly the earth is Yahweh's! Let's look at another place in 1 Corinthians where Paul originally introduced the subject:
1Cor 8:1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves Yahweh, this one is known by Him. 4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that [there] [is] no other Elohim but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many masters), 6 yet for us [there] [is] one Elohim, the Father, of whom [are] all things, and we for Him; and one Master Yahushua the Messiah, through whom [are] all things, and through whom we [live]. 7 However, [there] [is] not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat [it] as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
So here is an example of a weak brother. This particular weak brother can not help but to think of the idol as he eats the meat that might have been sacrificed to an idol. He even eats it as a thing offered to an idol. Other believers, who have attained more knowledge and faith, understand that an idol is nothing. They eat with the knowledge that Yahweh has created this food which He is receiving.
1Cor 8:8 But food does not commend us to Yahweh; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. 9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom the Messiah died?
Apparently there were some who were so bold about it, they would even go into an idol's temple and eat the meat. This is flatly condemned here.
1Cor 8:12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against the Messiah.
Yahushua said that what we do to the least of the brethren we do unto Him.
1Cor 8:13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
So here we see an example of a weaker brother in the city of Corinth. I am convinced that we have a similar situation in the city of Rome. However, the believers in Rome are more knowledgeable about Yahweh than those in Corinth. It is very obvious that those in Corinth had some major sin to deal with.
1Cor 15:34 (NKJV) Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of Yahweh. I speak [this] to your shame.
But those in Rome Paul said:
Roma 15:14 (NKJV) Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
By this, we could conclude that what we see in Rome is a more advanced situation than the one in Corinth. Now lets get back to the situation in Romans. Here is verse 1 again:
Roma 14:1 (NKJV) Receive one who is weak in the faith, [but] not to disputes over doubtful things.
So again here in Romans we are dealing with a weak brother. This is much like the situation in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. So we can see that in both the Corinthian and Roman assemblies the common thread was dealing with those who are weak. Let us now read through the whole chapter before concluding anything. Part of the problem is that we are dealing with something that both Paul and the Roman assembly are aware of but we are left to figure out what it is. It is much like listening to one side of a phone conversation. But keep in mind that this is among the 'doubtful things', so it must not be an issue of whether or not to obey a commandment of Yahweh. So let's read on:
Roma 14:2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats [only] vegetables.
Here is a very key verse. Clearly it is talking about vegetarianism. The weak person is the one eating vegetables. The question is why is this person considered weak?? Well, remember that we saw a similar situation with a 'weak' brother in the Corinthian assembly. This persons faith was hindered by his temptation to follow an idol. But this is a more advanced situation in Rome. Brothers have taken more of a stance on both sides of the issue.
Roma 14:3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for Yahweh has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Yahweh is able to make him stand.
Based on context of this chapter, I believe that what we see here is that some would not eat meat at all for fear that it might have been offered to an idol. Others believed that since an idol was nothing, they would not ask any questions when buying meat. Keep in mind that in Rome there were over 1 million people and 400 pagan temples in that city! This is not unlike the Corinth with its many pagan temples and about a half million people. So it seems that what is being said here is that they should not judge one another based on this issue. The Roman assembly apparently had a division on this. Those who did not ask questions when eating the meat were condemned by those who refused to eat anything (for fear it might have been offered to an idol.) This passage refers to the latter as the 'one who is weak'. This is exactly like what we saw in 1 Corinthians.
Roma 14:5 One person esteems [one] day above another; another esteems every day [alike]. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes [it] to Yahweh; and he who does not observe the day, to Yahweh he does not observe [it]. He who eats, eats to Yahweh, for he gives Yahweh thanks; and he who does not eat, to Yahweh he does not eat, and gives Yahweh thanks.
There are various theories on these 2 verses. One theory states that this is talking about the Sabbath. There are several reasons why I believe that this is not so. They are:
I believe that this passage is talking about which day that one should fast. This does have support in the text because the scripture says:
Roma 14:6 He who observes the day, observes [it] to Yahweh; and he who does not observe the day, to Yahweh he does not observe [it]. He who eats, eats to Yahweh, for he gives Yahweh thanks; and he who does not eat, to Yahweh he does not eat, and gives Yahweh thanks.
One of the traditions of the Pharisees in that day was to fast twice a week:
Luke 18:11 (NKJV) "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `Elohim, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 `I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
Also Yahushua expected that His disciples would fast:
Luke 5:34 (NKJV) And He said to them, "Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 "But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days."
So the context of this whole chapter proves out one common thread. The whole chapter is talking about FOOD. Continuing on....
Roma 14:7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to Yahweh; and if we die, we die to Yahweh. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are Yahweh's. 9 For to this end the Messiah died and rose and lived again, that He might be Master 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 we shall all stand before the judgment seat of the Messiah. 11 For it is written: []"As I live, says Yahweh, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to Yahweh." 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to Yahweh. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in [our] brother's way.
So Paul did not condemn those who would not eat the meat. He never condemned them in 1 Corinthians either. If he had, it might have caused that brother to stumble because those who had a consciousness of the idol would eat it "as a thing offered to an idol" and their conscience, being weak, would be defiled. Paul wanted those in Rome to keep this in mind. What was condemned here was the attitude of the stronger brother toward the weaker one.
Roma 14:14 I know and am convinced by the Master Yahushua that [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. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom the Messiah died.
How selfish for a person to trouble another just because he knows that an idol is nothing! But is food offered to an idol unclean? The common teaching of the Jews in that day was a resounding 'yes'! According to the Encyclopedia Judaica under the heading "Purity" it says:
"In the case of idolatrous offerings the law is even stricter [than the impurity of the idol itself] and Judah b. Bava says that it conveys impurity by overshadowing, as does a corpse"
The teachings on purity that were handed down to the Jews of this generation went FAR beyond what the word of Yahweh ever taught. For an example of this, let's look at a situation that Yahushua ran into:
Luke 11:37 (NKJV) And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. 38 When the Pharisee saw [it], he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner. 39 Then the Master said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. 40 "Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? 41 "But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.
Yahushua did not adhere to the teachings handed down from Shammai and Hillel that one must wash their hands before eating dinner. There is no such commandment in the word of Yahweh. But to the Pharisees, the hand washings were of utmost importance. They were quite particular not only in when to wash their hands, but even how. There were ordinances that you had to wash up to the third joint of the finger with a certain measure of water, etc etc etc. They focused so much on what might cause them to be impure, they forgot that Yahweh would rather have them focus on what IS pure. Yahushua told them to 'give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.' In other words, let your hearts and lives be full of compassion, and it will make you clean. Purity comes from within! And so the scripture says:
Titus 1:15 (NKJV) To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
and again:
Jame 1:27 (NKJV) Pure and undefiled religion before Elohim and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, [and] to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
and again:
Phil 4:8 (NKJV) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things [are] noble, whatever things [are] just, whatever things [are] pure, whatever things [are] lovely, whatever things [are] of good report, if [there] [is] any virtue and if [there] [is] anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
So in the eyes of one who has a pure heart before Yahweh, there is no such thing as another deity. We all know that Yahweh is the only Mighty One. We all know that Yahweh has sanctified in His word the animals that we can eat and does not forbid us to eat them. If one wants to offer them to an idol, that is their business but we will give thanks to Yahweh for providing food for us to eat! However, if what we do eat would not bring honor to Yahweh but would harm our brother who is weak in faith then surely that is not the will of Yahweh.
Roma 14:16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of Yahweh is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves the Messiah in these things [is] acceptable to Yahweh and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things [which] [make] for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of Yahweh for the sake of food. All things indeed [are] pure, but [it] [is] evil for the man who eats with offense.
Again the meat itself is pure whether it was offered to an idol or not, it is not common or unclean. From the days of Noah up until now, Yahweh has made man to know the difference between the clean and the unclean. If the scripture states that the animal was clean, then it was clean!
Roma 14:21 [It] [is] good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor [do] [anything] by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
Now here is a very important verse. This is where Paul actually clarifies that he is talking about meat offered to idols. It is hidden from our eyes by translation but it is nonetheless there! Let's look at the Greek word that is translated "meat" here...
BDB/Thayers # 2907 2907 kreas {kreh'-as} perhaps a primary word;; n n AV - flesh 2; 2 1) (the) flesh (of a sacrificed animal)
In fact it is this same word that is used in
1Cor 8:13 (NKJV) Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
This is the only 2 places in the New Testament that it is used. In both cases the context was concerning meat offered to idols! Notice that even though it was obvious from reading the first and second verses of this chapter that he was talking about meat, this is the first time that the food that is spoken of here in Romans is classified as 'meat'. So this certainly clarifies things.
Roma 14:22 Do you have faith? Have [it] to yourself before Yahweh. Happy [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 whatever [is] not from faith is sin.
If you have any doubts about the earth being Yahweh's and the fullness therein...and are tempted by the idol, then this person is condemned if he eats. This is exactly what was taught in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10. Therefore it seems very obvious to me that there are a lot of parallels between what is said in Romans 14 and what is said in 1 Corinthians. Based on these things I believe it is very safe to conclude that in both cases Paul is talking about food offered to idols. Paul at no time during this chapter considers 'liberty' a license to sin. Sin is transgression of the law. If we eat things that Yahweh has commanded not to be eaten, we are not keeping the commandment of Yahweh. Therefore we are transgressing the law and are sinning. We should know what sin is! Therefore it is sin to eat things that Yahweh has commanded us not to eat!
We can't throw out the whole of scripture that teaches against sin because of a one sided conversation in Romans! It can not be proven that this chapter is speaking of unclean meats. But it can be proven that it does not. There are many other passages that teach we should keep the commandments. Here is one example in scripture that shows Yahweh's concern for people who eat unclean animals:
Isai 66:17 (NKJV) "Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, [To] [go] to the gardens After an [idol] in the midst, Eating swine's flesh and the abomination and the mouse, Shall be consumed together," says Yahweh.
Please examine the context of this chapter. It is speaking of the end times...this has not occurred yet. So yes, Yahweh is still concerned that we do not eat things that are abominations to Him. There are a few things in Yahweh's word that He considers to be an abomination. Eating the flesh of animals that He did not create us to eat is one of them.
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