10-12 So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I’d say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we’re all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren’t going to improve your position there one bit. Read it for yourself in Scripture:

“As I live and breathe,” God says,
    “every knee will bow before me;
Every tongue will tell the honest truth
    that I and only I am God.”

So mind your own business. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.

13-14 Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I’m convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.

15-16 If you confuse others by making a big issue over what they eat or don’t eat, you’re no longer a companion with them in love, are you? These, remember, are persons for whom Christ died. Would you risk sending them to hell over an item in their diet? Don’t you dare let a piece of God-blessed food become an occasion of soul-poisoning!

17-18 God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you’ll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.

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10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt?(A) For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.(B) 11 It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’(C) says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[b](D)

12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.(E)

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment(F) on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.(G) 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself.(H) But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.(I) 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.(J) Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.(K) 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.(L) 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,(M) but of righteousness, peace(N) and joy in the Holy Spirit,(O) 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.(P)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:10 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in verses 13, 15 and 21.
  2. Romans 14:11 Isaiah 45:23