Do Not Cause Another to Stumble

13 (A)Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide (B)never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus (C)that nothing is unclean in itself, (D)but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, (E)you are no longer walking in love. (F)By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 (G)So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 (H)For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but (I)of righteousness and (J)peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is (K)acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us (L)pursue what makes for peace and for (M)mutual upbuilding.

20 (N)Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. (O)Everything is indeed clean, but (P)it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 (Q)It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:21 Some manuscripts add or be hindered or be weakened

13 Therefore, let us no longer pass judgment on one another, but rather decide this: not to place a cause for stumbling or a temptation before a brother. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean of itself, except to the one who considers something to be unclean; to that person it is unclean. 15 For if because of food, your brother is grieved, you are no longer living according to love. Do not destroy by your food that person for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be slandered. 17 For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For the one who serves Christ in this way is well-pleasing to God and approved by people.

19 So then, let us pursue what promotes peace[a] and what edifies one another[b]. 20 Do not destroy the work of God on account of food. All things are clean, but it is wrong for the person who eats and stumbles in the process[c]. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine or to do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is weakened.[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:19 Literally “the things of peace”
  2. Romans 14:19 Literally “the things of edification toward one another”
  3. Romans 14:20 Literally “who eats with stumbling”
  4. Romans 14:21 Some manuscripts omit “or is offended or is weakened”

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

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace(L) and to mutual edification.(M) 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.(N) All food is clean,(O) but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.(P) 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.(Q)

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