The Law of Love

13 Therefore, let us no longer judge one another.(A) Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.(B) 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself.(C) Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.(D) 15 For if your brother or sister is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love.(E) Do not destroy, by what you eat, someone for whom Christ died.(F) 16 Therefore, do not let your good be slandered,(G) 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,(H) but righteousness, peace, and joy(I) in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever serves Christ(J) in this way is acceptable to God and receives human approval.(K)

19 So then, let us pursue what promotes peace(L) and what builds up one another.(M) 20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make someone fall by what he eats.(N) 21 It is a good thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 14:21 Other mss add or offended or 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”