Romans 14:13-21

Expanded Bible

Do Not Cause Others to Sin

¹³ For that reason ·we should [or let us] stop judging each other. We must make up our minds not to ·do anything that will make another Christian sin [^Lplace a stumbling block or obstacle before a brother or sister]. ¹⁴ ·I am in the Lord Jesus, and I know [^LI know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus] that there is ·no food that is wrong to eat [^Lnothing impure/unclean/defiling in itself]. But if a person ·believes [considers; regards] something is ·wrong [impure; unclean; defiling], that thing is ·wrong [impure; unclean; defiling] for him. ¹⁵ If ·you hurt your brother’s or sister’s faith [your brother or sister is distressed/grieved] because of something you eat, you are ·not really following the way of [^Lno longer walking/living in] love. ·Do not destroy someone’s faith by eating food he thinks is wrong, because Christ died for him [^LBy your eating do not destroy that one for whom Christ died!; ^Cso trivial a matter as food must not negate the tremendous sacrifice Christ made]. ¹⁶ Do not allow what you think is good to ·become what others say is evil [be criticized/regarded as evil; ^Lbe slandered/blasphemed]. ¹⁷ ·In the kingdom of God, eating and drinking are not important [^LFor the kingdom of God is not (about) eating and drinking]. The important things are ·living right with God [righteousness], peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Anyone who serves Christ by living this way is pleasing God and will be ·accepted [approved; respected] by other people.

¹⁹ So let us try to do what makes peace and ·helps [builds up; edifies] one another. ²⁰ Do not let the eating of food ·destroy [tear down] the work of God. All foods are ·all right to eat [clean; ritually undefiled], but it is wrong to eat food that causes someone else to ·sin [stumble; fall]. ²¹ It is ·better [good] not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that will cause your brother or sister to ·sin [stumble; fall].