What does this Bible passage mean?

Question

Rom 14:21 [It is] good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [any thing] whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Answer 1

if your friend has a weakness then don't partake of the thing while in his presence. It is cruel and unusual punishment.

Answer 2

It is good neither to eat flesh, etc. If eating any kind of food, or drinking wine, is the way of your brother's peace and security, it is better to abstain from both. Deny yourself rather than offend a brother. Compare 1Co_8:13. This maxim applies to all things indifferent. It applies to wine-drinking at our time. No Christian ought ever to set an example that may destroy another.

Answer 3

There was a controversy in the early church about whether or not Christians should consume flesh sacrificed to idols. When Peter and Paul resolved the issue of whether or not gentiles had to become Jews to be Christians, it was agreed that gentile Christians should abstain from blood, anything strangled, meat offered to idols, and fornication.

Later on, the issue of eating meat offered to idols arose again because such meat was often sold in public markets and sometimes it was the only meat available. So, Paul offered another compromise. If a Christian wanted to eat such meat it was permissible but he should not do it in front of anyone who felt is was wrong. Paul didn't want to have anyone scandalized.

Essentially the text is an admonition not to do anything offensive in front of one's fellow Christians.

VB8

Answer 4

Verses nearby clarify:

14:13 Therefore we must not pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister.
14:14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean in itself; still, it is unclean to the one who considers it unclean.
14:15 For if your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer walking in love.

Answer 5

read the whole scripture .below..it means say you are not a Jewish person but are eating with one well don't eat pork and be a offence to them...the real meaning is don't be a spiritual stumbling block to others.
Rom 14;
19Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Answer 6

The Bible is a love letter , a guide and many others...
one must not read just one verse but the whole chapter itself & more over the book itself.
its the letter of Paul to the romans... Paul is saying that is not what we eat that make us weak; Paul is talking about our faith & spirit & believing. it is our faith that is weak ( Rom.14:23).

Answer 7

It means that Christians should not abuse their freedom in Christ when they are around other Christians who think that a certain behavior is sinful. They should refrain from doing something that they know is not really a sin because they care more about the other person than about doing what they desire to do.

Answer 8

It simply means that it is not good to do something around another person that might cause them to stumble or be offended. If you're able to go to a fashion show and not be tempted to lust after the women walking the catwalk, go for it. If your brother can't, then don't ask him to go with you. If your brother is an alcoholic and might be tempted to drink if you have a beer around him, refrain.

The offended part is a little different --- it is more like --- if you are around someone who believes in his heart that, for example, drinking, dancing and card playing is sin, don't do any of those things around that person. YOU are the stronger brother for realizing that you have freedom in Christ to do anything you want as long as it isn't prohibited by scripture, but your weaker brother thinks its a sin and will be stumbled, weakened and offended by your doing it.

Romans 14:23

23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

In other words, if in your heart you are convicted that something is a sin, DON'T do it even if it isn't specifically preached against in scripture. Unfortunately, many people are legalistic and think that something like card playing is a sin. I wouldn't say they're right --- I would say that they are the 'weaker brother' talked about in scripture, but since card playing, for them, is NOT of faith, if they play cards they are sinning. If a person is convinced in his heart that playing cards is okay and they are free to do that, then it isn't a sin.

Answer 9

If a person has a weakness in any of these areas, don't do them in that persons presents. It's like when a person is trying to quit smoking. It isn't a good idea to smoke around them and tell them how good the cigarette tastes.

Answer 10

this apssagre means that Paul was going to teach the Gentiles in the spirit. Paul meant that many Gentiles would be lost if it waas bot for Paul becaue he came to teach them because they, the Gentiles where not God's chosen people untill he died for thier sins. they to needed to be saved and God sentr a blood covenant. this was Jesus Christ. This simply means that many people in this world have not know Jesus or was not taught about Jesus so the Lord came to lay a foundation, not for someone else but for Jesus christ.This is for people who have no knowledge of Jesus and where born without him.So Jesus came to Do this as the scripture says, Those who were not told about him, Jesus, will see.
And those who have not heard will understand someday. Thanks and God Bless you.

Answer 11

Read the whole chapter. It simply means that we should not flaunt our freedom in such a way as to harm a weaker brother or sister in Christ.

agapefromnc