Romans 14:6

He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. HE THAT REGARDETH THE DAY, REGARDETH IT UNTO THE LORD - the Lord CHRIST, as before; AND HE THAT REGARDETH NOT THE DAY, TO THE LORD HE DOTH NOT REGARD IT - each doing what he believes to be his Lord's will. HE THAT EATETH, EATETH TO THE LORD, FOR HE GIVETH GOD THANKS; AND HE THAT EATETH NOT, TO THE LORD HE EATETH NOT, AND GIVETH GOD THANKS. The one gave thanks to God for the flesh which the other scrupled to use-the other did the same for the herbs to which, for conscience' sake, he restricted himself. (The bearing of these statements upon the perpetuity of the Sabbath we reserve for the Remarks at the close of this...

6._He who regards a day, etc. _Since Paul well knew that a respect for days proceeded from ignorance of Christ, it is not probable that such a corruption was altogether defended by him; and yet his words seem to imply, that he who regarded days committed no sin; for nothing but good can be accepted by God. Hence, that you may understand his purpose, it is necessary to distinguish between the notion, which any one may have entertained as to the observance of days, and the observance itself to which he felt himself bound. The notion was indeed superstitious, nor does Paul deny this; for he has already condemned it by calling it infirmity, and he will again condemn it still more plainly. Now, that he who was held fast by this superstition, dared not to violate the solemnity of a particular day; this was approved by God, because he dared not to do any thing with a doubtful conscience. What i...

1-6 Differences of opinion prevailed even among the immediate followers of Christ and their disciples. Nor did St. Paul attempt to end them. Compelled assent to any doctrine, or conformity to outward observances without being convinced, would be hypocritical and of no avail. Attempts for producing absolute oneness of mind among Christians would be useless. Let not Christian fellowship be disturbed with strifes of words. It will be good for us to ask ourselves, when tempted to disdain and blame our brethren; Has not God owned them? and if he has, dare I disown them? Let not the Christian who uses his liberty, despise his weak brother as ignorant and superstitious. Let not the scrupulous believer find fault with his brother, for God accepted him, without regarding the distinctions of meats. We usurp the place of God, when we take upon us thus to judge the thoughts and intentions of others...

Verse Romans 14:6. _HE THAT REGARDETH THE DAY_] A beautiful apology for _mistaken sincerity_ and _injudicious reformation_. Do not condemn the man for what is indifferent in itself: if he keep these _festivals_, his purpose is to honour God by the religious observance of them. On the other hand, he who finds that he cannot observe them in honour of God, not believing that God has enjoined them, he does not observe them at all. In like manner, he that eateth any creature of God, which is wholesome and proper food, _gives thanks to God_ as the author of all good. And he who cannot eat of all indiscriminately, but is regulated by the precepts in the Mosaic law relative to _clean_ and _unclean meats_, also _gives God thanks_. Both are sincere; both upright; both act according to their light; God accepts both; and _they_ should bear with each other....

HE THAT REGARDETH - Greek, “Thinketh of;” or pays attention to; that is, he that “observes” it as a festival, or as holy time. THE DAY - Any of the days under discussion; the days that the Jews kept as religious occasions. REGARDETH UNTO THE LORD - Regards it as “holy,” or as set apart to the service of God. He believes that he is “required” by God to keep it, that is, that the laws of Moses in regard to such days are binding on him. HE THAT REGARDETH NOT THE DAY - Or who does not observe such distinctions of days as are demanded in the laws of Moses. TO THE LORD ... - That is, he does not believe that God “requires” such an observance. HE THAT EATETH - The Gentile Christian, who freely eats all kinds of meat;...

EXPOSITION ROMANS 14:1 F. _The duty of enlightened Christians towards weak brethren. _From moral duties in general of Christians towards each other and towards all the apostle now passes to such as they owe peculiarly to each other as members of a religious community, united by a common faith. He has already (Romans 12:16) admonished his readers to be "of the same mind one toward another;" but, as was remarked under that verse, this did not imply agreement of view on all subjects, such as is impossible where there are many minds. In this chapter he recognizes the impossibility, having immediately before him what was then patent, the inability of some, through prejudice or slowness of conception, to enter into views of the meaning of the gospel which to himself a

HE THAT REGARDETH THE DAY, REGARDETH IT TO THE LORD,.... The apostle strengthens the above advice with this reason, because what is done both by one and the other, is done unto the Lord. The weak brother that esteems one day above another, and regards the passover, pentecost, and feast of tabernacles, a new moon, or a seventh day sabbath, does it in obedience to the commands of the Lord, which he thinks are still binding, not knowing that they are disannulled by Christ; and the worship performed by him on any of those days is done in the name and strength of the Lord, with a view to his glory, and as believing it was pleasing in his sight; and whether he is right or wrong, it is to the Lord he does it, and to his own master he stands or falls. The following clause is omitted in the Alexandrian copy and some others, and in the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, but is in most Greek copi...

ROMANS 14:6 fronei/ The Textus Receptus, following the later witnesses (C3 L P most minuscules syrp, h arm _al_), adds the clause kai. o` mh. fronw/n th.n h`me,ran kuri,w| ouv fronei/. This is a typical Byzantine gloss, prompted by the desire to provide a balanced statement after the model of the clause kai. o` mh. evsqi,wn later in the verse....

CHAPTER 14 _ 1. Strong and Weak Brethren are the Lord's Servants. (Romans 14:1 .)_ 2. The True Way of Love. (Romans 14:13 .) Romans 14:1 The question concerning brethren who were weak in faith, how they are to be treated by those who are strong is now taken up. Those weak in the faith had not the complete knowledge of their position in Christ, though they knew Christ and loved Him. They did not realize that certain observances of days, or abstinences from meats and drinks, could not affect their salvation in any way. There were scruples and conscientious difficulties, as there are still among God's people. One believeth he may eat all things, he knew his full Christian freedom--another who i

A LESSON IN TOLERATION. A special homily for Rome (Romans 14:1 to Romans 15:13) follows the comprehensive exhortation of chs. 12 f. Some ascetic circle in the Roman Church (p. 650), led perhaps by Jews of Essenic tenets (see Lightfoot's _Colossians,_ on the Essenes), practised vegetarianism; others made much of sacred days. On such matters Christians should not judge or quarrel with each other. ROMANS 14:1. The man who eats herbs only, has a feeble apprehension of the Gospel, imagining his salvation affected by his diet; see Romans 14:17; _cf._...