Scripture to Read: Romans 14:2–3
God had Paul continue in Romans 14:2–3 by writing, “One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.” We must understand the biblical context to understand why God had Paul talk about what to eat and not eat. In the early church, there was an issue about what to eat and not eat because God had told the Israelites, through the Law He gave to Moses, not to eat meat sacrificed to idols/false gods. In the book of Leviticus, God spoke to the Israelites about what was clean and unclean. God wanted the Israelites to live differently than the pagan nations around them who sacrificed animals to their idols/false gods. But, after our Lord Jesus Christ came to earth and willingly sacrificed Himself on the cross, everyone’s spiritual cleanliness was, and still is, not about the food that is eaten or not eaten. Because of Christ’s shed blood on the cross, every born-again believer was, and still is, cleansed of all sin and made righteous before God the Father by Christ’s blood. So, God had Paul write that no one in the family of God should look down on anyone for what they have eaten or did not eat since God accepts us as His children based on Christ’s sacrifice for all believers on the cross.
Challenge & Application
· We don’t see people arguing over what food to eat or not eat, but what issues are relevant today that apply to what God taught us?
· How do you guard against holding contempt toward others who don’t agree with you on issues that are cleansed through Christ?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!