Romans 14:3-4 Let not him that eats despise him that eats not; and let not him which eats not judge him that eats: for God has received him.… I. THE STRONG SHOULD NOT DESPISE THE WEAK BRETHREN. 1. Tenderness and sensitiveness of conscience is a quality as precious as it is rare. 2. The clearer light of the strong is due to God's special mercy and their superior advantages. 3. He who is good enough for Christ should not be rejected by man. 4. Possibly, for aught one could tell, their brother's prejudices might decrease, and he ultimately outshine the strongest of the strong in Christian usefulness. II. THE WEAK SHOULD AVOID CENSORIOUSNESS. 1. Difference of opinion will ever exist upon minor questions. No two minds regard the same subject exactly alike. Two artists, looking at the same landscape under like circumstances, will behold it with different eyes, and will represent it, though truthfully, yet according to their own previous education and peculiar stamp of mind. 2. It is the office of God alone to judge, and we should be charitable to others, but severe on ourselves. A weak brother, in regarding his strong brother's conduct, was like a man beholding an object through a mist. 3. Supposing our brother to be somewhat mistaken in trivial points, yet God is willing to receive him; and shall we venture to excommunicate and unchurch him, or withdraw from his fellowship? Might not such conduct irritate his mind, stamp deeper his prejudices, and lead him to magnify the importance of these really subordinate and less essential questions on account of which he is despised, and thus neglect or depreciate fundamental truths? "Errors," writes John Scott, "like paper kites, are many times raised and kept up in men's minds by the incessant bluster of over-fierce opposition." Conclusion: The weak and the strong have their representatives in all ages of the Church. The former are the conservative, and the latter are the liberal elements. Both parties are necessary in the present order of things. They may be compared to the centripetal and centrifugal forces which keep the Church in its due orbit of practice. (C. Nell, M.A.) God hath received him. — Accepted him in Christ, adopted him into His family, approved of that which the weak brother condemned. Their conduct was pleasing to God because according to gospel truth and liberty, not from laxity or flesh pleasing, but from religious principle. Man often condemns when God receives, and vice versa. Believers therefore are to be temperate in judging as well as in living. God's views and conduct are to guide us — 1. In our judgment of things. 2. In our treatment of persons. The question in regard to a brother is, Does God receive him? The great question for ourselves is, Does God receive me? (J. Robinson, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. |
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