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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 14
Avoid doubtful disputations and unrighteous judgment of each
other—Every knee shall bow to Christ—Kingdom of God embraces
righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
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1 HIM that is
aweak in the faith receive ye, but not to
bdoubtful cdisputations.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things:
another, who is weak, eateth aherbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not;
and let not him which eateth not ajudge him that
eatetha: for God hath received him.
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3a let not him which eateth not judge him
that eateth Though likely brought about due to the divergence
between the habbits, traditions and ways of the Jews relative to the Gentiles,
this which seems to be occupied with clean and unclean foods in the eyes of
the traditional Jew as compared to the Gentile, indeed all things are
spiritual in nature, even tht which is physical and that which is eaten has
its spiritual aspects. But it ought to be considered that this speaks not
only of that which is food, but that which is done in the ways of the Gentile
and Jew through out. The ways of either ought not be the basis for judgment
one against the other. The Jew does not eat swine thought the Gentile does.
And the Jew will likely continue to do that which he has grown up doing as
well as will the Gentile, but such matters which are of the ways and tradtions
of the Jews of old are not to be used against the Gentile who does not keep
them for God has accepted the Gentile into the Chruch of Christ and all are
one together in the Law of the Gospel and Doctrine of Jesus Christ. As long
as it is not by way of 'moral commandment' such divergance of traditions and
ways ought not spark judgments between church members, Jew and Gentile alike
and tolerance of such ought to be given. Yet if one purposesfully only 'eats'
to provoke the other, this ought not to be done. It ought ot be avoided to
bring offence one to the other purposefully.
Certainly the Gentile is not to be held to the 613 Jewish
commands as is either the Jew but as it seems himself fit to do. And also
those ways of the Gentile which seem different to the Jews though not
strickly forbidden by commandment of righteousness of God, so the Jew is to
tolerate in the Gentile. Thus is the ways of customs and peoples. They may
practice and do what they will as long as it does not violate the Gospel of
Jesus Christ and those commandements which he has given therein.
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4 Who art thou that ajudgest another
man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be
holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5 One man esteemeth one aday above
another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully
persuaded in his own mind.
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.
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7 For none of us aliveth to himself,
and no man dieth to himself.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and
whether we die, we adie unto the Lord: whether we live
therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and
revived, that he might be aLord both of the
bdead and living.
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10 But why dost thou ajudge thy
brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand
before the bjudgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord,
every aknee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall
bconfess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
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13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more:
but judge this rather, that no man put a astumblingblock or
an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that
there is nothing aunclean of itself: but to him that
besteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is
unclean.
15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy
meat, anow walkest thou not bcharitably.
Destroy not him cwith thy meat, for whom Christ died.
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16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of God is not
ameat and drink; but brighteousness, and
cpeace, and djoy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
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19 Let us therefore follow after the things which
make for apeace, and things wherewith one may
bedify another.
20 aFor meat destroy not the
bwork of God. All things indeed are pure; but it
is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to
drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is
aoffended, or is made weak.
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22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before
God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself ain
that thing which he alloweth.
23 And he that adoubteth is damned
if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is
not of bfaith is csin.
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