Background Scripture: Romans 14:10-23
Lesson Context: This lesson’s letter (Romans) comes from the apostle Paul to the Romans. The lesson addresses a church divided between Jewish and non-Jewish (Gentiles) followers of Jesus. Paul writes the letter to show each group that they belong to God’s kingdom on the same terms faith in Jesus in response to God’s good news about Him. So Paul says “to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” that each group has the same status. All have sinned, both Jews and Gentiles.
On Inappropriate Judging (Romans 14:10-12).
- Current Problem (10a).
10a. “But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set as nought thy brother?” These words are spoken to the man weak in faith, that scrupled eating certain meats, and chose rather eat none, and live on herbs, and who esteemed himself one day above another; and was very apt to censure and condemn such as made use of their Christian liberty in these things, though they were brethren, not in a natural or civil, but in spiritual relations.
2. Future Accounting (vv. 10b – 12).
10b. “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” At the last day, when he shall sit on his throne of glory, and all nations shall be gathered before him, and he shall pronounce and execute the decisive sentence on each of them, there is a particular, and a general judgment; a particular judgment at death, when the soul is immediately consigned to bliss or woe, and a general one in the end of time; which may be proved both from a reason, as far from the relation creatures stand in to God, from the inequality of things in life, and the conscious fears of men with respect to a future one, and from divine revelation, Christ will be the judge, he is so appointed by his Father, and is every way fit for it, being God omniscient and omnipotent; and when he shall appear in his glory, he shall sit on his judgment seat, the dead will be raised, the books will be opened, and all shall be summoned to appear before him, of every age and sex.
V. 11. “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.””As I live saith the Lord,” in the Hebrew is “I have sworn by myself.” One expression as equivalent to the other. An “oath” of God is often expressed by the phrase “as I Live.” “Every knee shall bow to me” – To bow the knee is an expressing homage submission, or exhortation. It means that every person shall acknowledge him as God, and admit his right to universal dominion. The passage in Isaiah refers particularly to the homage which “his own people” should render to him; or rather , it means that all who was not to “all men,” but to those who should be saved.
V. 12. “So then every one of us shall give in account of himself to God.”
God’s forthcoming judgment defines our responsibility, and His word stresses human accountability.
On Personal Convictions (Romans 14:14-18).
Issues of Conscience (v. 14). “I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself.” As for the apostle’s own sense and judgment about the distinction of meats, it was this, that there is nothing unclean of itself, that every creature, as originally made by God, is good, that what is eatable, or fit for food, may be eaten, whatever the Mosaic laws, being now abrogated, say to the contrary, and that whatever physical or natural difference there may be between them, there is nothing in any of them, there is nothing in any ceremonial distinction between them.
References: Standard Lesson Commentary, KJV 2022-2023, International Sunday School Lessons, Enduring Word Bible Commentary