Romans 14:21 – “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.”

Extended Explanation

This verse is part of Paul’s larger teaching about how believers should handle their personal freedoms in Christ. He is emphasizing that loving others is more important than exercising our rights.

Paul is saying that if something harms another believer’s faith, then it is better to avoid it altogether. In this context, he mentions eating meat and drinking wine, because these were common issues in the early church. However, the principle applies to any personal freedom that could cause someone else to stumble.

Key ideas in this verse:

1. “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine”
   • There is nothing inherently wrong with eating meat or drinking wine.
   • However, if these actions cause another believer to struggle, then it is better to refrain out of love.
2. “Or do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.”
   • This is a broad principle—it applies to more than just food or drink.
   • If any action leads a fellow Christian into doubt, temptation, or sin, then we should be willing to give it up for their sake.

Paul’s message is clear: Love comes before personal freedom. If something we do might harm another believer’s faith, then avoiding it is the loving and responsible choice.

Historical Context

The church in Rome was made up of Jewish and Gentile Christians who had very different backgrounds.

• Jewish Christians had been raised with the Old Testament dietary laws and were uncomfortable eating certain foods (Leviticus 11).
• Gentile Christians had no such restrictions and felt free to eat anything.
• Wine was also an issue because some of it had been used in pagan religious ceremonies, and some believers felt it was sinful to drink it.

This led to tensions in the church. Some Christians judged others for eating freely, while others looked down on those who had stricter convictions.

Paul tells them: Don’t let food and drink divide you! Instead, prioritize love. If something troubles another believer’s conscience, don’t force them to accept it—be willing to give it up.

Theological Implications

This verse teaches several important truths:

1. Love is greater than personal freedom.
   • Just because we are free to do something doesn’t mean we always should (Galatians 5:13).
2. We are responsible for how our actions affect others.
   • Christian life is not just about personal choices—it is about how those choices impact the people around us.
3. Spiritual growth is more important than winning an argument.
   • Instead of proving we are “right” about an issue, we should focus on helping others grow in faith.
4. Christian maturity involves self-sacrifice.
   • True spiritual maturity is not about demanding personal rights but about laying them down for the good of others.

Paul’s message challenges believers to think beyond themselves and consider the spiritual well-being of their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Literary Analysis

This verse follows Paul’s pattern of contrast and emphasis.

• “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine” – This highlights the specific issues in the early church.
• “Or do anything else” – This expands the principle beyond just food and drink.
• “That will cause your brother or sister to fall” – This phrase is the key focus: what matters is not the action itself, but its effect on others.

The structure emphasizes self-control, love, and responsibility. Paul is not making a new law against eating meat or drinking wine—he is teaching that wisdom and love should guide our choices.

Biblical Cross-References

• 1 Corinthians 8:13 – “Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.” Paul repeats the same principle of sacrificing personal freedom for the sake of others.
• Galatians 5:13 – “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Christian freedom should be used to love and serve, not to cause harm.
• Philippians 2:3-4 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” True love puts others first.
• Matthew 18:6 – “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Jesus takes causing others to stumble very seriously.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

Even though food and drink are not the biggest issues in most churches today, the principle behind this verse still applies.

Modern examples:

• Entertainment choices: If watching certain movies or listening to certain music might cause another believer to struggle, it is better to be cautious.
• Alcohol consumption: Some Christians feel free to drink in moderation, while others believe it is wrong. Drinking around someone who struggles with this issue could be harmful.
• Social media and politics: Debating controversial topics online might be technically allowed but could also cause division among believers.

This verse reminds us that Christian life is not just about “what I can do”—it is about “what is best for others.”

Living this out means:

1. Being willing to give up personal freedoms for the sake of others.
2. Thinking before acting—How will this affect someone else’s faith?
3. Choosing love over personal preference.

Instead of asking, “Am I allowed to do this?” we should ask, “Will this help or hurt my fellow believers?”

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God’s love is seen in His patience and care for every believer.

• God does not pressure people beyond what their faith can handle.
• God values unity among His people. He wants believers to treat each other with love and understanding.
• God’s love is sacrificial. Just as He gave up His own rights to save us, we should be willing to sacrifice for others.

This verse reflects God’s heart—He desires His people to live in love, peace, and consideration for one another.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Jesus is the ultimate example of someone who laid down His rights for the sake of others.

• Philippians 2:5-7 – “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing.”
• Romans 15:2-3 – “Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself.”
• Mark 10:45 – “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”

Jesus had the right to rule, but He chose to serve. In the same way, we should be willing to set aside personal freedoms for the good of others.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Are there any personal freedoms you need to reconsider for the sake of others?
2. Have you ever seen a minor issue cause division in the church? How could it have been handled better?
3. How can you prioritize love over personal preference in your daily life?
4. Are there any choices you make that might cause someone else to stumble?
5. How can you follow Jesus’ example of humility and self-sacrifice?