Romans 14:3 – “The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.”

Extended Explanation

This verse is part of Paul’s teaching on how Christians should handle differences in personal convictions, particularly regarding food. Some believers in the early church felt free to eat all kinds of food, while others chose to avoid certain foods because of their personal or religious background.

Paul warns against two wrong attitudes:

1. Those who eat freely should not look down on those who do not. It’s easy for mature believers who understand their freedom in Christ to feel superior to those who still have doubts about certain practices. But pride and a judgmental spirit are never right.
2. Those who choose to avoid certain foods should not judge those who eat freely. The person who abstains might be tempted to think of themselves as more righteous or more dedicated to God than those who exercise their freedom.

Paul gives a strong reason why both attitudes are wrong—“for God has accepted them.” If God has welcomed someone into His family, who are we to reject them over something that isn’t central to the faith? The message is clear: personal convictions should never cause division among believers.

Historical Context

In the early church, food was a sensitive issue. Many Jewish Christians had been raised with Old Testament dietary laws that prohibited certain foods (Leviticus 11). Even after coming to faith in Christ, some struggled to let go of these restrictions.

On the other hand, many Gentile believers had no background in Jewish laws and felt free to eat anything. Another issue was that much of the meat sold in Roman markets came from pagan temples, where it had been sacrificed to idols. Some Christians believed eating such meat was sinful, while others believed it was harmless.

This created tension in the church. Some Christians judged others for eating freely, while others looked down on those who abstained. Paul’s goal was to remind believers that these issues should not divide them, because God had accepted both groups.

Theological Implications

This verse teaches several key truths about Christian unity and acceptance:

• God, not people, is the Judge. When Christians judge one another over minor issues, they put themselves in God’s place. But God alone has the authority to accept or reject someone.
• Salvation is based on faith, not personal preferences. What makes someone acceptable to God is not what they eat or don’t eat, but their faith in Christ.
• Christian freedom should be used with love and humility. Just because a believer has the freedom to do something doesn’t mean they should use it to make others feel inferior.
• Christians should avoid legalism and pride. Those who choose to abstain from certain things should not see themselves as more spiritual than those who exercise their freedom.

The heart of this verse is about welcoming one another in love, just as God has welcomed us.

Literary Analysis

Romans 14:3 is structured around two commands—one for each group in the disagreement:

1. “The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not.”
   • The phrase “treat with contempt” suggests an attitude of superiority, looking down on someone as weak or foolish.
2. “The one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does.”
   • The word “judge” here implies condemnation, as if the person eating freely is doing something sinful.

The phrase “for God has accepted them” is the foundation of the argument. It serves as a reminder that human approval or disapproval is irrelevant when God Himself has already welcomed a believer.

This verse is part of a larger discussion in Romans 14 about Christian unity in areas of personal conviction. Paul is not discussing clear moral issues like lying or stealing but rather disputable matters—issues where sincere Christians may disagree.

Biblical Cross-References

• Romans 15:7 – “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Paul repeats the idea that believers should welcome one another just as Christ has welcomed them.
• Colossians 2:16 – “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.” This reinforces the idea that external practices do not determine someone’s standing before God.
• 1 Corinthians 8:9 – “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” This reminds believers to be mindful of how their freedom affects others.
• James 4:12 – “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” A warning against taking on a judgmental attitude that belongs to God alone.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

Even today, Christians struggle with judging each other over secondary matters. Some believers feel strongly about certain practices—such as drinking alcohol, watching certain movies, or styles of worship. Others believe these things are not an issue.

This verse reminds us to keep the main thing the main thing. Personal convictions should never take priority over love, unity, and the gospel. If God has accepted someone, we should accept them too.

It also challenges us to examine our own attitudes:

• Do we look down on others because they don’t share our personal convictions?
• Do we judge others for exercising freedoms we don’t feel comfortable with?
• Are we allowing personal opinions to create unnecessary division in our church or Christian community?

The Christian life is about loving God and loving others, not winning arguments over non-essential matters.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God’s love is shown in His willingness to accept people where they are. He does not reject someone just because they struggle with certain convictions. Instead, He patiently works in their hearts, growing them in faith over time.

This verse reflects God’s desire for unity among His children. Just as a loving father does not want his children fighting over small differences, God does not want His people divided over matters that are not essential to salvation.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Jesus is the ultimate example of accepting others in love. He welcomed people from all backgrounds—Jews and Gentiles, tax collectors and sinners, rich and poor.

• Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Jesus welcomes all who come to Him, no matter where they are in their spiritual journey.
• Luke 5:31-32 – “Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’” Jesus focused on loving and restoring people rather than condemning them over external matters.
• John 13:34-35 – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Love, not personal convictions, is the true mark of a Christian.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Do you struggle with looking down on believers who have different convictions than you?
2. Have you ever felt judged by another Christian over a personal matter? How did it affect you?
3. How can you apply this verse in your relationships with other believers?
4. Are there areas where you need to show more grace and acceptance toward others in your church?
5. How does remembering that “God has accepted them” help you change your attitude toward fellow believers?

Romans 14:3 reminds us that God’s love and acceptance should guide how we treat one another. Instead of focusing on differences, we should focus on building each other up in faith.