Romans 14:20

Romans 14:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.

Context of Romans 14:20

18For the one who serves Christ in this way [recognizing that food choice is secondary] is acceptable to God and is approved by men. 19So then, let us pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth]. Do not, for the sake of food, tear down the work of God. All things indeed are [ceremonially] clean, but they are wrong for the person who eats and offends [another’s conscience in the process]. 21It is good [to do the right thing and] not eat meat or drink wine, or do anything that offends your brother and weakens him spiritually. 22The faith which you have [that gives you freedom of choice], have as your own conviction before God [just keep it between yourself and God, seeking His will]. Happy is he who has no reason to condemn himself for what he approves.

Romans 14:20 word by word

μὴ ἕνεκεν βρώματος κατάλυε τὸ ἔργον τοῦ θεοῦ. πάντα μὲν καθαρὰ ἀλλὰ κακὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τῷ διὰ προσκόμματος ἐσθίοντι·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forἕνεκαheneka heneken heineken · because ofG1752
• meatβρῶμαbrōma · foodG1033
• destroyκαταλύωkataluō · to destroy/lodgeG2647
• notμήmē · notG3361
• the workἔργονergon · workG2041
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• All thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
• indeedμένmen · on the other handG3303
• pureκαθαρόςkatharos · cleanG2513
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
• for that manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• who eatethἐσθίωesthiō · to eatG2068
• withδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• offenceπρόσκομμαproskomma · stumbling blockG4348

Cross-references for Romans 14:20

• Romans 14:15If your brother is being hurt or offended because of food [that you insist on eating], you are no longer walking in love [toward him]. Do not let what you eat destroy and spiritually harm one for whom Christ died.
• Matthew 18:6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble and sin [by leading him away from My teaching], it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
• 1 Corinthians 6:12Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything [and brought under its power, allowing it to control me].
• 1 Corinthians 8:8Now food will not commend us to God nor bring us close to Him; we are no worse off if we do not eat, nor are we better if we do eat.
• 1 Corinthians 10:31So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of [our great] God.
• Ephesians 2:10For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].
• Philippians 1:6I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].
• Romans 14:14I know and am convinced [as one] in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean [ritually defiled, and unholy] in itself; but [nonetheless] it is unclean to anyone who thinks it is unclean.
• Matthew 15:11It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that defiles and dishonors him, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles and dishonors him.”
• Acts 10:15And the voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, no longer consider common (unholy).”
• 1 Timothy 4:3who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from [certain kinds of] foods which God has created to be gratefully shared by those who believe and have [a clear] knowledge of the truth.
• 1 Corinthians 8:9Only be careful that this liberty of yours [this power to choose] does not somehow become a stumbling block [that is, a temptation to sin] to the weak [in conscience].
• 1 Corinthians 10:32Do not offend Jews or Greeks or even the church of God [but live to honor Him];

Commentaries on Romans 14:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20For meat destroy not the work of God - Do not hinder the progress of the Gospel either in your own souls or in those of others, by contending about lawful or unlawful meats. And do not destroy the soul of thy Christian brother, Romans 14:15, by offending him so as to induce him to apostatize. All things indeed are pure - This is a repetition of the sentiment delivered, Romans 14:14, in different words. Nothing that is proper for aliment is unlawful to be…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20For meat - By your obstinate, pertinacious attachment to your own opinions about the distinctions of meat and drinks, do not pursue such a course as to lead a brother into sin, and ruin his soul. Here is a new argument presented why Christians should pursue a course of charity - that the opposite would tend to the ruin of the brother‘s soul. Destroy not - The word here is what properly is applied to pulling down an edifice; and the apostle continues the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-23Verses 19-23 Many wish for peace, and talk loudly for it, who do not follow the things that make for peace. Meekness, humility, self-denial, and love, make for peace. We cannot edify one another, while quarrelling and contending. Many, for meat and drink, destroy the work of God in themselves; nothing more destroys the soul than pampering and pleasing the flesh, and fulfilling the lusts of it; so others are hurt, by wilful offence given. Lawful things may…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20The work of God involves both the spiritual life of other Christians and to the Christian community itself (14:15, 19). When the strong insist on doing whatever they want, they cause division. This behavior goes against God’s purpose to build a healthy and united community of believers.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. For--"For the sake of" meat destroy not the work of God--(See on Ro 14:15). The apostle sees in whatever tends to violate a brother's conscience the incipient destruction of God's work (for every converted man is such)--on the same principle as "he that hateth his brother is a murderer" (1Jo 3:15). All things indeed are pure--"clean"; the ritual distinctions being at an end. but it is evil to that man--there is criminality in the man who eateth with…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 14:20

• Charitableness
• Commandments
• Conscience
• Evil
• Expediency
• Fellowship
• Self-Denial

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Esteem
• Faith
• Receive
• Regard
• Revive
• Unclean
• Bible, the
• Defile; Defilement

Commentaries on Romans 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings