Exhortations to the Strong
INTRO - Paul has given us 4 reasons why we should not judge our fellow brothers over secondary issues:
1) God has accepted him (v. 1);
2) we have no right to judge the servant of another (v. 4);
3) each believer eats or does not eat for the Lord (v. 6);
4) each believer will stand before God (10-12).
Starting in v. 13, Paul now singles out the strong for exhortation about the weak.
A. THE NATURE OF THE CONTROVERSY
“unclean” in v. 14 and “clean” in v. 20 indicate that Jewish ritual laws are primarily in view.
WEAK – believed that the OT ritual laws should still be practiced. MOSTLY JEWS.
STRONG – had faith to understand their liberty, they were not binding. MOSTLY GENTILES.
B. PAUL IDENTIFIES HIMSELF WITH THE STRONG
Rom. 14:14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself.
Rom. 14:20 All things indeed are clean.
C. WHAT DOES THE STUMBLING REFER TO?
Notice the following descriptions of the potential harm that can be done to the weaker brother when the stronger brother uses his liberty:
- obstacle or stumbling block (vv. 13, 21)
- hurt (v. 15) or grieved
- destroyed (v. 15)
- tear down (v. 20)
- condemned (v. 23)
HOW ARE WE TO INTERPRET THESE INJURIES?
1) Hurting the weak brother’s conscience (v. 15).
2) This offense is very spiritually damaging to the weaker brother.
“destroy” (v. 15b) -
“tear down” (v. 20) –
“stumbling block” (vv. 13, 21) -
“condemned” (v. 23) -
There are two possible interpretations:
a) This person is lost. 1 Tim. 1:19-20.
b) This person is saved but spiritually devastated. 1 Cor. 5:5.
D. WHAT MUST THE STRONGER BROTHER’S ATTITUDE BE?
1) ABUSE NOT YOUR LIBERTY (Gal. 5:13).
2) UNDERSTAND (vv. 14, 20, 23).
3) LOVE (v. 15).
4) FOCUS ON THE KINGDOM (vv. 16-18).
5) PEACE (vv. 17, 19).
6) GIVE-UP (vv. 20-21).
7) PRIVATE CONVICTION (v. 22).
E. WHAT MUST THE WEAKER BROTHER’S ATTITUDE BE?
1) DO NOT SIN AGAINST YOUR CONSCIENCE (vv. 14, 20, 23).
2) SEEK A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY.
CONCLUSION