A Lesson in Toleration. A special homily for Rome (Romans 14:1 to Romans 15:13) follows the comprehensive exhortation of chs. 12 f. Some ascetic circle in the Roman Church (p. 650), led perhaps by Jews of Essenic tenets (see Lightfoot's Colossians, on the Essenes), practised vegetarianism; others made much of sacred days. On such matters Christians should not judge or quarrel with each other.
Romans 14:1-4. The man who eats herbs only, has a feeble apprehension of the Gospel, imagining his salvation affected by his diet; see Romans 14:17; cf. Mark 7:14-23 Still he has faith and must be received as a brother, for God has received him; but not received so as to raise questions of doubtful debate. The atmosphere of controversy is injurious to the Christian society. The man free from scruples despises the stickler, who retorts by judging the libertarian. Both are servants of God's household, who stand or fall to their own Master yes, and will stand, though they try to pull each other down, for mighty is the Lord, the upholder.
Romans 14:5. So in regard to sabbath and festa observance: conscientious conviction is the essential thing (p. 647).
Romans 14:6. He who minds the day (cf. Romans 8:5-7, Romans 12:16, for the verb), minds it with a view to serve the Lord; and he who eats flesh, eats it to the Lord, for he gives God thanks (cf. 1 Timothy 4:4 f.), while the vegetarian does the same over his spare diet they are agreed in the vital point (see 1 Corinthians 10:30 f.).
Romans 14:7-11 lifts the reader into the realm of Christ's lordship, won by His death and resurrection, which covers life and death alike; in both estates, the fact that we are the Lord's determines everything. Now, to judge or to despise your brother, with whom you must stand side by side at God's tribunal a certainty expressed in solemn words of Scripture (Romans 14:11) is an encroachment on Christ's sovereignty. Paul puts the dead before the living (Romans 14:9), the former being nearer to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:8, Php_1:23, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-16).
Romans 14:12. Instead of meddling with other men's responsibilities, let each see to himself in view of the final account.