Romans 14: Part 5: Which Day to Fast
Debate #2 [choice days of fasting] Romans 14:3,”Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats;“We who are strong want to carefully lead others to their edification (1 Cor 8:1) and learning.
Rom 14: 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Elohim is able to make him stand.
Along with verse one, Paul’s overall point includes verse four in saying that in either debate, both the weak and the strong should not judge one another on these man made doubtful issues. In verses 2, the Roman assembly apparently had a division wherein those who knowingly ate meat from the marketplace were condemned by those who refused to eat anything but vegetables (for fear the meat might have been offered to an idol).
There is further evidence found in both chapters 14 & 15 which suggest that Paul didn’t just address flaws concerning the weaker brothers judging the stronger, but also the stronger brothers judging the weaker brother as worthy of being ignored and callously flaunting and abusing their liberty; becoming a stumbling block for the weaker…
Romans 14:7 – For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to Yahweh; and if we die, we die to Yahweh. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are Yahweh’s. 9 For to this end the Messiah died and rose and lived again, that He might be Master of both the dead and the living.
10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of the Messiah. 11 For it is written: “As I live, says Yahweh, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to Yahweh.”
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to Yahweh.13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
Romans 15:1-3 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Messiah did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.
So Paul did not condemn those who refused to eat meat. He never condemned the brothers in Corinth for refusing to eat meat either. If he had, it might have caused that brother to stumble because those who had a consciousness of the idol would eat it “as a thing offered to an idol” and their conscience, being weak, in knowledge of Yahweh’s Word/Law. would be defiled.
What Paul wanted the strong brothers in Rome who know the law to keep in mind was rather than judging the doubtful man made things of the weak, what was being condemned here was their own attitude towards their weaker brethren. Yahshua tells us that in the Law of Elohim all believers are to…
Matthew 22:37 Yahshua declared, “‘Love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.”
So if in their “mind” a brother weak in understanding the applied meaning and ramifications of Psalm 24:1, truly believes that it is sin to ever eat any clean meat made unclean by being offered to idols, than to believe that and still go ahead and eat it anyway, would be a violation of the first commandment; and therefore sin to that brother. The act of eating that food would be a lack of faithfulness to Yahweh’s word; breaking “the first and greatest commandment” becoming something that would defile him before Yahweh…
Romans 14:14 – I know and am convinced by the Master Yahshua that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Romans 14:23 – But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
The actual word rendered “unclean” is from #2839 “Koinos,” which means “common” The word is used in other places such as
Act 2:44 – Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common <2839>.
It’s a term designating every day, regular things which are not consecrated. Some Jews in Messiah’s day believed that such things were to be avoided, but there was no biblical basis for their claims:
Mar 7:2-4 – Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled <2839>., that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches
There is nothing in the scriptures which tell us our hands are defiled unless we wash them prior to eating. This was a “tradition of the elders.” This is the only other instance of this word #2839 “Koinos” in relation to eating food.
Therefore, the “Koinos” spoken of in Romans 14:14 is not speaking about pork or other biblical unclean meats. It’s speaking of the “tradition of the elders” and how they regarded the marketplace as being a place which would make your hands “common” and in need of a special kind of handwashing. Messiah told them:
Mat 15:19-20 – “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 “These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
The Jews of that time period believed that if a clean animal such as an ox were offered to an idol, that would automatically cause the meat to be impure or common. According to the Encyclopedia Judaica under the heading “Purity” it says:
“In the case of idolatrous offerings the law is even stricter than the impurity of the idol itself and Judah b. Bava says that it conveys impurity by overshadowing, as does a corpse”
But Paul, a former Pharisee himself, was persuaded by Yahshua that these things were not “common” at all and in fact nothing really is. There really isn’t a separate class of items called “common” in the Bible in the sense that they need to be avoided.
The scriptures already supply us with correct classifications of what is clean and unclean. We don’t need a special set of laws, especially ones based on traditions of men, to make other classifications of things we must avoid in order to be “clean.” Thus the scripture should actually read:
Romans 14:14 – I know and am convinced by the Master Yahshua that there is nothing common of itself; but to him who considers anything to be common, to him it is common.15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom the Messiah died.
So here in Romans 14 we evidently have a situation where there are believers avoiding meat because they viewed it as “common” and other believers avoiding meat because they were weak in their conscience and couldn’t help but think of the idol, and other stronger believers who had fully cleansed their conscience of both Jewish tradition and Gentile tendencies towards idol worship.
However, these stronger believers who were more mature in their faith were acting immature in other ways, for they were partaking of that food in such a way that it would weaken and grieve new converts who, in their weakness, would be tempted to return to their former ways. To cause stumbling in a brother is a failure to love. In this way the stronger in knowledge and faith brothers were violating the first great commandment and the second great commandment…
Matthew 22:37 Yahshua declared, “‘Love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” So if what we choose to eat would not bring honor to Yahweh but would harm our brother who is weak in faith then we are not loving them as ourselves and we are not loving Yahweh Elohim because surely us harming our weaker brothers faith is not the will of Yahweh.
Romans 14:16 – Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of Yahweh is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves the Messiah in these things is acceptable to Yahweh and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of Yahweh for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.
Again some lacking the Hebrew perspective that Paul and the Master Yahshua who he followed had, would point out that Paul said “All things are indeed pure” and consider that to be proof that we can now eat unclean animals. However, notice that the context of verse 20 is that Paul doesn’t want to see a brother destroyed over “food“(broma). There isn’t a single in the bible that would classify unclean animals as “food“(broma).
Actually there are numerous places in the bible where it consistently says just the opposite. So among things that are considered to be “food“(broma), all things are indeed pure. This is why in Luke 11:39, Yahshua could say to the Jewish people that”all things are clean”; for he was speaking within the context of food(broma).
In the Jewish Hebraic mind, pork and shellfish were never food(broma) to begin with. Another point is that when verse 20 says that “all things are pure” we need to be careful with assuming “all things” really means “ALL THINGS” in the sense of never having a single exception. For instance:
Col 3:22 – Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing Elohim.
What if a slave owner told his slave to go and murder someone? Or to go and commit adultery? It does say” All things,” yet we make an exception for the obvious because we know Paul would not be telling slaves to obey their master rather than the Law of Yahweh. Yahweh’s word provides the parameter from which we understand the exceptions involved.Here’s another example of where “all” doesn’t literally mean “ALL“:
Rom 16:19 – For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
Did every human being on the planet know about the obedience of the believers in Rome? It says “all,” yet we know just from common sense that he didn’t really mean all.
Even in our own language, “all” doesn’t always mean “all.” For instance, if I said that my daughter ate “all” of her breakfast, it may be possible that she left a few crumbs on her plate. So, even in our own language “all” CAN mean “all“, but it doesn’t always mean “all” without exceptions.
We have to understand context, don’t we? We can’t just look at a verse which says “all things are pure” and assume, based on a western Gentile mindset that we understand what the obvious exceptions are. Here’s another:
Titus 1:15 – To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled
Does this mean that if I’m a pure person, I can look at a pile of buzzard droppings, or rotting corpses and say, “wow, how pure! Pure as the wind driven snow!”Or would we say that sexual immorality is pure? How about murder? Certainly not. We know that sexual immorality and murder are not pure because Yahweh’s word/Law already tells us that these things are not pure. So when we look at this verse:
Rom 14:20 – “All things indeed are pure”
…we should not assume that Paul is speaking against what Yahweh already said is impure and unclean. No one, not even Paul can go against scripture. Yahweh’s word is not divided against itself. We don’t have contradictions in the bible.
For this reason, we have to work within the obvious parameters of what Yahweh has already said, and what would have been “common sense” to a first century Jew when it comes to understanding the obvious exceptions.The concept of clean and unclean did not come from the Leviticus Law. Noah was told to take 7 of all clean animals on the ark with him and 2 of the unclean.
Noah knew the difference because it was common knowledge even in his day. So the context of Romans 14:20 has everything to do with real “food” (broma:clean meats) and the unnecessary and unbiblical classification of clean meats becoming “common” and thus needing to be avoided for that reason.
Romans 14:21 – It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
This is where Paul actually clarifies that he is talking about meat offered to idols. It is hidden from our eyes by translation but it is nonetheless there! Let’s look at the Greek word that is translated “meat” here…
BDB/Thayers # 2907 kreas {kreh’-as} perhaps a primary word;; n n AV – flesh 2; 2 1) (the) flesh (of a sacrificed animal)
In fact it is this same word that is used in 1 Corinthians:
1 Cor 8:13 – Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat <2907> , lest I make my brother stumble.
This is the only 2 places in the New Testament where this Greek word is used. In both cases the context was concerning meat offered to idols.
Romans 14:22 – Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before Yahweh. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Again, if in their “mind” a weak brother has any doubts about the Earth being Yahweh’s and the fulness therein…and are tempted by the idol, this person would be condemned of violating the first great commandment if he eats.
Since this is exactly what was taught in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10, and the striking parallels between what Paul said to Rome, it seems very obvious to me that both are speaking of the same things. In the Roman assembly there was a clash of thought patterns into true faith; both were based on traditions and ideas of men.
The Jews had their fast days and concerns about otherwise clean meats becoming “common,” and Gentiles had their tendencies towards idolatry. The stronger believer had fully cleansed their minds of these disputable and doubtful thought patterns, but they were warned to walk in love, and not do things to cause weakness in others. Paul at no time during this chapter considers “liberty” a license to sin.
By the law is the knowledge of sin, and sin is defined as “transgression of the law” (KJV 1 John 3:4). If we eat things that the law has said are “abominations” and should not be eaten, we are transgressing the law. So we can’t throw out the whole of scripture that teaches against sin because of a one sided conversation in Romans!
It can not be proven that this chapter is speaking of unclean meats. But it CAN be proven that its not. There are many other passages that consistently teach we should keep the commandments. Here is one example in scripture that shows Yahweh’s consistent concern for people who eat unclean animals:
Isa 66:15-18 – For behold, Yahweh will come with fire And with His chariots, like a whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire.16 For by fire and by His sword Yahweh will judge all flesh; And the slain of Yahweh shall be many.
17 “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, To go to the gardens After an idol in the midst, Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, Shall be consumed together,” says Yahweh.18 “For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory.
This is what Yahweh says he will do when He comes and judges the world with fire. This has not occurred yet. So yes, Yahweh is still concerned that we do not eat things that are abominations to Him. There are a few things in Yahweh’s word that He considers to be an abomination.
Eating the flesh of animals that He did not create us to eat is one of them. If we are or have been ignorant of this, Yahweh takes into consideration that our hearts are yielded to what we know of his will, even if we have not fully understood His will for our lives. He can save us in spite of our lack of knowledge, as long as we’re keeping the first great commandment in the knowledge He gives us.
So I don’t condemn those who are uniformed or don’t see the things that the Holy Spirit has blessed me to see. But if one has been using Romans 14 as justification for Sabbath breaking and eating swine’s flesh, and working under the assumption that those things were done away with when Messiah died for our sins, I do not see anything in Romans 14 that would prove such a concept.
And the concept directly contradicts other scriptures, not only in the prophets, but also within the book of Romans itself. We alI know that Messiah will return and at that time all the world will be under the New Covenant reign for 1000 years:
Isa 66:22-24 – “For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says Yahweh, “So shall your descendants and your name remain.23 And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says Yahweh.24 “And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
We need to take a hard look at these things and realize that the Sabbath and even the New Moons will be among the observances during the New Covenant reign of Messiah. It is those who have “transgressed against” Him that will be judged.
Since He is destroying those who eat swines’s flesh and He is reestablishing worship days on the Sabbath and New Moons, it should be obvious that sin is still “transgression of the law” (KJV 1 John 3:4). Paul in Romans 14 cannot be suggesting that we can eat swine’s flesh and break the Sabbath day otherwise, he would be leading the Romans to transgression and setting them up to be at “enmity” with Yahweh, leading them to have a carnal mind which is “not subject to the law of Elohim, nor indeed can be,” Romans 8:6-7.
Let’s not wait until the Messiah has set our theology straight when He returns and reestablishes the Law of Yahweh as being the Law of the land. Let’s seek to be subject to it today; while cleaving to the understanding that it is only by grace that we are saved. For while the law can save no one, we are called to live as Messiah lived and walk as He walked. He was not a Sabbath breaker or swine eater.
Yahshua who is the same yesterday, today and forever now wants to manifest His life through us. Let’s allow Him to do that! Talking about not being a Sabbath day breaker brings us to Paul’s final Romans 14. “disputable or doubtful thing”.. debate # 2 [choice days of fasting]…
Romans 14:5 – One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.6 He who observes the day, observes it to Yahweh; and he who does not observe the day, to Yahweh he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to Yahweh, for he gives Yahweh thanks; and he who does not eat, to Yahweh he does not eat, and gives Yahweh thanks.
There are various theories on these 2 verses. One already proven inconsistent with scripture theory states that this is talking about the Sabbath. There are several reason why you should believe and see that this is not so. They are:
Romans 14:6 – He who observes the day, observes it to Yahweh; and he who does not observe the day, to Yahweh he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to Yahweh, for he gives Yahweh thanks; and he who does not eat, to Yahweh he does not eat, and gives Yahweh thanks.
Another less certain possibility is Paul could be referring back to his earlier statement in verse 3 where he who “does not eat” is the vegetarian, but this is not necessarily certain. Remember, we are listening to one side of a phone conversation. One of the traditions of the Pharisees in that day was to fast twice a week:
Luke 18:11 – “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `Elohim, I thank You that I am not like other men–extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 `I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
To my knowledge, these are the only outside the law extra-biblical days mentioned in scripture which would be observed “to Yahweh.” Also Yahshua expected that His disciples would fast:
Luke 5:34 – And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 “But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”
If it is speaking of fast days, the context of the whole chapter of Romans 14 would have one consistent thread: FOOD. This would explain why Paul later says the kingdom of Elohim is not about eating and drinking (vs.17).
It was not uncommon to go without both food and water during a fast(Exodus 34:28,Esther 4:16, Acts 23:1).They were disputing about who was right or wrong because some choose to adopt the man made tradition of fasting during certain days of the week; while others choose not to do so at all.
CONCLUSION:Whether addressing clean foods that weaker brothers avoid eating because they in ignorance believe the (broma) are made unclean, or whether or not brothers should or shouldn’t be fasting on certain days of the week, Paul goes into Romans 15 with this admonition…
Romans 15:1-3 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Messiah did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.
Paul then in the very next verse states exactly what they will be learning-everything that was written before in Yahweh’s Law “the scriptures”…
Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Eventually, those weak in the faith will understand the Law of Elohim well enough and there will be no more “doubtful disputations.”
Simply put, all Paul is teaching, as it relates to debate #1, is that we can eat anything that was already written in the past to be declared clean (broma). We do not need to be concerned with the doubtful doctrines or concerns of men that are not rooted in the Word of Elohim. Yahshua already taught us on this matter in Mark 7.
Concerning debate #2, We do not need to dispute over whether our brothers choose days of the week to fast or not. As long as we stick to and grow in the knowledge of the Word of Elohim, then we are strong in the faith. Those who exercise doubtful disputations outside of the Word of Elohim are weak in the faith. We need to be patient with them and be careful not to offend their faith as they continue to learn about everything. As they grow in the leading of the Holy Spirit, they will eventually come to the same conclusions.
Rom 14: 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Elohim is able to make him stand.
Along with verse one, Paul’s overall point includes verse four in saying that in either debate, both the weak and the strong should not judge one another on these man made doubtful issues. In verses 2, the Roman assembly apparently had a division wherein those who knowingly ate meat from the marketplace were condemned by those who refused to eat anything but vegetables (for fear the meat might have been offered to an idol).
There is further evidence found in both chapters 14 & 15 which suggest that Paul didn’t just address flaws concerning the weaker brothers judging the stronger, but also the stronger brothers judging the weaker brother as worthy of being ignored and callously flaunting and abusing their liberty; becoming a stumbling block for the weaker…
Romans 14:7 – For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to Yahweh; and if we die, we die to Yahweh. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are Yahweh’s. 9 For to this end the Messiah died and rose and lived again, that He might be Master of both the dead and the living.
10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of the Messiah. 11 For it is written: “As I live, says Yahweh, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to Yahweh.”
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to Yahweh.13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
Romans 15:1-3 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Messiah did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.
So Paul did not condemn those who refused to eat meat. He never condemned the brothers in Corinth for refusing to eat meat either. If he had, it might have caused that brother to stumble because those who had a consciousness of the idol would eat it “as a thing offered to an idol” and their conscience, being weak, in knowledge of Yahweh’s Word/Law. would be defiled.
What Paul wanted the strong brothers in Rome who know the law to keep in mind was rather than judging the doubtful man made things of the weak, what was being condemned here was their own attitude towards their weaker brethren. Yahshua tells us that in the Law of Elohim all believers are to…
Matthew 22:37 Yahshua declared, “‘Love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.”
So if in their “mind” a brother weak in understanding the applied meaning and ramifications of Psalm 24:1, truly believes that it is sin to ever eat any clean meat made unclean by being offered to idols, than to believe that and still go ahead and eat it anyway, would be a violation of the first commandment; and therefore sin to that brother. The act of eating that food would be a lack of faithfulness to Yahweh’s word; breaking “the first and greatest commandment” becoming something that would defile him before Yahweh…
Romans 14:14 – I know and am convinced by the Master Yahshua that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Romans 14:23 – But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
The actual word rendered “unclean” is from #2839 “Koinos,” which means “common” The word is used in other places such as
Act 2:44 – Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common <2839>.
It’s a term designating every day, regular things which are not consecrated. Some Jews in Messiah’s day believed that such things were to be avoided, but there was no biblical basis for their claims:
Mar 7:2-4 – Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled <2839>., that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches
There is nothing in the scriptures which tell us our hands are defiled unless we wash them prior to eating. This was a “tradition of the elders.” This is the only other instance of this word #2839 “Koinos” in relation to eating food.
Therefore, the “Koinos” spoken of in Romans 14:14 is not speaking about pork or other biblical unclean meats. It’s speaking of the “tradition of the elders” and how they regarded the marketplace as being a place which would make your hands “common” and in need of a special kind of handwashing. Messiah told them:
Mat 15:19-20 – “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 “These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
The Jews of that time period believed that if a clean animal such as an ox were offered to an idol, that would automatically cause the meat to be impure or common. According to the Encyclopedia Judaica under the heading “Purity” it says:
“In the case of idolatrous offerings the law is even stricter than the impurity of the idol itself and Judah b. Bava says that it conveys impurity by overshadowing, as does a corpse”
But Paul, a former Pharisee himself, was persuaded by Yahshua that these things were not “common” at all and in fact nothing really is. There really isn’t a separate class of items called “common” in the Bible in the sense that they need to be avoided.
The scriptures already supply us with correct classifications of what is clean and unclean. We don’t need a special set of laws, especially ones based on traditions of men, to make other classifications of things we must avoid in order to be “clean.” Thus the scripture should actually read:
Romans 14:14 – I know and am convinced by the Master Yahshua that there is nothing common of itself; but to him who considers anything to be common, to him it is common.15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom the Messiah died.
So here in Romans 14 we evidently have a situation where there are believers avoiding meat because they viewed it as “common” and other believers avoiding meat because they were weak in their conscience and couldn’t help but think of the idol, and other stronger believers who had fully cleansed their conscience of both Jewish tradition and Gentile tendencies towards idol worship.
However, these stronger believers who were more mature in their faith were acting immature in other ways, for they were partaking of that food in such a way that it would weaken and grieve new converts who, in their weakness, would be tempted to return to their former ways. To cause stumbling in a brother is a failure to love. In this way the stronger in knowledge and faith brothers were violating the first great commandment and the second great commandment…
Matthew 22:37 Yahshua declared, “‘Love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” So if what we choose to eat would not bring honor to Yahweh but would harm our brother who is weak in faith then we are not loving them as ourselves and we are not loving Yahweh Elohim because surely us harming our weaker brothers faith is not the will of Yahweh.
Romans 14:16 – Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of Yahweh is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves the Messiah in these things is acceptable to Yahweh and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of Yahweh for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.
Again some lacking the Hebrew perspective that Paul and the Master Yahshua who he followed had, would point out that Paul said “All things are indeed pure” and consider that to be proof that we can now eat unclean animals. However, notice that the context of verse 20 is that Paul doesn’t want to see a brother destroyed over “food“(broma). There isn’t a single in the bible that would classify unclean animals as “food“(broma).
Actually there are numerous places in the bible where it consistently says just the opposite. So among things that are considered to be “food“(broma), all things are indeed pure. This is why in Luke 11:39, Yahshua could say to the Jewish people that”all things are clean”; for he was speaking within the context of food(broma).
In the Jewish Hebraic mind, pork and shellfish were never food(broma) to begin with. Another point is that when verse 20 says that “all things are pure” we need to be careful with assuming “all things” really means “ALL THINGS” in the sense of never having a single exception. For instance:
Col 3:22 – Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing Elohim.
What if a slave owner told his slave to go and murder someone? Or to go and commit adultery? It does say” All things,” yet we make an exception for the obvious because we know Paul would not be telling slaves to obey their master rather than the Law of Yahweh. Yahweh’s word provides the parameter from which we understand the exceptions involved.Here’s another example of where “all” doesn’t literally mean “ALL“:
Rom 16:19 – For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
Did every human being on the planet know about the obedience of the believers in Rome? It says “all,” yet we know just from common sense that he didn’t really mean all.
Even in our own language, “all” doesn’t always mean “all.” For instance, if I said that my daughter ate “all” of her breakfast, it may be possible that she left a few crumbs on her plate. So, even in our own language “all” CAN mean “all“, but it doesn’t always mean “all” without exceptions.
We have to understand context, don’t we? We can’t just look at a verse which says “all things are pure” and assume, based on a western Gentile mindset that we understand what the obvious exceptions are. Here’s another:
Titus 1:15 – To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled
Does this mean that if I’m a pure person, I can look at a pile of buzzard droppings, or rotting corpses and say, “wow, how pure! Pure as the wind driven snow!”Or would we say that sexual immorality is pure? How about murder? Certainly not. We know that sexual immorality and murder are not pure because Yahweh’s word/Law already tells us that these things are not pure. So when we look at this verse:
Rom 14:20 – “All things indeed are pure”
…we should not assume that Paul is speaking against what Yahweh already said is impure and unclean. No one, not even Paul can go against scripture. Yahweh’s word is not divided against itself. We don’t have contradictions in the bible.
For this reason, we have to work within the obvious parameters of what Yahweh has already said, and what would have been “common sense” to a first century Jew when it comes to understanding the obvious exceptions.The concept of clean and unclean did not come from the Leviticus Law. Noah was told to take 7 of all clean animals on the ark with him and 2 of the unclean.
Noah knew the difference because it was common knowledge even in his day. So the context of Romans 14:20 has everything to do with real “food” (broma:clean meats) and the unnecessary and unbiblical classification of clean meats becoming “common” and thus needing to be avoided for that reason.
Romans 14:21 – It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
This is where Paul actually clarifies that he is talking about meat offered to idols. It is hidden from our eyes by translation but it is nonetheless there! Let’s look at the Greek word that is translated “meat” here…
BDB/Thayers # 2907 kreas {kreh’-as} perhaps a primary word;; n n AV – flesh 2; 2 1) (the) flesh (of a sacrificed animal)
In fact it is this same word that is used in 1 Corinthians:
1 Cor 8:13 – Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat <2907> , lest I make my brother stumble.
This is the only 2 places in the New Testament where this Greek word is used. In both cases the context was concerning meat offered to idols.
Romans 14:22 – Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before Yahweh. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Again, if in their “mind” a weak brother has any doubts about the Earth being Yahweh’s and the fulness therein…and are tempted by the idol, this person would be condemned of violating the first great commandment if he eats.
Since this is exactly what was taught in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10, and the striking parallels between what Paul said to Rome, it seems very obvious to me that both are speaking of the same things. In the Roman assembly there was a clash of thought patterns into true faith; both were based on traditions and ideas of men.
The Jews had their fast days and concerns about otherwise clean meats becoming “common,” and Gentiles had their tendencies towards idolatry. The stronger believer had fully cleansed their minds of these disputable and doubtful thought patterns, but they were warned to walk in love, and not do things to cause weakness in others. Paul at no time during this chapter considers “liberty” a license to sin.
By the law is the knowledge of sin, and sin is defined as “transgression of the law” (KJV 1 John 3:4). If we eat things that the law has said are “abominations” and should not be eaten, we are transgressing the law. So we can’t throw out the whole of scripture that teaches against sin because of a one sided conversation in Romans!
It can not be proven that this chapter is speaking of unclean meats. But it CAN be proven that its not. There are many other passages that consistently teach we should keep the commandments. Here is one example in scripture that shows Yahweh’s consistent concern for people who eat unclean animals:
Isa 66:15-18 – For behold, Yahweh will come with fire And with His chariots, like a whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire.16 For by fire and by His sword Yahweh will judge all flesh; And the slain of Yahweh shall be many.
17 “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, To go to the gardens After an idol in the midst, Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, Shall be consumed together,” says Yahweh.18 “For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory.
This is what Yahweh says he will do when He comes and judges the world with fire. This has not occurred yet. So yes, Yahweh is still concerned that we do not eat things that are abominations to Him. There are a few things in Yahweh’s word that He considers to be an abomination.
Eating the flesh of animals that He did not create us to eat is one of them. If we are or have been ignorant of this, Yahweh takes into consideration that our hearts are yielded to what we know of his will, even if we have not fully understood His will for our lives. He can save us in spite of our lack of knowledge, as long as we’re keeping the first great commandment in the knowledge He gives us.
So I don’t condemn those who are uniformed or don’t see the things that the Holy Spirit has blessed me to see. But if one has been using Romans 14 as justification for Sabbath breaking and eating swine’s flesh, and working under the assumption that those things were done away with when Messiah died for our sins, I do not see anything in Romans 14 that would prove such a concept.
And the concept directly contradicts other scriptures, not only in the prophets, but also within the book of Romans itself. We alI know that Messiah will return and at that time all the world will be under the New Covenant reign for 1000 years:
Isa 66:22-24 – “For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says Yahweh, “So shall your descendants and your name remain.23 And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says Yahweh.24 “And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
We need to take a hard look at these things and realize that the Sabbath and even the New Moons will be among the observances during the New Covenant reign of Messiah. It is those who have “transgressed against” Him that will be judged.
Since He is destroying those who eat swines’s flesh and He is reestablishing worship days on the Sabbath and New Moons, it should be obvious that sin is still “transgression of the law” (KJV 1 John 3:4). Paul in Romans 14 cannot be suggesting that we can eat swine’s flesh and break the Sabbath day otherwise, he would be leading the Romans to transgression and setting them up to be at “enmity” with Yahweh, leading them to have a carnal mind which is “not subject to the law of Elohim, nor indeed can be,” Romans 8:6-7.
Let’s not wait until the Messiah has set our theology straight when He returns and reestablishes the Law of Yahweh as being the Law of the land. Let’s seek to be subject to it today; while cleaving to the understanding that it is only by grace that we are saved. For while the law can save no one, we are called to live as Messiah lived and walk as He walked. He was not a Sabbath breaker or swine eater.
Yahshua who is the same yesterday, today and forever now wants to manifest His life through us. Let’s allow Him to do that! Talking about not being a Sabbath day breaker brings us to Paul’s final Romans 14. “disputable or doubtful thing”.. debate # 2 [choice days of fasting]…
Romans 14:5 – One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.6 He who observes the day, observes it to Yahweh; and he who does not observe the day, to Yahweh he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to Yahweh, for he gives Yahweh thanks; and he who does not eat, to Yahweh he does not eat, and gives Yahweh thanks.
There are various theories on these 2 verses. One already proven inconsistent with scripture theory states that this is talking about the Sabbath. There are several reason why you should believe and see that this is not so. They are:
- This chapter is about ‘doubtful things’. Commandments of Yahweh are not doubtful things, especially when Yahweh writes them with His own finger.
- There is no mention of the Sabbath in this chapter.
- This stance does not agree with other scriptures that consistently uphold the Sabbath. In order to believe this, you would have to inject it into the text, based on a preconceived belief. We cannot use Romans 14:5 alone as our basis for setting aside the Sabbath.
- The alternative to esteeming one day above another is to esteem “every day.” If this were talking about the Sabbath, it would mean that every day is a day of rest and we would not be able to work at all.
- It isn’t man who makes the Sabbath day above all other days. It is Yahweh who sanctified and blessed the 7th day when He created the world. We are just commanded to keep it sanctified so that it is not defiled.
- It would disregard other passages in the book of Romans such as Romans 8:7 which says “the carnal mind is enmity against Elohim; for it is not subject to the law.” Thus, it cannot be referring to the observance of days which the law specifically tell us to observe. This chapter is about doubtful or disputable things. Unless we want to be “at enmity” with Yahweh, there are no other sides of the issue to dispute.
Romans 14:6 – He who observes the day, observes it to Yahweh; and he who does not observe the day, to Yahweh he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to Yahweh, for he gives Yahweh thanks; and he who does not eat, to Yahweh he does not eat, and gives Yahweh thanks.
Another less certain possibility is Paul could be referring back to his earlier statement in verse 3 where he who “does not eat” is the vegetarian, but this is not necessarily certain. Remember, we are listening to one side of a phone conversation. One of the traditions of the Pharisees in that day was to fast twice a week:
Luke 18:11 – “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `Elohim, I thank You that I am not like other men–extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 `I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
To my knowledge, these are the only outside the law extra-biblical days mentioned in scripture which would be observed “to Yahweh.” Also Yahshua expected that His disciples would fast:
Luke 5:34 – And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 “But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”
If it is speaking of fast days, the context of the whole chapter of Romans 14 would have one consistent thread: FOOD. This would explain why Paul later says the kingdom of Elohim is not about eating and drinking (vs.17).
It was not uncommon to go without both food and water during a fast(Exodus 34:28,Esther 4:16, Acts 23:1).They were disputing about who was right or wrong because some choose to adopt the man made tradition of fasting during certain days of the week; while others choose not to do so at all.
CONCLUSION:Whether addressing clean foods that weaker brothers avoid eating because they in ignorance believe the (broma) are made unclean, or whether or not brothers should or shouldn’t be fasting on certain days of the week, Paul goes into Romans 15 with this admonition…
Romans 15:1-3 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Messiah did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.
Paul then in the very next verse states exactly what they will be learning-everything that was written before in Yahweh’s Law “the scriptures”…
Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Eventually, those weak in the faith will understand the Law of Elohim well enough and there will be no more “doubtful disputations.”
Simply put, all Paul is teaching, as it relates to debate #1, is that we can eat anything that was already written in the past to be declared clean (broma). We do not need to be concerned with the doubtful doctrines or concerns of men that are not rooted in the Word of Elohim. Yahshua already taught us on this matter in Mark 7.
Concerning debate #2, We do not need to dispute over whether our brothers choose days of the week to fast or not. As long as we stick to and grow in the knowledge of the Word of Elohim, then we are strong in the faith. Those who exercise doubtful disputations outside of the Word of Elohim are weak in the faith. We need to be patient with them and be careful not to offend their faith as they continue to learn about everything. As they grow in the leading of the Holy Spirit, they will eventually come to the same conclusions.