Rom 14:10, 13 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 10. But why , etc. Since we are all subjects and servants alike, and must all stand at the same tribunal, what right have we to sit in judgment on others? Thou judge . Thou who art a Jewish convert, why dost thou attempt to arraign the Gentile disciple, as if he had violated a law of God? Comp. . Thy brother . God has recognised him as his friend, ( ,) and he should be regarded by thee as a brother in the same family. Or why dost thou set at nought . Despise, ( ) why dost thou, who art a Gentile convert, despise the Jewish disciple as being unnecessarily scrupulous and superstitious? Thy brother . The Jewish convert is now a brother; and all the contempt which you Gentiles once cherished for the Jew should cease, from the fact that he is now a Christian . Nothing will do so much, on the one hand, to prevent a censorious disposition, and, on the other, to prevent contempt for those who are in a different rank in life, as to remember that they are Christians , bought with the same blood, and going to the same heaven as ourselves. We shall all stand , etc. That is, we must all be tried alike at the same tribunal; we must answer for our conduct, not to our fellow-men, but to Christ; and it does not become us to sit in judgment on each other.

Romans 14:10

Verse 10. But why, etc. Since we are all subjects and servants alike, and must all stand at the same tribunal, what right have we to sit in judgment on others?

Thou judge. Thou who art a Jewish convert, why dost thou attempt to arraign the Gentile disciple, as if he had violated a law of God? Comp. Rom 14:3.

Thy brother. God has recognised him as his friend, (Rom 14:3,) and he should be regarded by thee as a brother in the same family.

Or why dost thou set at nought. Despise, (Rom 14:3) why dost thou, who art a Gentile convert, despise the Jewish disciple as being unnecessarily scrupulous and superstitious?

Thy brother. The Jewish convert is now a brother; and all the contempt which you Gentiles once cherished for the Jew should cease, from the fact that he is now a Christian. Nothing will do so much, on the one hand, to prevent a censorious disposition, and, on the other, to prevent contempt for those who are in a different rank in life, as to remember that they are Christians, bought with the same blood, and going to the same heaven as ourselves.

We shall all stand, etc. That is, we must all be tried alike at the same tribunal; we must answer for our conduct, not to our fellow-men, but to Christ; and it does not become us to sit in judgment on each other.

Romans 14:13

Verse 13. Let us not therefore judge, etc. Since we are to give account of ourselves at the same tribunal; since we must be there on the same level, let us not suppose that we have a right here to sit in judgment on our fellow-Christians.

But judge this rather. If disposed to judge, let us be employed in a better kind of judging; let us come to a determination not to injure the cause of Christ. This is an instance of the happy turn which the apostle would give to a discussion. Some men have an irresistible propensity to sit in judgment, to pronounce opinions. Let them make good use of that. It will be well to exercise it on that which can do no injury, and which may turn to good account. Instead of forming a judgment about others, let the man form a determination about his own conduct.

That no man, etc. A stumbling-block literally means anything laid in a man's path, over which he may fail. In the Scriptures, however, the word is used commonly in a figurative sense, to denote anything which shall cause him to sin, as sin is often represented by falling. Mt 5:29. And the passage means, that we should resolve to act so as not by any means to be the occasion of leading our brethren into sin, either by our example, or by a severe and harsh judgment, provoking them to anger, or exciting jealousies, and envyings, and suspicions. No better rule than this could be given to promote peace. If every Christian, instead of judging his brethren severely, would resolve that he would so live as to promote peace, and so as not to lead others into sin, it would tend more, perhaps, than any other thing to advance the harmony and purity of the church of Christ.