Rom 14:7-8 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 7. For none of us , etc. Whether by nature Jews or Gentiles. In the great principles of religion we are now united. Where there was evidence of a sincere desire to do the will of God there should be charitable feeling, though there was difference of opinion and judgment in many smaller matters. The meaning of the expression is, that no Christian lives to gratify his own inclinations or appetites. He makes it his great aim to do the will of God; to subordinate all his desires to his law and gospel; and though, therefore, one should eat flesh, and should feel at liberty to devote to common employments time that another deemed sacred, yet it should not be uncharitably set down as a desire to indulge his sensual appetites, or to become rich. Another motive may be supposed, and where there is not positive proof to the contrary, should be supposed. See the beautiful illustration of this in . To live to ourselves is to make it the great object to become rich or honoured, or to indulge in the ease, comfort, and pleasures of life. These are the aim of all men but Christians; and in nothing else do Christians more differ from the world than in this. See ; . On no point does it become Christians more to examine themselves than on this. To live to ourselves is an evidence that we are strangers to piety. And if it be the great motive of our lives to live at ease, ( )--to gratify the flesh, to gain property, or to be distinguished in places of fashion and amusement--it is evidence that we know nothing of the power of that gospel which teaches us to deny ourselves, and take up our cross daily . No man . No one , the same Greek word (ουδεις) which is used in the former part of the verse. The word is used only in reference to Christians here, and makes no affirmation about other men. Dieth to himself . See . This expression is used to denote the universality or the totality with which Christians belong to God. Everything is done and suffered with reference to his will. In our conduct, in our property, in our trials, in our death, we are his ; to be disposed of as he shall please. In the grave, and in the future world, we shall be equally his. As this is the great principle on which all Christians live and act, we should be kind and tender towards them, though in some respects they differ from us. (o) "none of use"

Romans 14:7-8

Verse 7. For none of us, etc. Whether by nature Jews or Gentiles. In the great principles of religion we are now united. Where there was evidence of a sincere desire to do the will of God there should be charitable feeling, though there was difference of opinion and judgment in many smaller matters. The meaning of the expression is, that no Christian lives to gratify his own inclinations or appetites. He makes it his great aim to do the will of God; to subordinate all his desires to his law and gospel; and though, therefore, one should eat flesh, and should feel at liberty to devote to common employments time that another deemed sacred, yet it should not be uncharitably set down as a desire to indulge his sensual appetites, or to become rich. Another motive may be supposed, and where there is not positive proof to the contrary, should be supposed. See the beautiful illustration of this in 1Cor 13:4-8. To live to ourselves is to make it the great object to become rich or honoured, or to indulge in the ease, comfort, and pleasures of life. These are the aim of all men but Christians; and in nothing else do Christians more differ from the world than in this. See 1Pet 4:1,2, 2Cor 5:15, 1Cor 6:19,20, Mt 10:38; Mt 16:24, Mk 8:34, 10:21, Lk 9:23. On no point does it become Christians more to examine themselves than on this.

To live to ourselves is an evidence that we are strangers to piety. And if it be the great motive of our lives to live at ease, (Amos 6:1)--to gratify the flesh, to gain property, or to be distinguished in places of fashion and amusement--it is evidence that we know nothing of the power of that gospel which teaches us to deny ourselves, and take up our cross daily.

No man. No one, the same Greek word (ουδεις) which is used in the former part of the verse. The word is used only in reference to Christians here, and makes no affirmation about other men.

Dieth to himself. See Rom 4:8. This expression is used to denote the universality or the totality with which Christians belong to God. Everything is done and suffered with reference to his will. In our conduct, in our property, in our trials, in our death, we are his; to be disposed of as he shall please. In the grave, and in the future world, we shall be equally his. As this is the great principle on which all Christians live and act, we should be kind and tender towards them, though in some respects they differ from us.

(o) "none of use" 1Pet 4:2 Verse 8. For whether we live. As long as we live.

We live unto the Lord. We live to do his will, and to promote his glory. This is the grand purpose of the life of the Christian. Other men live to gratify themselves; the Christian to do those things which the Lord requires. By the Lord here the apostle evidently intends the Lord Jesus, as it is evident from Rom 14:9; and the truth taught here is, that it is the leading and grand purpose of the Christian to do honour to the Saviour. It is this which constitutes his peculiar character, and which distinguishes him from other men.

Whether we die. In the dying state, or in the state of the dead; in the future world. We are nowhere our own. In all conditions we are his, and bound to do his will. The connexion of this declaration with the argument is this:--Since we belong to another in every state, and are bound to do his will, we have no right to assume the prerogative of sitting in judgment on another. We are subjects, and are bound to do the will of Christ. All other Christians are subjects in like manner, and are answerable, not to us, but directly to the Lord Jesus, and should have the same liberty of conscience that we have. The passage proves also that the soul does not cease to be conscious at death. We are still the Lord's; his even when the body is in the grave; and his in all the future world. See Rom 14:9.