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Selected Verse: Romans 14:20 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
Ro 14:20	King James	For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
For--"For the sake of" meat destroy not the work of God--(See on Rom 14:15). The apostle sees in whatever tends to violate a brother's conscience the incipient destruction of God's work (for every converted man is such)--on the same principle as "he that hateth his brother is a murderer" (Jo1 3:15). All things indeed are pure--"clean"; the ritual distinctions being at an end. but it is evil to that man--there is criminality in the man who eateth with offence--that is, so as to stumble a weak brother.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

For--"For the sake of"

meat destroy not the work of God--(See on Rom 14:15). The apostle sees in whatever tends to violate a brother's conscience the incipient destruction of God's work (for every converted man is such)--on the same principle as "he that hateth his brother is a murderer" (Jo1 3:15).

All things indeed are pure--"clean"; the ritual distinctions being at an end.

but it is evil to that man--there is criminality in the man

who eateth with offence--that is, so as to stumble a weak brother.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For meat - By your obstinate, pertinacious attachment to your own opinions about the distinctions of meat and drinks, do not pursue such a course as to lead a brother into sin, and ruin his soul. Here is a new argument presented why Christians should pursue a course of charity - that the opposite would tend to the ruin of the brother's soul. Destroy not - The word here is what properly is applied to pulling down an edifice; and the apostle continues the figure which he used in the previous verse. Do not pull down or destroy the "temple" which God is rearing. The work of God - The work of God is what God does, and here especially refers to his work in rearing "his church." The "Christian" is regarded specially as the work of God, as God renews his heart and makes him what he is. Hence, he is called God's "building" Co1 3:9, and his "workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works" Eph 2:10, and is denominated "a new creature;" Co2 5:17. The meaning is, "Do not so conduct yourself, in regard to the distinction of meats into clean and unclean, as to cause your brother to sin, and to impair or ruin the work of religion which God is carrying on in his soul." The expression does not refer to "man" as being the work of God, but to the "piety" of the Christian; to what God, by his Spirit, is producing in the heart of the believer. All things are indeed pure - Compare Rom 14:14. This is a concession to those whom he was exhorting to peace. All things under the Christian dispensation are lawful to be eaten. The distinctions of the Levitical law are not binding on Christians. But it is evil - Though pure in itself, yet it may become an occasion of sin, if another is grieved by it. It is evil to the man who pursues a course that will give offence to a brother; that will pain him, or tend to drive him off from the church, or lead him any way into sin. With offence - So as to offend a brother, such as he esteems to be sin, and by which he will be grieved.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

For meat - By your obstinate, pertinacious attachment to your own opinions about the distinctions of meat and drinks, do not pursue such a course as to lead a brother into sin, and ruin his soul. Here is a new argument presented why Christians should pursue a course of charity - that the opposite would tend to the ruin of the brother's soul.

Destroy not - The word here is what properly is applied to pulling down an edifice; and the apostle continues the figure which he used in the previous verse. Do not pull down or destroy the "temple" which God is rearing.

The work of God - The work of God is what God does, and here especially refers to his work in rearing "his church." The "Christian" is regarded specially as the work of God, as God renews his heart and makes him what he is. Hence, he is called God's "building" Co1 3:9, and his "workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works" Eph 2:10, and is denominated "a new creature;" Co2 5:17. The meaning is, "Do not so conduct yourself, in regard to the distinction of meats into clean and unclean, as to cause your brother to sin, and to impair or ruin the work of religion which God is carrying on in his soul." The expression does not refer to "man" as being the work of God, but to the "piety" of the Christian; to what God, by his Spirit, is producing in the heart of the believer.

All things are indeed pure - Compare Rom 14:14. This is a concession to those whom he was exhorting to peace. All things under the Christian dispensation are lawful to be eaten. The distinctions of the Levitical law are not binding on Christians.

But it is evil - Though pure in itself, yet it may become an occasion of sin, if another is grieved by it. It is evil to the man who pursues a course that will give offence to a brother; that will pain him, or tend to drive him off from the church, or lead him any way into sin.

With offence - So as to offend a brother, such as he esteems to be sin, and by which he will be grieved.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Destroy (κατάλυε) A different word from that In Rom 14:15. It means to loosen down, and is used of the destruction of buildings. Hence according with edification in Rom 14:19. See on Mar 13:2; see on Act 5:38. Work of God The christian brother, whose christian personality is God's work. See Co2 5:17; Eph 2:10; Jam 1:18. With offense (διὰ προσκόμματος) Against his own conscientious scruple. Lit., through or amidst offense.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Destroy (κατάλυε)

A different word from that In Rom 14:15. It means to loosen down, and is used of the destruction of buildings. Hence according with edification in Rom 14:19. See on Mar 13:2; see on Act 5:38.

Work of God

The christian brother, whose christian personality is God's work. See Co2 5:17; Eph 2:10; Jam 1:18.

With offense (διὰ προσκόμματος)

Against his own conscientious scruple. Lit., through or amidst offense.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
The work of God - Which he builds in the soul by faith, and in the church by concord. It is evil to that man who eateth with offence - So as to offend another thereby.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

The work of God - Which he builds in the soul by faith, and in the church by concord. It is evil to that man who eateth with offence - So as to offend another thereby.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
For meat destroy not the work of God - Do not hinder the progress of the Gospel either in your own souls or in those of others, by contending about lawful or unlawful meats. And do not destroy the soul of thy Christian brother, Rom 14:15, by offending him so as to induce him to apostatize. All things indeed are pure - This is a repetition of the sentiment delivered, Rom 14:14, in different words. Nothing that is proper for aliment is unlawful to be eaten; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense - the man who either eats contrary to his own conscience, or so as to grieve and stumble another, does an evil act; and however lawful the thing may be in itself, his conduct does not please God.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

For meat destroy not the work of God - Do not hinder the progress of the Gospel either in your own souls or in those of others, by contending about lawful or unlawful meats. And do not destroy the soul of thy Christian brother, Rom 14:15, by offending him so as to induce him to apostatize.

All things indeed are pure - This is a repetition of the sentiment delivered, Rom 14:14, in different words. Nothing that is proper for aliment is unlawful to be eaten; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense - the man who either eats contrary to his own conscience, or so as to grieve and stumble another, does an evil act; and however lawful the thing may be in itself, his conduct does not please God.

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