Romans 14:15 Meaning and Explanation
“But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →If your eating wounds your brother, you are no longer walking in love; do not ruin one for whom Christ died.
What Does Romans 14:15 Mean?
Paul exposes the stakes behind a careless use of freedom. If your food grieves your brother -- wounds his conscience and tempts him to act against it -- then your walk has stopped being loving, however lawful the meal itself.
The weight of the appeal lies in five words: 'for whom Christ died.' The brother whose conscience you might trample is one Christ valued enough to die for. To 'destroy' him for the sake of a dish is to count cheap what Christ counted worth His life. The verse measures our freedoms against the cross: nothing on our plate is worth the spiritual harm of a soul the Savior purchased with His own blood.
Romans 14:15 in the Original Language
agape (ἀγάπη), 'charitably' -- self-giving love that seeks another's good above one's own rights.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 14:15
What does Romans 14:15 mean?
If your eating wounds your brother, you are no longer walking in love; do not ruin one for whom Christ died.