Romans 14:13, commentary and pictures

Stop judging one another, and instead resolve that no obstacle be placed that would trip a brother and cause him to fall. To judge in this sense is to turn judgment upon self, examining and disciplining one's own conduct with humility instead of measuring another. All must stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give account of themselves to God, and Christ alone is appointed Judge, so no person has authority to sit in judgment over brethren. Therefore the erring and struggling are to be treated with compassion, patience and kindness from a sense of personal weakness, with no harsh or discouraging word that would wound the soul and hinder spiritual good. Putting no obstacle also requires a consistent life that matches profession, so that lukewarmness, selfishness, dishonesty, indulged appetite, and conduct contradicting the truth taught do not confuse the weak, harden sinners, and give occasion to reject truth.

What the Verse Commands

Let us no longer judge one another, but resolve instead that no one will set a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in a brother's way. This restraint follows because each will answer to God, and because all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, which is the judgment seat of God, where as written every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess to God and each shall give account of himself to God. Human life is precious in God's sight because Christ lived and died as a man in man's stead and rose and revived to be Lord of both dead and living, purchasing life so that through belief eternal life cannot be lost and immortality is attainable. The verse therefore requires carefulness, loving one another as brethren with kindness and courtesy rather than judging or setting at nought a brother or shutting within self, and allowing a variety of gifts to be brought in with each finding its proper place in building the temple of the Lord as God's husbandry and building growing into a holy temple. In practice this means those who know the truth must not use harsh, intolerant words or conduct that injures weaker believers or gives others reason to reject the faith, and in business dealings must be righteous so as to injure no one and bring no discredit on good.

To judge this rather means to judge and discipline self, to examine self and take heed to self. No one has been appointed to sit on the judgment seat over brethren, ministers, fathers or mothers, for Christ alone has been made Judge and He only can judge, because He took humanity and lived a perfect life in this world, while the Father is not the Judge and the angels are not. Each has all he can do to discipline himself, and must come down from the judgment seat in humility day by day, watching his own conduct with humble, self-denying consideration lest it hinder another. This is especially needful amid the perils of the last days, to be careful how one measures a brother and to put no occasion of stumbling in his way.

A stumbling block or occasion to fall is any word, conduct, or influence that trips another, leads into sin or spiritual failure, hinders faith and spiritual progress, or causes loss through mocking religion and turning from Christ. It includes conduct that confuses, hinders, and injures weaker believers, gives excuse to reject truth, and makes the work of faithful believers harder. One person's influence can determine where those with less knowledge or light will go, so each is responsible to consider where choices lead others and whether that influence pleases God and blesses rather than curses. Keeping the life directed to heavenly things requires living and walking in the Spirit, whose work in a nonresisting heart cleanses and sanctifies for His indwelling, while workers are to live God's love to help rather than hinder those needing spiritual help.

The verse forbids making self the criterion for all and forbids trying to regulate everyone's habits by an unvarying rule. No one should criticize another because his practice is not in all things in harmony with his own, but should use broad and deep common sense, recognizing that not all can eat the same things, since foods palatable and wholesome to one, such as milk, peas and beans, and the coarser grain preparations, may be distasteful and even harmful to another. It likewise forbids measuring a brother by human standards or faulting him as though one could read his heart, for God is the judge of each person.

Why Believers Must Obey

The reason to stop judging one another and to resolve never to put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in a brother's way is that all shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ, which is the judgment seat of God. There, as it is written, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess to God, and every one shall give account of himself to God. Since each person will answer to God and all will be judged by the Lord Jesus Christ, believers are to live in love, avoid disparaging His message or messengers, and press on faithfully toward the promised reward.

Christ alone has been made Judge, and He only can judge, because He took humanity upon Himself and lived a perfect life in this world. The Father is not the Judge and the angels are not, and no one has been appointed to sit on the judgment seat over others, whether brethren, ministers, fathers or mothers. No one man and no group of men should dare to take the judgment seat and pass judgment on brethren or condemn one another, and those who do have lost sight of their own imperfect character while pressing discontented words upon brethren. To pass judgment on brethren in this way is to pass judgment on the ways and works of Christ in the person of His saints, and all who charge God foolishly will have to give an account, for every deed is written in the books. Each person has all he can do to discipline himself, and is commanded never to place self on the judgment seat over others but to come down from it in humility day by day and consider instead whether actions will become a stumblingblock or lead a fellow believer to fall.

Human life is precious in God's sight because Christ lived and died as a man and rose and revived to be Lord both of the dead and the living. By being executed in man's stead He purchased human life so as to make it impossible to lose eternal life through belief in Him and to make immortality attainable. The worth of souls for whom He died is felt in remembering the great sacrifice made for man's redemption, which requires following His pattern toward those God pities, loves, wishes to save, and can polish and fit for heaven, rather than laying stumblingblocks by uncircumspect and faulty conduct toward a rough, uncouth brother seeking truth. Despising, crowding, pushing back and discouraging him because his words are not choice and he lacks wisdom, instead of encouraging and helping him who most needs help to overcome and lay aside every idol, leaves the greater sin in the sight of Heaven and the greater blame, greater than the wrongs of the brother himself, who is not a sinner above all others.

No one has ground to judge or despise or set at nought a brother, since all have received what they have and all stand as brethren under one Master. Remembering that all people share weakness, temptation and struggle should lead to compassionate treatment that encourages hope rather than repelling or discouraging those trying to rise again. God bears with human weakness, defects, and lack of faith and courage with divine sympathy, patient love, long-suffering, tender pity and mercy, and laying no stumblingblock means showing that same care by harboring no thought or feeling against brethren, stirring no unkind feeling, and adding no trial to the conflicts and trials they already bear. It means fighting the battle with self, continually encouraging brethren, cherishing only the kindest feelings toward them since a brother may be more righteous in God's sight, and refusing to unite with Satan, who is willing and anxious to tear them down. Those who notice another's faults must remember their own faults may be greater, and must not let angry, threatening, disrespectful words wound their own soul, bring condemnation, and place a stumblingblock by harsh speech or unfair conduct that hinders others, for all are educators by example.

Compassion Toward Fellow Believers

The command means to stop measuring a fellow believer and instead resolve to place nothing in his path that would trip him or bring him down, dealing with the tempted, erring and struggling one with compassion born from a sense of personal weakness. Since all have received what they have and all stand as brethren under one Master, no one has ground to judge or despise a brother, and remembering shared weakness, temptation and struggle should lead to pity, courtesy, patience and tenderness that encourages hope. Errors are to be corrected without mocking weakness or making trials harder, without repelling those trying to rise again, and without harshly treating an experienced worker or driving him from his work, but with sympathy, fairness and courtesy that builds up rather than destroys.

Harsh, intolerant, angry, threatening, disrespectful, censorious, suspicious or discouraging words and retaliation must be put away, because they wound souls, deepen temptation, spread doubt, injure weaker believers and give others reason to reject the faith. Critical words and fault-finding weaken the church and hinder spiritual good, and anyone who obstructs another Christian by such speech must answer to God. Such speech also wounds the speaker's own soul and brings condemnation, sets a damaging example for hearers, and can contribute to spiritual ruin whose harmful influence remains even after repentance or later efforts to help. Those who notice another's faults must remember their own faults may be greater, must examine self, speak respectfully, and must not let harsh speech or unfair conduct hinder others, since all are educators by example.

Laying no stumbling block requires harboring no thought or feeling against brethren, keeping feelings unstirred, stirring no unkind feeling, and adding no trial to the conflicts and trials they already bear. It requires not watching for a word or act to comment unfavorably, not speaking unwise words that give opportunity for suspicion and evil surmising, and not letting envy and evil surmising destroy union and happiness. It means refusing to unite with Satan who is willing and anxious to tear them down, fighting the battle with self, continually encouraging brethren, cherishing only the kindest feelings toward them, and showing divine sympathy, patient love, long-suffering, tender pity and mercy as God bears with human weakness, defects and lack of faith and courage, since a brother may be more righteous in God's sight. No one is to measure a brother by human standards or fault him as though reading his heart, for God is judge of each, and each must examine and take heed to himself to avoid conduct that could cause another to stumble.

Unity and harmony are to be preserved by open, frank dealing with a brother about plans affecting his work, rather than secretly interfering with his helpers or drawing them away to build up another institution. Workers must not be urged into positions that would create friction, hard feelings and injury to a brother's work and reputation, for God will not prosper a work advanced by such unfair dealing. Partiality such as two workers linking closely together, excluding other ministering brethren from councils, being away together while work waits, and holding back work that should be done is itself the stumbling block, causing great dissatisfaction, disaffection, trial and soreness of spirit, lasting change of feeling even toward others thought to sanction it, and delay of the work by years, requiring confession to those in whose way it was placed.

Removing stumbling blocks requires making every effort without delay to clear wrongs by going directly to the one involved, confessing faults and specific sins and wrongs done to neighbors, clearing away bitter feelings before God, removing wrong impressions even when not to blame, healing every wrong in love, and seeking reconciliation, since gifts and prayers are not acceptable while this duty is left undone. Open confession and testimony of wrongs cleared away prepares the way to come to Jesus just as one is through the simple story of the cross and is evidence of true revival and conversion. When rash and overbearing conduct threatens to turn someone from truth with bitterness, self must be promptly humbled and concessions made without compromising truth, and even a small matter of a few dollars and cents must not stand in the way of harmony but be yielded with restitution and mutual forgiveness, bringing freedom and the laying aside of all differences as men wish to be forgiven.

Carefulness toward brethren means loving one another as brethren with kindness and courtesy rather than judging or setting at nought a brother or shutting within self, allowing a variety of gifts to be brought in with each finding its proper place in building the temple of the Lord as God's husbandry and building growing into a holy temple.

Witness to Weak and Unbelievers

Believers must not become a stumbling block to those weak in faith or to sinners by living lukewarm, unconsecrated lives that counteract Christian institutions and hinder souls from coming to know the truth. When Sabbath-keepers lie, cheat, exaggerate, become angry, or boast, their unconsecrated lives become obstacles that sinners use as an excuse to reject the truth. Personal independence that diverts people from God's purposes makes a person such an obstacle and gives enemies occasion to blaspheme God and scorn believers in the truth. To profess Christianity while living the life of a sinner is to place stones of stumbling before unbelievers, instead of letting the light of Christ's life shine out through the life. Failing to live up to the duties of the Christian profession hinders others, so teachers must faithfully teach practical work and responsibility, while selfishness, laziness, taking advantage of others, instability, worldliness, neglect of meditation, prayer and Scripture, and yielding to appetite, passion and long habit make conduct contradict profession, cause observers to distrust the truth, counteract faithful labor and make it tenfold harder, and give excuse to reject truth.

A person becomes a stumbling block to the weak in faith when personal conduct contradicts the teaching preached, causing confusion, doubt and suspicion even when doctrines and arguments are sound. A messenger's visible defects can hinder people from accepting saving truth and lead them into ruin, and when converts copy those defects the messenger perpetuates sin. Putting obstacles also includes being exalted in one's own eyes, acting from a fanatical spirit mistaken for God's power, moving from impulse instead of sound judgment and reason, dwelling on fragments of God's Word not of vital importance and speaking them anywhere and everywhere unacceptably, and censuring and wounding brethren unjustly and speaking against them. Such inconsistent, unwise moves wound God's cause, hinder His people, injure outsiders, and make faith disgusting to unbelievers. The one who does this must take it all back through close heart-searching, becoming humble, confessing faults, increasing love for brethren, exerting a holy influence on all around including unbelievers, and beginning anew so souls do not stumble to destruction.

Toward unbelievers Christians must remove obstacles that could hinder them and make the way of life match the profession of faith. Young people who see professed Christians act contrary to godliness must not let others become a stumbling block to faith and must not follow those bad examples, for they remain accountable for their own light and knowledge and must show the world the true meaning of Christianity through a Christlike life and character. Believers must not make light of God's message or its messenger, because their example may lead another to stumble by imitation. In personal conduct and influence they must act transparently and honorably, leaving no ground for distrust or reproach and putting nothing in another's way that could lead to stumbling or wrongdoing.

Faithfulness in Daily Duties

In health reform the command not to put a stumblingblock in a brother's way forbids pressing sudden dietary changes on those who do not yet know the principles and forbids making diet a premature test. Presenting healthful living too forcefully, even with excessive enthusiasm for what is good, turns people away, so the principles of temperance are to be taught patiently, attractively and carefully. The rule is to lead people rather than drive them, allowing time to learn while remaining firm in God's law and following personal conviction without forcing it on others.

Differences over diet must not become judging, criticism or disunity, and no one is to make himself the criterion for all or try to regulate everyone's habits by an unvarying rule. No one should criticize another whose practice is not in all things in harmony with his own, but should study real common sense broadly and deeply. Not all can eat the same things, since foods palatable and wholesome to one may be distasteful and even harmful to another, as with milk, peas and beans, and the coarser grain preparations.

Selfish gratification of appetite blunts moral and spiritual sensibilities and places obstacles before others, so all should act on the light received and avoid leading others away from it. Meat eating had hindered a physician's own spiritual progress, and his example had placed an obstacle in the path of others. Tea drinkers are to be taught to leave tea alone and tea is not to be set before them at table, and if in some circumstances it is deemed necessary it is to be given only in a private room so that all cause of stumbling is removed. Failure to follow the light on health and dress reform, as with Sister Smith, sets an example that others can use to excuse indulgence.

In business and labor the same command requires righteous dealings that injure no one and bring no discredit on what is good. Stipulating for high or exact wages can become a stumblingblock by discouraging others who are less disposed to give generously, creating confusion and a sense of unequal treatment, and hindering the cause; self-denial that encourages others is required instead. Even a small matter of a few dollars and cents must not be allowed to stand in the way of harmony, but every occasion of stumbling to brethren must be removed by yielding opinion and making restitution. Even when not convinced of intentional wrong in using money that came in time of need as an answer to prayer, the money appropriated is to be returned to the conference treasury, and this yielding brings freedom, the laying aside of all differences, and mutual forgiveness as men wish to be forgiven.

In daily influence no one is to tempt others by wrong action, but each is to use influence to help and encourage. A student who acts wrongly and thereby tempts others is responsible to God for helping lead them into harm. Each person must consider where choices lead those with less knowledge or light, since influence can cause another to stumble, mock religion, turn from Christ and be lost, and must ask whether that influence is pleasing to God. Failing to live up to the duties of the Christian profession places stumblingblocks before sinners and hinders them, so teachers should faithfully teach practical work and responsibility. Workers should live in a way that expresses God's love and helps rather than hinders those who need spiritual help. The Spirit's work in a heart that does not resist Him cleanses and sanctifies the person for the Spirit's indwelling, and living and walking in the Spirit keeps the life directed toward heavenly things.

Removing occasions of falling requires freeing self now and forever from unjustifiable affection and not letting it linger for a moment, because such affection is not justifiable in God's sight, as with Sister Jones. It means ending the attachment to Sister Johnson completely, because continuing it is not right in God's sight. In marriage the partner chosen should have true godliness, sense and experience, so as not to cause worry or hinder the work God has given, as with the woman Elder Butler marries. Putting a stumblingblock in a brother's way also includes holding him back by personal influence and example, as when a brother resists counsel and withholds his own confession and thereby blocks another brother from doing his work of confession even after hearing counsel again and again, and that same hindering influence can become a stumblingblock to many others.

The verse is kept in small practical kindnesses and accommodations that do not conflict with God's law. Even a disputed five-dollar claim is to be paid without arguing about the justice of the claim, so the old year does not end with unpleasant feelings between brethren and there is nothing the Lord would disapprove. Love for the soul and for saving souls for whom Christ gave His own precious life to save fallen man is shown in practical kindness such as offering the use of carriage and wagon to bring others to meeting. Workers should not urge Southern people to work on Sunday when doing so would hinder their mission or keep people from accepting the truth, but should accommodate local customs when these do not conflict with God's law and use Sunday as an opportunity for missionary work.