Welcome One Another (Rom. 15:1-13) r4f6p

[Sung Psalm: 69] Last time we saw at the beginning of chapter 14 that the strong should welcome the one who is weak – but not to quarrel over opinions. The one who is weak (according to Paul) is the one who tends to be judgmental and legalistic – in Paul's day, this was the one who insists on following the details of the Mosaic system with respect to food laws and feasts/fasts. Paul repeatedly warns the weak, "Do not judgment on the one who eats." (v3) The weaker brother is one who is bound to the Mosaic food laws: and the strong should receive him – so long as the weaker brother is willing to avoid quarreling about the subject. (And this is why, in Galatians, where these "weaker brethren" are trying to force Gentiles to observe the Mosaic law, Paul will change his tone!) It is important to understand that when Paul says not to make your brother stumble, he is saying, do not make him do something contrary to his conscience (in things indifferent). If it is something truly indifferent, then it really doesn't matter – now does it?! Don't make your Jewish Christian brother eat pork! Think about it this way: if you can't eat the same foods, then how can you have table fellowship together? A weak Jewish Christian might not invite Gentile Christians over for dinner (because they eat unclean foods), and perhaps a strong Jewish Christian would insist on serving pork when Jewish Christians come for dinner. The weak condemn the strong, and the strong despise the weak. And Paul says, "don't do this to each other!!" 706y23