Romans 14: 5-7 | tfocministries

Romans 14:5-7 & Colossians 2:16

Did Yah’s Word Change?

Part 1

By Pastor Victor Archie

Romans 14 verses 5-7 and Colossians 2:16 have received a lot of attention over the years from those who want to justify or condemn Sabbath keeping and eating all things in the animal kingdom. To truly understand these scriptures, we must take a deep dive into these scriptures and see what was really being discussed. In most cases in scripture to understand what was being said you must take into consideration the following:

Yah’s Word doesn’t contradict itself and will never change. (Isaiah 40:8)
Yeshua’s Words do not contradict Yah’s given Word. (John 10:30)
Paul was a follower of Christ. (1st Corinthians 11:1)
Paul was a believer and follower of the Laws of Moses (Acts 24:14-15)
The “Ordinances” of the Law are no more. (Colossians 2:14-15)

If you keep these 5 points in mind in all your studies, you can dig deeper and grow in your understanding of the New Testament scriptures. Here’s another important scripture to keep in mind as well, is 2nd Peter 3:16.

It reads: As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Though, some of Paul's writings were hard to understand and not always clear or obvious. Unfortunately, there are those who see difficult passages as an opportunity to distort the overall truth of Yah's Word. Either due to ignorance or instability, they twist the meaning of a difficult passage to try to make Scripture say what it does not.

So, let’s take a look at Romans 14:5-7, first.

5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Yahawah. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Yahawah, since he gives thanks to Elohim, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of Elohim and gives thanks to Yahawah.

7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.

On the surface, this seems cut and dry… but let's read the chapter and see if it can shed more light on what Paul was saying to the Romans.

Romans Chapter 14:

1 And receive him who is weak in the belief, not criticizing his thoughts.

2 One indeed believes to eat all food, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

3 He that eats, let him not despise him who does not eat, and he that does not eat, let him not judge him who eats, for Elohim received him.

4 Who are you that judges another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. But he shall be made to stand, for Elohim is able to make him stand.

5 One indeed judges one day above another, another judges every day alike. Let each one be completely persuaded in his own mind.

6 He who minds the day, minds it to יהוה. And he who does not mind the day, to יהוה he does not mind it. He who eats, eats to יהוה, for he gives Elohim thanks. And he who does not eat, to יהוה he does not eat, and gives Elohim thanks.

7 For not one of us lives to himself, and not one dies to himself.

8 For both, if we live, we live unto the Master, and if we die, we die unto the Master. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Master’s.

9 For unto this Messiah died and rose and lived again, to rule over both the dead and the living.

10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Messiah.

11 For it has been written, “As I live, says יהוה, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to Elohim.”

12 Each one of us, therefore, shall give account of himself to Elohim.

13 Therefore let us not judge one another any longer, but rather judge this, not to put an obstacle or a stumbling-block in our brother’s way.

14 I know and am persuaded in the Master יהושע that none at all is common of itself. But to him who regards whatever to be common, to him it is common.

15 And if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not by your food ruin the one for whom Messiah died.

16 Do not then allow your good to be spoken of as evil.

17 For the reign of Elohim is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Set-apart Spirit.

18 For he who is serving Messiah in these matters is well-pleasing to Elohim and approved by men.

19 So, then, let us pursue the matters of peace and the matters for building up one another.

20 Do not destroy the work of Elohim for the sake of food. All indeed are clean, but evil to that man who eats so as to cause stumbling.

21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine, nor to do whatever by which your brother stumbles.

22 Do you have belief? Have it to yourself before Elohim. Blessed is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

23 But he who doubts, if he eats, is condemned, because it is not of belief, and all that is not of belief is sin.

So, as we read this chapter there is no mention of the Sabbath. It speaks to eating, not eating, or fasting and days of the week, but not the Sabbath. We know that in those days the Jewish people numbered the days 1st Day, 2nd Day, etc., but the seventh day was called the Sabbath. We see no mention of this day, but we see the days mention in a general term.

Paul seems to be rebuking some for creating differences in the Roman community calling them weak in the faith as they are seemingly leaning toward the ordinance of the Mosaic law to judge. He is teaching the people not to fuss and fight over these issues of faith, but to walk in love with one another. Before we break down each verse let's visit Chapter 13 for additional context.

Romans 13

1 Let every being be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from Elohim, and the authorities that exist are appointed by Elohim.

2 So he who opposes the authority withstands the institution of Elohim, and those who withstand shall bring judgment on themselves.

3 For those ruling are an object of fear, not to good works, but to evil. Do you wish to be not afraid of the authority? Do the good, and you shall have praise from it,

4 for it is a servant of Elohim to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword in vain. For it is a servant of Elohim, a revenger to execute wrath on him who practises evil.

5 Therefore, it is necessary to be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of the conscience.

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are servants of Elohim attending continually to these duties.

7 Render therefore to all what is due to them: tax to whom tax is due, toll to whom toll, fear to whom fear, respect to whom respect.

8 Owe no one any matter except to love one another, for he who loves another has filled the Torah.

9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other command, it is summed up in this word, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”

10 Love does no evil to a neighbour. Therefore, love is completion of the Torah.

11 And do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for us to wake up from sleep, for now our deliverance is nearer than when we did believe.

12 The night is far advanced, the day has come near. So let us put off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk becomingly, as in the day, not in wild parties and drunkenness, not in living together and indecencies, not in fighting and envy,

14 but put on the Master יהושע Messiah, and make no provision for the lusts of the flesh.

In Chapter 13 Paul lays down that the authority of ALL matters is the authority in Yah. And, to not follow that authority is one that is a worker of evil and will meet his judgment. In verses 6 & 7 he tells us to respect the earthly authorities out of obedience to Elohim. He then goes into the obedience of Love for your brother and by keeping Yah’s commands is how you achieve this love, verses 8-14. This chapter is a great prefix to chapter 14 as it lays down the foundation order to understand what Paul is referring to. It also aligns with the 5 points we talked about earlier and none of the scriptures will contradict one another if it does or seems to, we must keep studying and praying to ask Yah for understanding.

So, back to 14… Let's first look at verses 1-4

1 And receive him who is weak in the belief, not criticizing his thoughts.

2 One indeed believes to eat all food, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

3 He that eats, let him not despise him who does not eat, and he that does not eat, let him not judge him who eats, for Elohim received him.

4 Who are you that judges another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. But he shall be made to stand, for Elohim is able to make him stand.

So, it seems that there was some disputing over, eating meats and not eating meat and/or veggies only. Paul calls those that are choosing not to eat meat weak in the faith. What does it matter if one is a vegetarian or not? Well, this has everything to do with the customs of the Jewish people and nothing to do with being a veggie lover only. Jewish people did not eat with Gentiles and if a Gentile touch the meat or in preparing food, the meat would be considered unclean or common. Remember meats to the Jewish people to this day are the only foods that are in the Dietary Laws of Moses, anything else is not considered food, but an abomination. They would not be close to any abominable animals for consumption, so the food that was being prepared was food to start with. And, if that food was touched by someone that was considered to be unclean or common it was against the decree or the ordinance of the Law of Moses to eat it. Remember, Yah never told the children of Israel to not eat meat touched by a Gentile, that was a decree made by the Priest to the people a man-made ordinance.

Paul is calling out those Jews that are making a big deal about foods touched by the Gentiles and this offense to the newly saved Gentile is a matter of “loving your brother as yourself”. Paul state they are weak in the Faith of Yeshua, not believing in the cross where ALL ordinances & decrees of the Law were nailed.

Colossians 2:13-15 read:

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

15 and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

In other words,… People! Stop it with all your judgment of your brethren and let love and peace abide.

So, we have now an understanding of 1-4 let’s move on to 5-15.