Romans 14:6

My Notes

What Does Romans 14:6 Mean?

Paul establishes the principle of freedom in secondary matters: the person who observes a day does it for the Lord. The person who doesn't observe it doesn't — for the Lord. The person who eats does it for the Lord (giving thanks). The person who abstains does it for the Lord (giving thanks). Both positions are valid. Both are directed toward the Lord. And both involve thanksgiving.

The symmetry is the theology: the observer and the non-observer are both aimed at the same Lord. The eater and the abstainer are both giving the same thanks. The direction (toward the Lord) is what validates both positions — not the position itself. A day observed for the Lord and a day not-observed for the Lord are equally honoring.

"For he giveth God thanks" appears twice — for both the eater AND the non-eater. Both give thanks. The thanksgiving is the common ground. Whether you eat or abstain, the thanksgiving is what makes the action worship. Remove the thanksgiving and both positions become empty. Add the thanksgiving and both become sacred.

Reflection Questions

• 1.Can you accept that different practices (observing or not, eating or not) are equally valid when both are 'for the Lord'?
• 2.Does thanksgiving being the common ground (what makes ANY practice worship) change how you evaluate others' convictions?
• 3.Where are you fighting about the practice when the direction (for the Lord) is the real measure?
• 4.Does the fourfold 'for the Lord' in one verse settle the secondary-matters dispute — or do you still want to argue?

Devotional

One person observes the day. Another doesn't. One eats. Another abstains. Both do it for the Lord. Both give thanks. Both are right.

Paul resolves the secondary-matters dispute with the most elegant theology in Romans: both positions are valid because both are directed at the same Lord. The person who keeps a holy day — for the Lord. The person who treats all days the same — for the Lord. The person who eats meat — giving God thanks. The person who abstains — giving God thanks. Same Lord. Same thanks. Different practice. Both worship.

The direction validates the practice: it's not WHAT you eat or WHICH day you observe that matters. It's WHO you're doing it for. For the Lord. The phrase appears four times in one verse. For the Lord. For the Lord. For the Lord. For the Lord. The Lord is the constant. The practice is the variable.

Thanksgiving is the common ground: both the eater and the abstainer give thanks. The thanksgiving is what makes each position an act of worship rather than personal preference. The eater who doesn't give thanks is just eating. The eater who gives thanks is worshipping. The abstainer who doesn't give thanks is just dieting. The abstainer who gives thanks is worshipping. The thanks transforms the action.

The freedom Paul teaches isn't freedom to do whatever you want. It's freedom to practice differently — as long as both practices are aimed at the Lord and seasoned with thanksgiving. The disagreement about days and food becomes irrelevant when both sides are worshipping the same God through different means.

This is the mature community Paul envisions: differences in practice. Unity in direction. Variety in expression. Unanimity in thanksgiving. The observer and the non-observer sitting at the same table, both giving thanks to the same Lord, both accepted by the same grace.

Stop fighting about the practice. Check the direction. If it's for the Lord — both are right.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture