Romans 14:1-4 : In this chapter and in 1 Cor. chapter 8 and 1 Corinthians 10:14-33, Paul discusses the matter of eating meat; but in the main the points of emphasis in the two letters are different. In Corinthians he warns brethren against eating meat under circumstances that might lead others to eat certain meat in honor of an idol, but the main point in this fourteenth chapter is somewhat different. The Christian Jews, at least, many of them, had not entirely broken away from the law of Moses. They observed certain days, and were disposed to condemn the Gentile Christians for not doing so. They would not eat meat that the law declared unclean. Some ate only herbs, lest they might eat meat that had been dedi-cated to an idol. The Gentile Christians would con-sider their conduct as foolishness. Perhaps some Gen-tile converts, having been used to eating certain meats dedicated to idols, feared to eat any meat, lest they honor an idol in so doing. All these matters were grounds for a lot of criticisms and strife. Romans 14:1-4 But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples. One man hath faith to eat all things; but he that is weak eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth set at nought him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand. This weakness in faith consisted in doubts as to the propriety of eating meat, and not in the truth that Jesus is the Christ. Many Jewish Christians held that the law of Moses was still in force. They could not always be sure that the meat bought in the market was not from an animal which the law declared unclean, nor could they be sure that it had not been dedicated to an idol. They therefore ate herbs. Others had faith to eat any kind of meat. The sticklers for the law would brand the others as sinners, and themselves be condemned by the others as foolish. Neither would be willing to give the other full fellow-ship; each would question the other's scruples or lack of scruples. So long as one's faith in Christ is strong and unwavering, no one should condemn him for what he eats or does not eat but no one should try to force others to comply with his notions about eating or not eating. No servant has a right to condemn another man's servant; his standing or falling is entirely between him and his lord. And so it is with our Lord and his servants. For one to condemn the Lord's servant does not change the Lord's attitude toward him. The Lord is able to make him stand, so long as his opinions do not interfere with his faith or obedience, or he does not try to force his opinions on others. Of course no one has a right to do anything that would lead an-other into sin.