The Law of Love

(Ezekiel 14:1–11; 1 Corinthians 8:1–13)

13 Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put [any] stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

14 I am convinced and fully persuaded in [the] Lord Jesus that nothing [is] unclean in itself. But if [anyone] regards something as unclean, [then] for him [it is] unclean. 15 If your brother is distressed by [what you eat], you are no longer acting in love. {Do} not by [your eating] destroy your [brother], for whom Christ died.

16 {Do} not {allow} what you [consider] good, then, to be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not [a matter of] eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in [the] Holy Spirit. 18 For whoever serves Christ in these things[fn] [is] pleasing to God and approved by men.

19 So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 {Do} not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All [food is] clean, but [it is] wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block. 21 [It is] better not to eat meat [or] drink wine [or to do anything] [to cause] your brother to stumble or to be hindered or weakened.[fn]

22 Keep your belief [about such matters] between yourself [and] God.[fn] Blessed [is] the [one who] does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But the [one who] has doubts is condemned if he eats, because [his eating is] not from faith; and everything that [is] not from faith is sin.