Romans 14:20 “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean…”

Romans 14:20

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.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

World English Bible

Don’t overthrow God’s work for food’s sake. All things indeed are clean, however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating.

American Standard Version

Overthrow not for meat’s sake the work of God. All things indeed are clean; howbeit it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

Geneva Bible 1599

Destroy not the worke of God for meates sake: all things in deede are pure: but it is euill for the man which eateth with offence.

Darby Translation

For the sake of meat do not destroy the work of God. All things indeed [are] pure; but [it is] evil to that man who eats while stumbling [in doing so].

Young's Literal Translation

for the sake of victuals cast not down the work of God; all things, indeed, [are] pure, but evil [is] to the man who is eating through stumbling.

Bible in Basic English

Do not let the work of God come to nothing on account of food. All things are certainly clean; but it is evil for that man who by taking food makes it hard for another.

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Cross references

“For”

Matthew 18:6 Romans 14:15 1 Corinthians 6:12 1 Corinthians 6:13 1 Corinthians 8:8 1 Corinthians 8:13

Matthew 18:6 · BSB

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Romans 14:15 · BSB

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.

1 Corinthians 6:12 · BSB

“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.

1 Corinthians 6:13 · BSB

“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will destroy them both. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

1 Corinthians 8:8 · BSB

But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

1 Corinthians 8:13 · BSB

Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.

“the work”

Ephesians 2:10 Philippians 1:6

Ephesians 2:10 · BSB

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

Philippians 1:6 · BSB

being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

“All”

Titus 1:15 Acts 10:15 Matthew 15:11 1 Timothy 4:3–5 Romans 14:14

Titus 1:15 · BSB

To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled.

Acts 10:15 · BSB

The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

Matthew 15:11 · BSB

A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

1 Timothy 4:3–5 · BSB

They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

Romans 14:14 · BSB

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.

“but”

Romans 14:21 1 Corinthians 8:9–12 1 Corinthians 10:32 1 Corinthians 10:33

Romans 14:21 · BSB

It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.

1 Corinthians 8:9–12 · BSB

Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

1 Corinthians 10:32 · BSB

Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—

1 Corinthians 10:33 · BSB

as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

19So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.

Read Romans 14