Romans 14:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;

NIV: You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.

NASB: But as for you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you as well, why do you regard your brother or sister with contempt? For we will all appear before the judgment seat of God.

CSB: But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

NLT: So why do you condemn another believer ? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

KJV: But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

NKJV: But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Paul has spent the previous three verses showing that every Christian belongs to the Lord, both in this life and in the life to come. In fact, that is why Christ came to die and be resurrected: to become Lord of those currently living and those who have died.

Given that, Paul now asks, why would any Christian ever see it as their place to judge or despise their siblings in Christ? This is in the specific context of issues where the Bible is not clear, such as eating meat or celebrating certain holy days. It's true that there will be a judgment, Paul insists, but we will not be the ones sitting in the judge's chair. Instead, we will be standing before the judge along with every other Christian in history.

This judgment seat is described in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. It comes during the end times. Christ will judge the works of all believers. He will not be deciding whether we go to heaven or hell. That was decided when we came to God through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9). Instead, as 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." That is, Jesus will look at our choices in this life and reward good works (1 Corinthians 4:5), while holding us accountable in some way— through a loss of rewards, perhaps—for our worthless actions (1 Corinthians 3:8).

In Romans 14:10, then, Paul is saying that the day of judgment is real and it is coming. Judging other Christians now is not our job.

Romans 14:1–12 describes how Christians with opposing views on matters of freedom and sin should treat each other. First, strong-faith Christians who understand that all things are clean for those in Christ should welcome and not try to change weaker-faith Christians who believe some things, like eating certain meats, to be sinful. Each should act on their convictions and honor the Lord in doing so. Neither should judge the other, for the real day of judgment is coming when we will all stand before Christ and give an account of our lives.

In Romans 14, Paul tackles the question of how Christians with different convictions about disputable matters should treat each other in the church. Strong-faith Christians who feel free to eat and drink what was formerly forbidden under the law of Moses should not flaunt their freedoms in front of weaker-faith Christians who are not convinced it is right to participate in those things. Neither group should judge the other. Those strong in their faith should rather yield than lead those weaker in faith to violate their conscience, which is a sin.

Paul turns from the black-and-white instructions about light and darkness in Romans 13 to the issue of disputable matters with the potential to divide the church. Paul instructs those who feel free to participate in activities formally forbidden under the law not to flaunt their freedom in front of those who, by conscience, still believe those actions to be wrong. Those strong-faith Christians should be willing to set aside their freedom to keep from leading their weaker brothers and sisters into sin by violating their convictions. Paul addresses this topic with additional comments in 1 Corinthians chapter 10.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.