Romans 14:20

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

Do not destroy God’s work [i.e., someone’s life] for the sake of something to eat. All foods are truly clean [ceremonially]; however, it is wrong for a person to eat something when it causes another person to fall [away from God].

Cross References

Matthew 15:11

It is not what enters the mouth of a person that [spiritually] corrupts him, but what proceeds out of his mouth that [spiritually] corrupts him.”

Matthew 18:6

But that person who causes one of these little ones [i.e., humble followers of the Lord] who believes in me to be led astray [from God], he would have been better off to have had a huge millstone tied around his neck and been dumped into a deep ocean [Note: This “millstone” was a heavy circular stone rolled over grain to crush it and was moved by an animal walking in a circle].

Acts 10:15

So, the voice spoke again, saying, “What God has made [ceremonially] acceptable, you must not consider ordinary [and therefore defiled].”

Romans 14:2

One person has enough faith that allows him to eat anything [i.e., without it bothering his conscience that the food, such as animal meat, was used in an idolatrous worship ceremony]. But the weak person can eat only vegetables [conscientiously].

Romans 14:21

[So], it is better [for you] not to eat bread, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything [else] that could cause your brother to fall [away from God].

Ephesians 2:10

For we [Christians] are the product of God’s workmanship, [re-] created in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus for [the purpose of] doing good deeds. God had previously determined that this should be our practice.

Philippians 1:6

I am confident of this very thing, that God, who began something good among you, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ’s [return].

Titus 1:15

Everything is pure [i.e., ceremonially acceptable] to the person who is pure [i.e., who has been cleansed by the blood of Christ], but to those who are [spiritually] corrupt, and do not believe [in Christ], nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted. [Note: This statement was intended to remove the physical restrictions imposed by the Law of Moses].