1Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 7For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. 9For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 10But 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. 11For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. 14I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Msiwahukumu Wengine
114:1 1Kor 8:9-12; 9:22Mkaribisheni yeye ambaye imani yake ni dhaifu, lakini si kwa kugombana na kubishana juu ya mawazo yake. 214:2 Rum 14:14; 1Kor 10:25; 1Tim 4:4; Tit 1:15Mtu mmoja imani yake inamruhusu kula kila kitu, lakini mwingine ambaye imani yake ni dhaifu, hula mboga tu. 314:3 Lk 18:9; Kol 2:16Yeye alaye kila kitu asimdharau yeye asiyekula. Wala yeye asiyekula kila kitu asimhukumu yule alaye kila kitu, kwa maana Mungu amemkubali. 414:4 Mt 7:1; Yak 4:12Wewe ni nani hata umhukumu mtumishi wa mtu mwingine? Kwa bwana wake tu anasimama au kuanguka. Naye atasimama kwa sababu Bwana anaweza kumsimamisha.
514:5 Gal 4:10; Kol 2:16Mtu mmoja anaitukuza siku fulani kuwa ni bora kuliko nyingine, na mwingine anaona kuwa siku zote ni sawa. Basi kila mmoja awe na hakika na yale anayoamini. 614:6 Mt 14:19; 1Tim 4:3, 4Yeye anayehesabu siku moja kuwa takatifu kuliko nyingine, hufanya hivyo kwa kumheshimu Bwana. Naye alaye nyama hula kwa Bwana, kwa maana humshukuru Mungu, naye akataaye kula nyama hufanya hivyo kwa Bwana na humshukuru Mungu. 714:7 2Kor 5:15; Gal 2:20Kwa kuwa hakuna hata mmoja wetu anayeishi kwa ajili yake mwenyewe, wala hakuna hata mmoja wetu afaye kwa ajili yake mwenyewe. 814:8 Flp 1:20; Gal 2:20; 1The 5:10; Lk 20:38Kama tunaishi, tunaishi kwa Bwana, nasi pia tukifa tunakufa kwa Bwana. Kwa hiyo basi, kama tukiishi au kama tukifa, sisi ni mali ya Bwana.
914:9 Ufu 1:18; 2:8; Mdo 10:42; 2Kor 5:15Kwani kwa sababu hii hasa, Kristo alikufa na akawa hai tena kusudi apate kuwa Bwana wa wote, yaani, waliokufa na walio hai. 1014:10 2Kor 5:10; Mdo 17:31; Mt 25:31, 32; 7:1; 2Kor 5:10Basi kwa nini wewe wamhukumu ndugu yako? Au kwa nini wewe unamdharau ndugu yako? Kwa kuwa sote tutasimama mbele ya kiti cha Mungu cha hukumu. 1114:11 Isa 45:23; Flp 2:10, 11Kwa kuwa imeandikwa:
“ ‘Kama vile niishivyo,’ asema Bwana,
‘kila goti litapigwa mbele zangu,
na kila ulimi utakiri kwa Mungu.’ ”
1214:12 Mt 12:36; 1Pet 4:5Hivyo basi kila mmoja wetu atatoa habari zake mwenyewe kwa Mungu.
Usimfanye Ndugu Yako Ajikwae
1314:13 Mt 7:1; Rum 14:1; 2Kor 8:9, 13Kwa hiyo tusiendelee kuhukumiana: Badala yake mtu asiweke kamwe kikwazo au kizuizi katika njia ya ndugu mwingine. 1414:14 Mdo 10:15; 1Kor 8:7Ninajua tena nimehakikishiwa sana katika Bwana Yesu kwamba hakuna kitu chochote ambacho ni najisi kwa asili yake. Lakini kama mtu anakiona kitu kuwa ni najisi, basi kwake huyo kitu hicho ni najisi. 1514:15 Efe 5:2; 1Kor 8:7Kama ndugu yako anahuzunishwa kwa sababu ya kile unachokula, basi huenendi tena katika upendo. Usiruhusu kile unachokula kiwe sababu ya kumwangamiza ndugu yako ambaye Kristo alikufa kwa ajili yake. 1614:16 1Kor 10:30; Tit 2:5; Rum 12:17Usiruhusu kile ambacho unakiona kuwa chema kisemwe kuwa ni kiovu. 1714:17 1Kor 8:8; Gal 5:22Kwa maana Ufalme wa Mungu si kula na kunywa, bali ni haki, amani na furaha katika Roho Mtakatifu. 1814:18 Lk 2:52; Mdo 24:16Kwa sababu mtu yeyote anayemtumikia Kristo kwa jinsi hii, anampendeza Mungu na kukubaliwa na wanadamu.
1914:19 Za 34:14; 1Kor 7:15; Rum 15:2; Efe 4:12, 29Kwa hiyo na tufanye bidii kutafuta yale yaletayo amani na kujengana sisi kwa sisi. 2014:20 Rum 14:15; Mt 15:11; Mdo 10:15; Tit 1:15Usiiharibu kazi ya Mungu kwa ajili ya chakula. Hakika vyakula vyote ni safi, lakini ni kosa kula kitu chochote kinachomsababisha ndugu yako ajikwae. 2114:21 1Kor 8:13; Mt 15:29Ni afadhali kutokula nyama wala kunywa divai au kufanya jambo lingine lolote litakalomsababisha ndugu yako ajikwae.
2214:22 1Yn 3:21; Mt 15:29Je, wewe unayo imani? Ile imani uliyo nayo, uwe nayo nafsini mwako mbele za Mungu. Heri mtu yule asiye na sababu ya kujihukumu nafsi yake kwa ajili ya kile anachokifanya. 23Lakini kama mtu ana shaka kuhusu kile anachokula, amehukumiwa, kwa sababu hakula kwa imani. Kwa kuwa chochote kinachofanywa pasipo imani ni dhambi.
