The Weaker Brother

John Wivell

Romans • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Romans 14:1–23

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Transcript

I. Who is the Weaker Brother?

Examples

Someone who believes that it is wrong to eat meat. In 1 Corinthians, the Weaker Brother is the one who thinks it is wrong to eat meat offered to idols, but here, it is the more extreme position of avoiding all meat.

It is clear that the weaker brother is wrong about his opinion (v.14)

Someone who believes that he has to keep the Sabbath

Again, it is clear that the weaker brother is wrong about his opinion.

Colossians 2:16 NKJV

So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,

Galatians 4:9–11 NKJV

But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

2. What sort of person would think that he had to avoid meat and keep the Sabbath?

a. This person is not a legalist who compromises the Gospel, otherwise Paul would not counsel us to receive him.

Galatians 1:6–9 NKJV

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

b. Keeping the Sabbath suggests that the weaker brother was someone who either was a Jew or was a Godfearing Gentile who practiced elements of Judaism.

c.Avoiding all meat suggests that the weaker brother had ascetic tendencies. He isn’t a vegetarian for his health. It is possible that he avoids meat so as to not eat idol-meat, but the text tells us that he does not think it is permissible to eat any meat, idol-tainted or not.

d. He isn’t teaching people to practice asceticism. If he was, Paul would have a very different reaction

1 Timothy 4:1–3 NKJV

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

e. The weaker brother desires to be a part of your fellowship, he doesn’t want to shun or exclude you because you don’t do what he thinks you should

Galatians 4:17 NKJV

They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.

Galatians 2:11–13 NKJV

Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.