Romans 14:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here again he touches on the same matter. The meaning of his words is this: the essence does not lie in temporal matters, whether eating or not eating. The only question is whether each does this for God, and whether both end in thanksgiving. For both give thanks to God. If both give thanks, the difference is not great. Notice how here too the Apostle deals a hidden blow to those who cling to Judaism. If the chief thing is to give thanks, then it is clear that the one who eats gives thanks, not the one who does not eat. How can someone who still clings to the law give thanks? Paul confirmed the same thing in the Epistle to the Galatians: 'You who are justified by the law have fallen away from grace' (Gal 5:4).

He says that the one who distinguishes days distinguishes them for the Lord, as a reverent man. The one who does not distinguish days does not distinguish them for the Lord, as one already perfect in Christ and risen above legal observances. The one who eats, eats for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God. The one who does not eat, does not eat for the Lord, and gives thanks to God. We ask only this, he says: do the one who eats and the one who does not eat do this for Christ, and do they give thanks to God? For what is done in this way is not subject to accusation or slander. He says this, as I have said, because the Romans were still new in the faith. Yet in a hidden way he also deals a blow to those who cling to Judaism. How can someone who still clings to the law give thanks? Therefore only the one who eats gives thanks.

"He who distinguishes days, distinguishes them for the Lord," says Paul. That is, if someone judges rightly about a day, he does this for God. To judge rightly about a day means that you do not abandon hope for the correction of a man whose guilt is now evident to you.

Everyone who reasons about a day reasons for the Lord. And he who eats, let him eat in the Lord and bless God.

The Apostle says this by condescension, having in view concord in the Church. The God of all, he reasons, knows the intention of those who eat and those who do not eat. He does not look only at the deed, but examines the understanding with which it is done.

How can one distinguish days for the Lord? Clearly, by appointing certain days in order to serve the Lord especially through fasting and prayer. That one can serve God through fasting and prayer is shown in Lk 2:37. How can one not distinguish days for the Lord? Clearly, by dedicating all days without distinction equally to thanksgiving to the Lord, and by turning the taking of food into an act sanctified by praise of God. Yet sincere praise of the Lord is hardly possible while eating food forbidden on certain days by the Church, which is His Body. Can one resist her and at the same time give thanks to her Head? Those who do not keep the fasts most often sit down to table without prayer.

Second, both groups, that is, both the weak in faith and the perfect, are guided by one and the same thought of pleasing God (Rom 14:5-12). "He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God" (Rom 14:6). Therefore it is best to leave the actions of our brethren to the judgment of the Lord, our common Master and Judge, to Whom "each of us shall give account of himself" (Rom 14:12).

The Apostle indicates a new reason for not judging over differences in food. The Roman Christians, both those who distinguished days and those who did not, both those who ate meat and those who lived on herbs, did not think that by this they angered God. On the contrary, both groups ate to the glory of God. It would be different if they knew, for example, that by eating meat they sinned, and still ate (23). Saint John Chrysostom says: "The meaning of the Apostle's words is this: the important thing is not eating or not eating. The question is whether each does it for God, and whether both end with thanksgiving. According to the Apostle, both give thanks to God.

The holy Apostle assumes that both the one and the other act with a view to pleasing God. "He who regards the day" means one who distinguishes days and foods. "Regards it to the Lord" means that he distinguishes them in the conviction that this is pleasing to Him.

"He who does not regard the day" means one who does not distinguish days and foods. "To the Lord he does not regard it" means that he does not distinguish them in the conviction that faith in the Lord has freed him from all such obligations.

"Whoever distinguishes days," says Blessed Theophylact, "distinguishes them for the Lord, as one reverent. Whoever does not distinguish days does not distinguish them for the Lord, as one already perfect in Christ and raised above legal observances."