SEV Biblia, Chapter 14:20
No destruyas la obra de Dios por causa de la comida. Todas las cosas a la verdad son limpias; mas malo es al hombre que come con escndalo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 14:20
Verse 20. For meat destroy not the work of God] Do not hinder the progress of the Gospel either in your own souls or in those of others, by contending about lawful or unlawful meats. And do not destroy the soul of thy Christian brother, ver. 15, by offending him so as to induce him to apostatize. All things indeed are pure] This is a repetition of the sentiment delivered, ver. 14, in different words. Nothing that is proper for aliment is unlawful to be eaten; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense-the man who either eats contrary to his own conscience, or so as to grieve and stumble another, does an evil act; and however lawful the thing may be in itself, his conduct does not please God.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. For meat destroy not the work of God , etc..] The Syriac reads it, the works of God; referring either to righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, of which the kingdom of God consists; or to the weak brother, who both as a creature, and as a new creature, is the workmanship of God; and to the good work of grace, the work of faith upon his soul, which is the work of God; or rather to his peace, and the peace of the church of Christ, which is both the will and work of God; peace is what he calls his people to, and what he himself is the author of; and may be destroyed, and sometimes is, by trifling things; whereas a true believer, though ever so weak, cannot be destroyed, nor the good work of God upon his soul be lost, nor any part of it; not the work of faith, which Christ prays for that it fail not, and is both the author and finisher of; but the work of peace and edification in particular persons, and in a church, may be destroyed, but it is pity it should, by so small a matter, so trivial a thing as meat, or the use of anything that is indifferent: all things indeed are pure . The Ethiopic version adds, to the pure; to them that have pure consciences, sprinkled by the blood of Christ, and have no doubt or scruple about eating things indifferent; but this addition seems to be taken out of ( Titus 1:15); though it may serve to explain the sense, which is, that all sorts of food, without any distinction, may be eaten; there is nothing common or unclean, every creature in itself is good, and every Christian may lawfully eat thereof, with moderation and thankfulness. This is a concession which stands thus corrected and restrained, but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence . The Arabic version adds, of his neighbour; which is a good interpretation of the passage; for the apostle means not with offence to a man's own conscience, though so to eat is an evil too, but with offence to a fellow Christian; it is not an evil in itself to eat, but when this circumstance of offending another thereby attends it; it is evil, though not in itself, yet in its consequences; it offends a weak brother, displeases Christ, who would not have one of his little ones offended, and brings a woe upon the person by whom the offence comes.
The Ethiopic version reads, who eats inordinately; which to be sure is sinful, but is not the meaning here.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 19-23 - Many wish for peace, and talk loudly for it, who do not follow the things that make for peace. Meekness, humility, self-denial, and love make for peace. We cannot edify one another, while quarrelling an contending. Many, for meat and drink, destroy the work of God in themselves; nothing more destroys the soul than pampering and pleasin the flesh, and fulfilling the lusts of it; so others are hurt, by wilful offence given. Lawful things may be done unlawfully, by giving offence to brethren. This takes in all indifferent things, whereby brother is drawn into sin or trouble; or has his graces, his comforts or his resolutions weakened. Hast thou faith? It is meant of knowledg and clearness as to our Christian liberty. Enjoy the comfort of it, but do not trouble others by a wrong use of it. Nor may we act against doubting conscience. How excellent are the blessings of Christ' kingdom, which consists not in outward rites and ceremonies, but in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost! How preferable is the service of God to all other services! and in serving him we are no called to live and die to ourselves, but unto Christ, whose we are, an whom we ought to serve __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
μη 3361 PRT-N ενεκεν 1752 ADV βρωματος 1033 N-GSN καταλυε 2647 5720 V-PAM-2S το 3588 T-ASN εργον 2041 N-ASN του 3588 T-GSM θεου 2316 N-GSM παντα 3956 A-NPN μεν 3303 PRT καθαρα 2513 A-NPN αλλα 235 CONJ κακον 2556 A-NSN τω 3588 T-DSM ανθρωπω 444 N-DSM τω 3588 T-DSM δια 1223 PREP προσκομματος 4348 N-GSN εσθιοντι 2068 5723 V-PAP-DSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
20. Destroy (katalue). A different word from that In ver. 15. It means to loosen down, and is used of the destruction of buildings. Hence according with edification in ver. 19. See on Mark xiii. 2; Acts v. 38.Work of God. The christian brother, whose christian personality is God's work. See 2 Cor. v. 17; Eph. ii. 10; Jas. i. 18.
With offense (dia proskommatov). Against his own conscientious scruple. Lit., through or amidst offense.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
14:20 {Overthrow not} (m katalue). "Destroy not,"do not loosen down" (carrying on the metaphor in oikodome, building). {The work of God} (to ergon tou qeou). The brother for whom Christ died, verse #15. Perhaps with a side-glance at Esau and his mess of pottage. {But it is evil} (alla kakon). Paul changes from the plural koina to the singular kakon. {With offence} (dia proskommatos). "With a stumbling-block" as in verse #13. this use of dia (accompaniment) is common. So qen it is addressed to the "strong" brother not to cause a stumbling-block by the way he eats and exercises his freedom.
