Romans 14:3 Meaning: Neither Despise Nor Judge
Don’t let him who eats despise him who doesn’t eat. Don’t let him who doesn’t eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.
Let 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.
Let not him that eateth set at nought him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
let not him who is eating despise him who is not eating: and let not him who is not eating judge him who is eating, for God did receive him.
Let not him that eats make little of him that eats not; and let not him that eats not judge him that eats: for God has received him.
Meaning in one sentence
Learn how to avoid despising or judging fellow Christians on non-essential matters. God has received both the eater and the abstainer.
Context
Paul is writing to a church in Rome where Jewish and Gentile believers are learning to live together. Some Christians hold fast to old dietary laws, eating only vegetables to avoid meat that might be unclean or sacrificed to idols. Others see those laws as fulfilled in Christ and eat freely. The same tension touches sacred days. In the middle of this conflict, Paul steps in with a simple but costly command: do not despise and do not condemn. Both groups belong to God, and He has already welcomed each one. The rest of the chapter unfolds what that looks like in daily life.
Key Words
The Greek word for "despise" here is exoutheneō, which means to make someone of no account, to treat them as nothing. It is the sin of the strong: looking down on a brother as weak or foolish. The word for "judge" is krinō, which carries the sense of condemning, sitting in the seat of verdict. That is the sin of the weak: pronouncing sentence on a brother who does not share their scruples. Both words are commands in the present tense, stop doing this, do not let it become a habit. Then comes the key: "God has received him." The verb proslambanō means to take someone to yourself, to welcome them as a companion. God did this at the moment of conversion, and He has not changed His mind. That settled acceptance releases us from needing to police each other.
How Christians Read This Verse
Across Christian traditions, this verse is read as a call to humility in matters where Scripture does not speak directly. Many commentators note that Paul names two different sins for two different groups: the liberal tends to despise the scrupulous, and the scrupulous tends to judge the liberal. Both are forms of pride. Calvin writes that when we see a man illuminated by the knowledge of God, we have evidence enough that the Lord has received him, so we must not reject whom God has embraced. Wesley echoes that God has received both into the number of His children. The Cambridge Bible adds that the aorist tense of “received” points to a definite moment: their conversion, which remains the basis of their standing. Nothing in this verse suggests either party must change their practice, only their posture toward one another.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that “God has received him” refers only to the strong brother who eats freely, as if the weak must simply tolerate his behavior. In fact, the clause applies to both parties. The earlier verses show that Paul addresses both the eater and the abstainer with distinct warnings. God has accepted each one, so neither has the right to despise or condemn the other. The ground of acceptance is the same for both: faith in Christ, not their dietary choices.
Living This Out
This week, you will likely run into a brother or sister who sees a non-essential matter differently than you do, maybe worship style, a holiday practice, or a habit you consider careless or overly strict. Before you say anything, pause. Ask yourself: am I about to despise them as foolish, or judge them as disobedient? Either response assumes a role that belongs only to God. He received that person into His family before you ever met them. Your job is not to approve their choices, but to welcome them as He does. That is enough.
Main takeaway: God accepts believers from both sides of disputable matters, so we can accept each other without contempt or condemnation.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Some people like different foods. God loves them both. When we disagree with a friend, we can still be kind and not think we are better than them.
For ages 9, 12
In the early church, some Christians ate meat and others only ate vegetables because of their conscience. Paul told them not to look down on each other or tell each other they were wrong. Why? Because God accepted both of them. This teaches us that when Christians have different opinions about things that aren't central to our faith, we don't need to fight. We can trust that God is their Lord too, just like He is ours.
Questions People Ask
What does “despise” mean in Romans 14:3?
It comes from a Greek word that means to make someone of no account, to treat them as worthless. Paul warns the strong believer not to look down on the weak believer as foolish or superstitious.
Who are “the one who eats” and “the one who does not eat”?
They refer to two groups in the Roman church. Some Christians (likely Jewish believers) felt bound by dietary laws and ate only vegetables. Others (likely Gentile believers) understood their freedom in Christ and ate meat. Paul addresses both.
Does this verse mean we should never disagree with other believers?
No. Paul is not telling us to ignore error or abandon truth. He is focusing on matters that are not clearly commanded or forbidden in Scripture. On such things, we can hold our own convictions without despising or condemning those who hold different ones.
Why does Paul say “God has received him”?
This is the foundation of Paul’s argument. God welcomed each believer into His family at conversion, regardless of their views on disputable matters. If God has accepted them, we have no right to reject them.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study