insignificant things, and also derided them: these, on the other hand, were hardly able to refrain
from rash judgments, so as not to condemn what they did not follow; for whatever they perceived
to be contrary to their own sentiments, they thought was evil. Hence he exhorts the former to refrain
from contempt, and the latter from excessive moroseness. And the reason which he adds, as it
belongs to both parties, ought to be applied to the two clauses, — “When you see,” he says, “a man
illuminated with the knowledge of God, you have evidence enough that he is received by the Lord;
if you either despise or condemn him, you reject him whom God has embraced.”^417
4.Who art thou who judgest, etc. “As you would act uncourteously, yea, and presumptuously
among men, were you to bring another man’s servant, under your own rules, and try all his acts by
the rule of your own will; so you assume too much, if you condemn anything in God’s servant,
because it does not please you; for it belongs not to you to prescribe to him what to do and what
not to do, nor is it necessary for him to live according to your law.”
Now, though the power of judging as to the person, and also as to the deed, is taken from us,
there is yet much difference between the two; for we ought to leave the man, whatever he may be,
to the judgment of God; but as to his deeds we may indeed form a decisive opinion, though not
according to our own views, but according to the word of God; and the judgment, derived from his
word, is neither human, nor another man’s judgment. Paul then intended here to restrain us from
presumption in judging; into which they fall, who dare to pronounce anything respecting the actions
of men without the warrant of God’s word.
To his own Lord he stands or falls, etc. As though he said, — “It belongs rightly to the Lord,
either to disapprove, or to accept what his servant doeth: hence he robs the Lord, who attempts to
take to himself this authority.” And he adds, he shall indeed stand: and by so saying, he not only
bids us to abstain from condemning, but also exhorts us to mercy and kindness, so as ever to hope
well of him, in whom we perceive anything of God; inasmuch as the Lord has given us a hope, that
he will fully confirm, and lead to perfection, those in whom he has begun the work of grace.
But by referring to the power of God, he means not simply, as though he had said, that God
can do this if he will; but, after the usual manner of Scripture, he connects God’s will with his
power: and yet he speaks not here of perpetuity, as though they must stand to the end whom God
has once raised up; but he only reminds us, that we are to entertain a good hope, and that our
judgments should lean this way; as he also teaches us in another place,
“He who began in you a good work, will perform it to the end.” (Philippians 1:6.)
In short, Paul shows to what side their judgments incline, in whom love abounds.
Romans 14:5-6
- Hic quidem diem prae die aestimat; ille
autem peraque aestimat omnem diem.
Unusquisque sententiae suae certus sit. - One man esteemeth one day above another:
another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man
be fully persuaded in his own mind.
(^417) The last clause is by Haldane confined to the strong, and he objects to this extension of it; and certainly the following verse
is in favor of his view, for the weak, the condemner, is the person reproved, and therefore the strong is he who to his own master
stands or falls. The condemner throughout is the weak, and the despised is the strong. — Ed