Romans 14:20 – Construction, Not Demolition

Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.

Truth to Learn

We are supposed to build-up the church, not tear it down.

Behind the Words

The word “destroy” is translated from the Greek verb kataluō. This word is made up of kata, meaning “down” and luō, which means “to let loose” or “to release.” Hence, we see that kataluō literally means “to loose down” or “to tear down.” It is expressed here in the imperative mood indicating a command and it is expressed in the present tense. We could paraphrase the opening phrase of this verse as, “Do not right now be destroying the work of God for the sake of food!”

“Evil” is translated from the Greek word kakos, which literally means “evil” or “worthless.”

“Offense” is from proskomma, which, as we learned a few verses back, figuratively refers to “something that someone stubs their toe on or trips over.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we learned that we are to edify, or build up, one another. Paul has previously used the metaphor of a building with reference to the church. In the previous verse when he said that we need to pursue those things which edify one another, he was referring to us building up the church, the body of Christ (with gold, silver, and precious stone).

Paul now says that we shouldn’t tear down the work of God for the sake of food. When we compare “building up” from the previous verse with “tear down” in the current verse, we see that in each case Paul is talking about the temple of God. No, not a physical building, but the body of Christ. In speaking to the Church in Corinth, Paul said:

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1Corinthians 3:16)

The words “you are” are expressed in the second person plural in the Greek text. So Paul is saying, “Don’t you know that you (plural) are the temple (singular) of God?” In other words, the Church, the body of Christ, is the temple of God. It is this temple that we are to build up, not tear down.

We should pursue those things which build up God’s temple (the body of Christ), but our insistence on sticking to our stance regarding food (or days of the week) will actually tear down the church which is God’s work. Clearly, that’s not something for which crowns are going to be given at the bema seat, is it?

In fact, I think that’s the point Paul is making in the second half of this verse. He says that “All things indeed are pure, but it is evil (or worthless) for the man who eats with offense.” He has just told us to build up the church not to tear it down, and now he says that if by eating (or doing anything else which our conscience allows) we cause a brother or sister to stumble, we are destroying the temple of God, and it is a worthless work (like wood, hay or straw).

Application

When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ we all want to receive rewards for having built up the body of Christ with valuable works, but our selfish stubbornness can result in tearing down the temple instead of building it up. Are you in the construction business or the demolition business?

In God’s service, for His glory,

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