The Law of Liberty (Matthew 7:1–6; Luke 6:37–42)
2 CPDV For one person believes that he may eat all things, but if another is weak, let him eat plants. BSB BSB: For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables.
3 CPDV He who eats should not despise him who does not eat. And he who does not eat should not judge him who eats. For God has accepted him. BSB BSB: The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him.
4 CPDV Who are you to judge the servant of another? He stands or falls by his own Lord. But he shall stand. For God is able to make him stand. BSB BSB: Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
6 CPDV He who understands the age, understands for the Lord. And he who eats, eats for the Lord; for he gives thanks to God. And he who does not eat, does not eat for the Lord, and he gives thanks to God. BSB BSB: He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
7 CPDV For none of us lives for himself, and none of us dies for himself. BSB BSB: For none of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone.
8 CPDV For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. BSB BSB: If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9 CPDV For Christ died and rose again for this purpose: that he might be the ruler of both the dead and the living. BSB BSB: For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 CPDV So then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. BSB BSB: Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
11 CPDV For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” BSB BSB: It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.”
12 CPDV And so, each one of us shall offer an explanation of himself to God. BSB BSB: So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
The Law of Love (Ezekiel 14:1–11; 1 Corinthians 8:1–13)
13 CPDV Therefore, we should no longer judge one another. Instead, judge this to a greater extent: that you should not place an obstacle before your brother, nor lead him astray. BSB BSB: Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.
15 CPDV For if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are not now walking according to love. Do not allow your food to destroy him for whom Christ died. BSB BSB: If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.
16 CPDV Therefore, what is good for us should not be a cause of blasphemy. BSB BSB: Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil.
17 CPDV For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but rather justice and peace and joy, in the Holy Spirit. BSB BSB: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 CPDV For he who serves Christ in this, pleases God and is proven before men. BSB BSB: For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
19 CPDV And so, let us pursue the things that are of peace, and let us keep to the things that are for the edification of one another. BSB BSB: So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
20 CPDV Do not be willing to destroy the work of God because of food. Certainly, all things are clean. But there is harm for a man who offends by eating. BSB BSB: Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block.
21 CPDV It is good to refrain from eating meat and from drinking wine, and from anything by which your brother is offended, or led astray, or weakened. BSB BSB: It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.
22 CPDV Do you have faith? It belongs to you, so hold it before God. Blessed is he who does not judge himself in that by which he is tested. BSB BSB: Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
23 CPDV But he who discerns, if he eats, is condemned, because it is not of faith. For all that is not of faith is sin. BSB BSB: But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that is not from faith is sin.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.