Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text uses two distinct verbs, "judge" and "despise," to highlight that judgment and contempt flow from the same arrogant spirit, but manifest differently depending on who is judging whom. It also clarifies that the "judgment seat" belongs to God, who will judge through Christ, emphasizing the ultimate authority and universality of divine judgment, not human opinion.
Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing a conflict within the Roman church, likely between Jewish and Gentile believers, concerning food laws and special days. He’s already explained that these differences shouldn't cause division, urging believers to accept one another regardless of their convictions. Now, he directly confronts those who are judging or looking down on their fellow believers over these matters.
Paul calls out two distinct, yet equally damaging, attitudes Christians can have toward each other. What are they, and why are they so wrong?
In this verse, Paul addresses both the 'stronger' and 'weaker' believers within the church.
Paul highlights that both attitudes are forms of judgment and are unacceptable within the community of faith. We are brothers and sisters, not judges of each other's consciences.
There's one Judge we all answer to, and His standard is perfect. How does this truth redirect our focus from each other to Him?
The reason Paul immediately brings up the 'judgment seat of God' is crucial. It serves as a powerful equalizer and a call to humility.
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This truth shifts our perspective from being critics of others to being mindful servants preparing for our own meeting with our Lord.
Understand the original words
krineis · Greek Verb
The act of critiquing, evaluating, or condemning another person's actions, motives, or standing before God. Scripture forbids believers from usurping God's role as the final judge of His servants.
adelphon · Greek Noun
A fellow member of the family of God, bound by the new covenant in Christ. This term emphasizes the equality, unity, and mutual responsibility believers have toward one another in the body of Christ.
exoutheneis · Greek Verb
To view someone with contempt or as having no value; to treat with disdain or look down upon. It is antithetical to the love and humility Christ commands His followers to have for one another.
bēma · Greek Noun
The tribunal or bench of a judge. In the New Testament, it refers to the final, solemn evaluation of believers by God to account for their lives and deeds before Him.
The tension between Jewish and Gentile believers in the early church, particularly regarding adherence to Mosaic Law, forms the backdrop for Paul's urgent plea for mutual respect and unity before the ultimate judgment seat of God.
c. 49 AD
Council of Jerusalem
The early church leaders debated whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish law. They decided against it, affirming Gentiles were saved by faith alone.
c. 50-60 AD
Growth of Gentile Christianity
Following the Council of Jerusalem, Christianity spread rapidly among non-Jews, leading to a larger and more diverse church with varied practices and traditions.
c. 62-67 AD— this verse
Paul's Letter to the Romans
Paul writes his most comprehensive theological letter to the church in Rome, a diverse community of Jewish and Gentile believers, to address issues of unity and practice.
c. 64 AD
Great Fire of Rome
A devastating fire sweeps through Rome, leading Emperor Nero to persecute Christians, falsely blaming them for the disaster.
c. 67 AD
Martyrdom of Paul and Peter
Tradition holds that the apostles Paul and Peter were martyred in Rome during Nero's persecution, marking a significant loss for the early church.
This passage directly echoes Romans 14:10 by asking "Who are you to judge your neighbor?" and reminding us that there is only one lawgiver and judge, reinforcing the idea that we should not usurp God's authority by judging others.
Matthew 7:1-5Jesus' teaching on not judging others, and the caution against hypocrisy ('log in your own eye'), provides a strong parallel to Paul's admonition in Romans 14:10. It highlights the danger of judging our brothers when we ourselves are imperfect.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15This passage speaks about the judgment of our works, not our brother's standing. It explains that everyone's work will be tested by fire, and while some will suffer loss, they will still be saved, emphasizing that individual judgment is in God's hands, not ours.
1 Corinthians 8:8-13Similar to Romans 14, this passage deals with the issue of food sacrificed to idols. It calls for love and consideration for weaker brothers, urging believers not to let their 'freedom' become a stumbling block, which is the heart of the judgment issue in Romans 14.
Galatians 5:13-15Paul warns against using freedom as an excuse for evil and instead calls believers to serve one another in love. This directly addresses the tension between judging and despising, emphasizing that love should govern our interactions, especially when differences arise.
vincentRomans 14:10: "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."
Why dost thou judge (σὺ τί κρίνεις)Thou emphatic, in contrast with the Lord. So Rev., "thou, why dost thou Judge?" Referring to the weak brother. Compare judge as in Romans 14:4. The servant of another is here called brother.Judgment seat of Christ (τῷ βήματι τοῦ Χριστοῦ)The best texts read Θεοῦ of God So Rev. For judgment-seat, see…
wesleyRomans 14:10: "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."
14:10 Or why dost thou despise thy brother - Hitherto the apostle as addressed the weak brother: now he speaks to the stronger.
The text uses two distinct verbs, "judge" and "despise," to highlight that judgment and contempt flow from the same arrogant spirit, but manifest differently depending on who is judging whom. It also clarifies that the "judgment seat" belongs to God, who will judge through Christ, emphasizing the ultimate authority and universality of divine judgment, not human opinion.
Paul is addressing a conflict within the Roman church, likely between Jewish and Gentile believers, concerning food laws and special days. He’s already explained that these differences shouldn't cause division, urging believers to accept one another regardless of their convictions. Now, he directly confronts those who are judging or looking down on their fellow believers over these matters.
Paul is addressing a conflict within the Roman church, likely between Jewish and Gentile believers, concerning food laws and special days. He’s already explained that these differences shouldn't cause division, urging believers to accept one another regardless of their convictions. Now, he directly confronts those who are judging or looking down on their fellow believers over these matters.
"Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;" — The text uses two distinct verbs, "judge" and "despise," to highlight that judgment and contempt flow from the same arrogant spirit, but manifest differently depending on who is judging whom. It also…
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Last reviewed October 2026