Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Instead of judging others, the verse calls us to a more proactive "judgment": a conscious decision to actively prevent causing our brothers and sisters to stumble. This isn't just about refraining from criticism, but about taking responsibility for how our actions might lead others into sin, treating their spiritual well-being as our top priority.
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing deep divisions within the Roman church, specifically concerning disputes over which foods and days were permissible for believers to observe according to Jewish law. He's urging them to stop judging and condemning each other over these practices, reminding them that everyone will stand before God's judgment seat. Therefore, instead of criticizing others, Paul calls them to self-examine and commit to not causing a fellow believer to stumble into sin through their actions or attitudes.
We're naturally inclined to judge others, especially when their actions differ from ours. But Paul redirects this impulse to a more constructive purpose.
Paul uses a clever wordplay here. He starts by saying, 'Let us not judge one another.' This is a direct command to stop the critical spirit that was dividing the Roman church.
But then he pivots: 'but rather decide...' He's not saying never to judge, but to redirect our judgment. Instead of looking critically at our brothers and sisters, he calls us to make a deliberate decision – a 'judgment' in the sense of a firm resolve – about our own actions.
The focus shifts from evaluating others to self-governance: '...that no one should lay any stumbling block or cause to fall in the way of a brother.' Our energy shouldn't be spent on assessing others' spirituality based on their choices, but on ensuring our own choices don't hinder someone else's walk with God.
What exactly is a 'stumbling block,' and why is it so crucial to avoid placing one in a brother's path?
The terms 'stumbling block' and 'hindrance' (or 'occasion to fall') in the original language paint a vivid picture. They refer to anything that causes someone to trip, fall, or veer off the path.
In the context of Romans 14, this means that exercising your Christian liberty (like eating certain foods or observing specific days) could inadvertently lead a weaker brother or sister into sin. Perhaps they feel pressured to violate their conscience, or they might start to doubt their own faith if they see others acting in ways they believe are wrong.
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Paul’s point is that our freedom in Christ is not absolute. It’s tempered by love and responsibility for the spiritual well-being of others. It’s better to forgo a personal preference or freedom than to cause someone else to stumble and potentially fall away from their faith.
Understand the original words
krinete · Greek Verb
The act of forming an unfavorable opinion or condemning another, often assuming the role of a judge that belongs only to God. It involves the critical evaluation of a brother's standing or choices.
proskomma · Greek Noun
An obstacle, trap, or occasion that causes another person to stumble or fall into sin. It refers to actions that damage the spiritual walk or conscience of a fellow believer.
skandalon · Greek Noun
A barrier or impediment that hinders progress. In this context, it refers to a behavior that obstructs another believer’s spiritual growth or peace of mind.
adelphō · Greek Noun
One who shares the same spiritual family, united by faith in Christ. It denotes a familial bond of love, mutual responsibility, and equality in the sight of God.
Paul's letter to the Romans was written during a time of significant tension between Jewish and Gentile believers over adherence to the Mosaic Law. This context is crucial for understanding his call to mutual acceptance and avoiding judgment in chapter 14, as these disputes directly threatened the unity of the early church.
c. 40s AD— this verse
Disagreements over Gentile believers
Early Christian communities faced significant tension between Jewish and Gentile converts, particularly concerning adherence to Mosaic Law, food regulations, and holy days.
c. 49 AD
Council of Jerusalem
The apostles and elders convened to address issues surrounding Gentile Christians and the Law, ultimately deciding that Gentiles did not need to be circumcised or follow all Mosaic laws to be part of the church.
c. 50-52 AD
Paul's journeys
Paul traveled extensively, establishing and strengthening churches, encountering these ongoing debates and tensions between Jewish and Gentile believers firsthand.
c. 57 AD
Paul writes Romans
From Corinth, Paul penned his letter to the church in Rome, seeking to unify Jewish and Gentile believers by addressing theological issues and practical matters of community life, including disputes over religious observance.
This passage directly echoes the concern in Romans 14 about not letting one's exercise of Christian liberty become a stumbling block to a weaker brother, highlighting the shared principle of protecting fellow believers.
Matthew 18:6Jesus warns against causing 'little ones' who believe in Him to stumble, which aligns perfectly with Paul's directive in Romans 14 to avoid putting obstacles in a brother's way, underscoring the gravity of such actions.
Galatians 5:13-14This passage emphasizes that Christian freedom is not an excuse for sin but a call to serve one another in love, reinforcing Paul's point in Romans 14 that our liberty should be guided by a love that seeks to build up, not tear down.
Romans 15:1-2Immediately following this verse, Paul exhorts believers to please their neighbors for their good, to build them up, directly illustrating the 'better judgment' he called for in Romans 14:13.
ellicottRomans 14:13: "Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way."
(13) Judge this rather. —The word “judge” forms the connecting-link between what follows and what has gone before. If any judgment is to be formed at all, let it be rather as a principle to guide our own action, and not in the shape of a criticism upon others. This principle, in the case of those who are themselves liberal and larg…
gillRomans 14:13: "Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way."
Let us not therefore judge one another more,.... With respect to the observance or non-observance of the laws relating to meats and drinks, and days, and times; the apostle means, that they should not judge rashly, nor anything before the time; they should not censure and judge each other's characters and states, on account of thes…
Instead of judging others, the verse calls us to a more proactive "judgment": a conscious decision to actively prevent causing our brothers and sisters to stumble. This isn't just about refraining from criticism, but about taking responsibility for how our actions might lead others into sin, treating their spiritual well-being as our top priority.
Paul is addressing deep divisions within the Roman church, specifically concerning disputes over which foods and days were permissible for believers to observe according to Jewish law. He's urging them to stop judging and condemning each other over these practices, reminding them that everyone will stand before God's judgment seat. Therefore, instead of criticizing others, Paul calls them to self-examine and commit to not causing a fellow believer to stumble into sin through their actions or attitudes.
Paul is addressing deep divisions within the Roman church, specifically concerning disputes over which foods and days were permissible for believers to observe according to Jewish law. He's urging them to stop judging and condemning each other over these practices, reminding them that everyone will stand before God's judgment seat. Therefore, instead of criticizing others, Paul calls them to self-examine and commit to not causing a fellow believer to stumble into sin through their actions or attitudes.
"Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother." — Instead of judging others, the verse calls us to a more proactive "judgment": a conscious decision to actively prevent causing our brothers and sisters to stumble. This isn't just about refraining…
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Last reviewed October 2026