IS ROMANS 14 DISCUSSING THE SABBATH, OR FASTING?

The question:

Hi Lew.   I just spent Thanksgiving Day with family.  I got into an interesting discussion with a nephew who pointed to Romans 14 as an "indication" that the Sabbath did not have to be observed on the seventh day.   I THINK this passage was about judging others rather than what the Torah says.   

I would like your opinion.

ROMANS 14 IS ABOUT FASTING

A tradition of fasting twice each week was imposed on the population by the Pharisees, part of their "yoke" - not Yahuahs. This is not easily understood by Christians because they do not readily perceive the "special days" being discussed refer to the days of the week when fasting was expected. 

Romans 14 is often used as an "anti-Sabbath" stronghold.

This is one of many "strongholds" (misunderstandings, mental reasonings) which people have accepted from constant exposure to false teachings.  Romans 14 is often misapplied in numerous ways, since those who are “weak” don’t have enough training in Torah to understand.  The text is discussing the very people who are misapplying this section.  Being “weak” in the “faith” means the new believer has not yet learned the details of how to walk.  This text is warning us to not judge one another over food. It must be food of course, not unapproved material gentiles may think is food.   Because of pre-conceived programming, a reader is usually unaware that Romans 14 is discussing the man-made habits of FASTING.  In the first century, the Pharisees made it a man-made “law” to fast twice each week.  This is the principle the people are misapplying, thinking it refers to the weekly SHABATH. 

Notice the Pharisee states that he fasts twice each week in the following text:

Now look closely at the text of Romans 14: 

Rom 14:1-23:  “And receive him who is weak in the belief, not criticizing his thoughts.

One indeed believes to eat all food, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

He that eats, let him not despise him who does not eat, and he that does not eat, let him not judge him who eats, for Alahim received him.

Who are you that judges another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. But he shall be made to stand, for Alahim is able to make him stand.

One indeed judges one day above another, another judges every day alike.  Let each one be completely persuaded in his own mind.

He who minds the day  (and fasts), minds it to Yahuah. And he who does not mind the day (and does NOT FAST), to Yahuah he does not mind it.

He who eats, eats to Yahuah, for he gives Alahim thanks.  And he who does not eat, to Yahuah he does not eat, and gives Alahim thanks.

For not one of us lives to himself, and not one dies to himself.   (these last two sentences reveal this discussion is about the “fast days” the Pharisees appointed).

For both, if we live, we live unto the Master, and if we die, we die unto the Master. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Master’s.

For unto this Mashiak died and rose and lived again, to rule over both the dead and the living.

But why do you judge your brother?  Or why do you despise your brother?  For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Mashiak.

For it has been written, “As I live, says Yahuah, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to Alahim.”

Each one of us, therefore, shall give account of himself to Alahim.

Therefore let us not judge one another any longer, but rather judge this, not to put an obstacle or a stumbling-block in our brother’s way.

I know and am persuaded in the Master יהושע that none at all is common of itself.  But to him who regards whatever to be common, to him it is common.

And if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love.  Do not by your food ruin the one for whom Mashiak died.

Do not then allow your good to be spoken of as evil.

For the reign of Alahim is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Set-apart Spirit.

For he who is serving Mashiak in these matters is well-pleasing to Alahim and approved by men.

So, then, let us pursue the matters of peace and the matters for building up one another.

Do not destroy the work of Alahim for the sake of food. All indeed are clean, but evil to that man who eats so as to cause stumbling.

It is good not to eat meat or drink wine, nor to do whatever by which your brother stumbles.

Do you have belief? Have it to yourself before Alahim. Blessed is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

But he who doubts, if he eats, is condemned, because it is not of belief, and all that is not of belief is sin.”

If a person did not choose to FAST, then that’s fine.  If a person DID choose to FAST, that’s fine too.

If Paul could see how people have interpreted this, making it apply to the SHABATH, he’d faint from the shock of how incredibly untaught people could be, with their doctorate degrees in “theology.”

IS IT FOOD, OR IS IT NOT FOOD?

Be very careful and discerning when people use Scripture in order to do what tradition dictates.  Don't assume that this text written by brother Paul is granting anyone the ability to ignore Leviticus 11, assuming that "unclean" animals are included as "food." 

Unclean animals are not food to begin with, but every animal that Leviticus 11 declares to be for food is "clean", declared so by the Word.  It is to be received with thanksgiving, because "it is set-apart by the Word."

 If the Word of Yahuah declares that an animal is not to be eaten, and you ignore His Word, then the prophecy at Isaiah/YashaYahu 66:16,17 will befall you.

Overcoming strongholds like this is done by simply accepting the Truth, and Yahusha releases you (makes you free) by guiding you into all Truth. 

He would not guide you into believing a lie, and annul the 4th Commandment, the sign of the everlasting Covenant.

brother Lew

Who is Lew White? www.fossilizedcustoms.com/Lew_White.html