Romans 14:5-6, Esteeming One Day Above Another
Romans 14:5-6 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. R6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
The Jewish Christian chooses to observe the Jewish special days like the Passover whereas the Gentile Christian observes no such days. Should such disparity among the Jewish and Gentile Christians’ observance be a source of disunity and contention? The Apostle Paul’s advice is that there should not be. Let the Jewish Christian carry on observing the Jewish festivals. Of course, for Gentile Christians who came out of idolatry, observing pagan holidays and festivals often are abandoned. They would now observe the Lord’s Day. The Apostle Paul is urging the Christians to exercise forbearance and latitude for differing practices amongst them on such matters.
The Apostle Paul is urging the Christians to exercise forbearance and latitude for differing practices amongst them on such matters. He asked every man to act as the Lord has led them to do. Hendricksen observed, “We must admit that we cannot now determine in what sense the weak members of the Roman church regarded one day as being better than another, while they still observed and honored the Lord’s Day, that is, the first day of the week. ” He further adds, “No one must do what is contrary to the dictates of his own conscience as illumined by the Word! Let not the weak condemn the strong; but also, let not the strong look down on the weak…”
The principle here is that we make any observance of days or any practices for that matter for the honour and glory of God and not any self-gratification. This is affirmed in 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Amen.