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Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

Him that is weak, … — That is, not thoroughly persuaded of all things pertaining to Christian liberty about things indifferent.

Receive — Affectu charitatis, put him into your bosoms, bear with his weaknesses, … Bucer rejected none, though different in some opinions, in whom he found aliquid Christi, anything of Christ, whose weaklings are to be handled with all tenderness. (Haymo.)

But not to doubtful — Make him not question sick, 1 Timothy 6:4 . Wring not men’s consciences, you may hap to break the wards if you do.

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For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

Eateth herbs — Rather than meats forbidden by the law, Daniel 1:11 . The ancient Latins were as well paid of herbs to eat, as if they had had all manner of dainties. Green herbs were both food and medicine to them. Holus ab Vegetables from ολον .

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Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

For God hath received him — viz. For his household servant, which David counted a greater dignity than to be king of Israel. And Justinian the emperor styled himself Ultimum servorum Dei, the meanest of God’s servants.

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Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Who art thou, … — The wisdom from above is without censuring, without hypocrisy, saith St James, James 3:17 . Intimating, that the greatest censurers are mostly the greatest hypocrites. And as any one is more wise, he is more sparing of his censures.

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One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike . Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Let every man be fully persuaded — It is a safe rule, Quod dubites ne feceris, In doubtful cases be sure to take the surer side. (Plin. Epist.)

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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.

For he giveth God thanks — A custom used by the very heathens to their gods, as is to be read in Homer and Virgil, but grown clean out of use among the Catholics in France and Italy, (Sir Ed. Sands, Spec. Europae.) But if they that give thanks at a meal do eat to God, to whom do they eat that give none?

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For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

For none of us liveth to himself — St Paul stood, as it were, on tiptoes, αποκαραδοκια , Philippians 1:20 , to see which way he might best glorify God, by life or by death.

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For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

We are the Lord’s — Death divides us not from Christ, but brings us home to him, 2 Corinthians 5:6 . It is but winking (as that martyr said), and thou shalt be in heaven presently.

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