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Romans Commentary Chapters 9-16  /  Romans 14:10-13 Do Not Judge Your Brother  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 10
Origen defines “stumbling block/scandal” as something on the road that causes a traveler to trip, and the lesson says we can stumble others even by lawful actions; what lawful freedoms, public behaviors, posts, jokes, or choices might be “on the road” for weaker believers around you, and what concrete limits would love require you to adopt if you truly believe you’ll “answer to God” for causing a brother to stumble?
Another way to ask: What “okay” freedoms (like posts, jokes, or public choices) might still trip up weaker believers around you? What clear limits would love lead you to set if you believe you must answer to God for causing someone to stumble?

Direct Answer Based on the transcript, even lawful choices can become spiritual obstacles if they trip up others, so love requires intentionally limiting freedoms when needed to avoid placing “a stumbling block or a hindrance” in a brother’s path—because we “will answer to God for it.”

Support from Transcript:

  • Paul’s resolution: “no one will put a stumbling block or a hindrance in the way of his brother.”
  • The Greek terms are explained: “stumbling block, Greek Proskama, or a hindrance Greek scandalon.”
  • Origen’s picture: scandalon is “something lying on the road… [people] strike their feet… stumble and fall,” and “the same thing can happen spiritually.”
  • David Bercot notes the surprising danger: “we can even stumble others by doing something that is perfectly lawful for Christians.”
  • Accountability is emphasized: “if we stumble our brother, we will answer to God for it.”
  • The guiding principle: “He who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no occasion for stumbling in him.”
Discussion Follow-ups The transcript doesn’t list modern examples (posts, jokes, etc.), but it gives the rule: lawful is not the same as loving. What specific choices could you voluntarily limit this week to “give no cause for stumbling to anyone”?

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