The phrase “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking” is found in Romans 14:17, which states: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” This verse provides insight into the true nature of God’s kingdom – that it is defined by spiritual realities, not physical practices.
In the broader context of Romans 14, Paul is addressing issues causing division in the early church regarding religious practices like dietary restrictions. Some believers felt free to eat anything, while others only ate vegetables to avoid meat sacrificed to idols (Romans 14:2). Paul’s point is that God’s kingdom is not fundamentally about food laws, but about spiritual transformation. Eating or not eating certain foods does not determine one’s standing before God.
Paul explains that both the “weak” (with more restrictions) and the “strong” (with more freedoms) are accepted by God, as long as they are seeking to honor Him (Romans 14:1-3). The kingdom is based on righteousness, peace, and joy – not quarreling over disputable matters like food and drink. Love and mutual acceptance should characterize God’s people, not judgment over secondary issues (Romans 14:13-19).
In summary, for the kingdom of God to be “not eating and drinking” means:
- God’s kingdom is spiritual, not physical. Righteousness comes through faith in Christ, not ritual practices.
- Outward religious behaviors like dietary rules have some value but are not the essence of true religion.
- Matters of conscience about food, drink, and days are secondary issues compared to love, unity, and the condition of the heart.
- Believers should accept one another and not pass judgment on disputable issues that are not fundamental to salvation.
- The way of God’s kingdom is serving Christ in love, not quarrelling over opinions about food and drink.
In using this phrase, Paul refocuses the Roman Christians from earthly controversies about food to the eternal realities of God’s kingdom. Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit are what truly matter, not eating and drinking. When believers live by the Spirit and not by the flesh (Romans 8:5-8), God’s kingdom is manifested – a kingdom not defined by outward behaviors but by an inward transformation of the heart.
This verse remains very applicable today, as Christians can easily get divided over secondary doctrinal and practical issues. Paul reminds us to keep first things first – God’s kingdom expresses itself through Christlike love and unity, not disputable opinions. By standing firm in our faith while accepting other believers, we reflect the righteous, peaceful, and joyful realities of God’s kingdom even amidst earthly differences.
1. The kingdom of God is spiritual, not physical
A key emphasis in Romans 14:17 is that God’s kingdom has a spiritual essence versus an external religious form. Participation in the kingdom is not about following certain food and drink rules, but about an inner righteousness received through faith in Jesus.
Paul states this explicitly in Romans 14:17, contrasting “eating and drinking” with “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” He makes a similar point in 1 Corinthians 8:8: “Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.”
The Old Testament laws had many dietary restrictions and regulations about clean/unclean foods. But Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19) and set aside the food laws, pointing to moral purity as most important (Mark 7:20-23). The kingdom he inaugurated would be marked by inward renewal, not outward ceremony.
When writing to the Colossians, who were being pressured to follow ritualistic rules, Paul asserts, “These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:17). He reminds them they have died with Christ to worldly regulations (Colossians 2:20) and rules like “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (Colossians 2:21).
Paul’s teaching shows that the physical rules around diet and religious ceremony have a symbolic purpose to point to Christ, but following them doesn’t make one holy before God. True religion is trusting in Jesus, receiving his righteousness, and being renewed inwardly by the Holy Spirit.
2. Outward behaviors alone don’t define true religion
While Paul is not against all rules and rituals, he distinguishes between outward religious practices and the essential spiritual realities of God’s kingdom. Rules often have value in shaping conduct and devotion, but following them does not automatically equate to true righteousness before God.
In Romans 14, both the “weak” with more dietary scruples and the “strong” with more freedom are accepted by God, showing that the kingdom is not defined by food and drink per se. Jesus taught that it’s not eating or not eating certain foods that matters, but the condition of the heart (Mark 7:18-19).
This principle applies beyond food laws to any religious practices – including praying, attending services, tithing, serving, etc. These behaviors are good to develop habits of godliness, but without faith and love, they are worthless ritual (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Going through outward motions does not guarantee inward transformation.
True religion requires both faithful practices and righteous character. As James says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27). It is loving action plus inner holiness.
In the kingdom of God, rituals have value but righteousness is essential. Believers should actively pursue godly disciplines while recognizing their inner condition matters most.
3. Secondary disputable matters must not divide believers
Romans 14 deals specifically with judging others over matters of conscience – issues not directly forbidden in Scripture but that some believers felt were wrong. Things like eating meat, observing holy days, or drinking wine.
Paul is clear that disputes over issues like these should not divide Christians. As he says in Romans 14:1, “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.” Though differences existed, acceptance in love was vital.
In verse 17, Paul contrasts “eating and drinking” with the true essentials of “righteousness, peace, and joy.” And in verses 20-21 he states: “Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.”
Unity in Christ was far more important than insisting on one’s freedom or convictions about food and drink. The kingdom was expressed through patience, humility, and sacrificial care for others, not quarrelling over opinions.
On disputable issues, Paul counsels Christians to follow their conscience under the lordship of Christ (Romans 14:5-6). But also, be willing to sacrifice liberties for the sake of weak believers so as not to tear down God’s work in them.
4. Judging others destroys unity and love
A major issue Paul addresses is believers condemning one another over their different views on eating, drinking, and religious days. He strongly cautions them against pride and judgment in these areas.
In Romans 14:3-4 Paul states, “Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?”
He repeats this warning in verses 10, 13: “Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? 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.”
Condemning other believers over secondary preferences destroys the “peace” and “joy” that should mark God’s kingdom (Romans 14:17). Christians are all servants of the same Master and will give account to Him alone (Romans 14:4).
Paul calls for maturity, understanding, and walking in love on disputable matters (Romans 14:1, 15). Differences of opinion must not overwhelm unity in Christ.
5. Love and edification should guide decisions
According to Romans 14:19, the two key principles for dealing with issues of conscience are to “pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” Love for others and concern for their spiritual good should shape our actions.
In verse 15 Paul gives this helpful guidance: “If your brother is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died.” Will my choices help or harm this fellow believer?
In matters not expressly commanded in Scripture, Paul teaches there is freedom – but it should be tempered by wisdom. The ultimate question is: “Will this build others up or divide the church?”
Of course, with absolutes like moral purity, truth, and sound doctrine there can be no compromise. But on many secondary preferences, love can guide discretion and even sacrifice.
6. Focus on pleasing the Lord from the heart
Paul’s antidote for both legalistic judgment and libertine license is focusing on pleasing the Lord from the heart. He writes in Romans 14:6-9:
The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
Rather than focus on opinions, believers should aim above all to honor Christ – whether eating or abstaining, observing special days or not. True righteousness is being conscious of His lordship through submitted, thankful living. This frames all issues of conscience.
A similar emphasis on devotion to the Lord first permeates Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 8-10 on eating food sacrificed to idols. He constantly directs believers back to honoring and pleasing Christ rather than asserting their “rights.”
The kingdom is expressed through single-minded love for Jesus from a pure conscience, not outward ritual. As Jesus taught, the first command is loving God with all one’s heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). This frames how believers then treat others.
7. Righteousness comes through faith alone
One of Paul’s recurring themes, especially in Romans, is that a right standing with God can only come through faith in Christ – not law-keeping or religious works. True righteousness is a gift received by believing, not behaving.
In Romans 3:21-24 Paul asserts: “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law…the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” Trying to earn righteousness through works only leads to futility and failure.
Believers are counted righteous in God’s sight solely by trusting in the atoning work of Christ. His perfect life and sacrifice are credited to their account. As Paul states in Romans 4:5, “To the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.”
In Romans 14:17, “righteousness” comes first as the defining trait of God’s kingdom and basis for unity. This reminds readers that righteous standing before God has been provided as a gift through faith in Jesus – not through dietary laws!
Trying to follow rules to become righteous only leads to pride, judging others, and division. But thankfully, righteousness has already been given freely to those who believe.
8. The kingdom expresses itself through the Spirit
In Romans 14:17, the trio of “righteousness, peace and joy” are said to be “in the Holy Spirit.” The Spirit applies what Christ accomplished and transforms believers internally to reflect God’s kingdom.
Paul emphasizes here that the way of the kingdom is walking by the Spirit, not demanding laws. As he states in Romans 8:4-6, believers are to set their minds on the Spirit, not the flesh. When led by the Spirit, Christians will desire to please God and love others.
The Spirit grows righteousness, peace, and joy as His fruit in believers’ lives (Galatians 5:22-23). He empowers them to imitate Jesus, take up their crosses, and live by faith and love. Law cannot produce this transformation, only the Spirit can from the inside out.
So experiencing the kingdom is not a matter of external performance but openness and obedience to the Spirit. He enables progress in righteousness, peacemaking in relationships, and joy even in trials – as we walk by faith not sight.
9. Righteousness must lead to peace and joy with others
The trio of righteousness, peace, and joy in Romans 14:17 provides a model for what spiritual maturity looks like. Righteousness received from Christ should lead to pursuing peace and promoting joy with others.
Peace results when believers unite around the cross despite their differences on secondary issues. As Paul urges in Romans 14:19, “So let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” Where righteousness in Christ is valued first, peace can follow.
Likewise, true joy is found together in Christ. The kingdom is marked by rejoicing in Him together, not quarreling over opinions. Genuine joy is cultivated through shared vision, mutual care, overlooking offenses, and encouragement in the Lord.
Romans 15:7-13 provides a beautiful picture of righteousness leading to joyful unity. Paul urges: “Welcome one another…that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Righteousness enables unified worship.
So righteousness, peace, and joy are firmly linked. Righteousness provides the foundation for joyful peace in relationships. Where righteousness in Christ binds believers close, peace and joy can thrive.
10. Key principles
Here are some key principles that summarize what Romans 14:17 teaches about God’s kingdom in contrast to external practices like eating and drinking:
- The kingdom is spiritual not physical – based on faith and inner renewal, not ritual practices.
- Outward religious acts have value but inner righteousness is what truly matters before God.
- Disputable matters must not divide believers – unity in Christ takes priority.
- Judging others over opinions destroys fellowship and love which are central to the kingdom.
- In secondary issues, decisions should be guided by what promotes peace and edifies others.
- Believers should focus on honoring the Lord from the heart in all things.
- Righteousness is a gift of grace received by faith alone – not through keeping laws.
- The fruit of the Spirit manifests the realities of the kingdom in believers’ lives.
- Righteousness, peace, and joy should characterize relationships between believers.
In summary, Romans 14:17 provides kingdom perspective on issues that frequently divide Christians. Outward forms alone don’t make one right with God or give genuine life. The way of the kingdom is pursuing righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit – loving others, rejoicing in Christ, and serving Him wholeheartedly. This brings true transformation that rituals and rules cannot.