Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 14:13

"Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock in his brother`s way, or an occasion of falling." — Romans 14:13 (ASV)

Let us not therefore judge, etc. Since we are to give account of ourselves at the same tribunal, and since we must be there on the same level, let us not suppose that we have a right here to sit in judgment on our fellow-Christians.

But judge this rather. If disposed to judge, let us be employed in a better kind of judging; let us come to a determination not to injure the cause of Christ.

This is an instance of the apt turn the apostle would give to a discussion. Some people have an irresistible propensity to sit in judgment and pronounce opinions. Let them make good use of that tendency.

It will be well to exercise it on that which can do no injury and which may prove beneficial. Instead of forming a judgment about others, let a person form a determination about their own conduct.

That no man, etc. A stumbling block literally means anything laid in a person's path over which they may fall. In the Scriptures, however, the word is used commonly in a figurative sense to denote anything that will cause them to sin, as sin is often represented by falling. (See Barnes on Matthew 5:29).

And the passage means that we should resolve to act so as not by any means to be the occasion of leading our brothers into sin, either by our example or by a severe and harsh judgment, provoking them to anger, or exciting jealousies, envyings, and suspicions.

No better rule than this could be given to promote peace. If every Christian, instead of judging his brothers severely, would resolve that he would so live as to promote peace and so as not to lead others into sin, it would do more, perhaps, than anything else to advance the harmony and purity of the church of Christ.