Romans 14:13 - The Bible Is An Onion

Romans 14:13

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

Have you ever noticed that the Bible is a little like an onion? You peel back one layer, you find another underneath… and then another. What seems simple at first, more often than not, opens up in a richer and more meaningful way.

In Romans 14:13, Paul writes, “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” “Stumbling block” comes from the Greek word skandalon, and it sounds like just some obstacle in the way. Peel back that layer, though, and you find something much more serious.

Skandalon originally referred to the trigger of a trap—the part that causes it to snap shut. So it isn’t just about someone tripping as they walk—it’s about something that can actually trap or harm another person spiritually. 

And when you start to see that, it naturally connects with what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 8:9: “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” Paul is talking about Christian freedom—things that may be permitted—but he’s urging us to think beyond ourselves.

That’s where another layer comes in.

We all value the freedom we have in Christ (Galatians 5:1), and we should. But our freedom is meant to be guided by love. A little further, in 1 Corinthians 8:11, on, Paul says, “So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.” To me, that’s a sobering thought. My choices don’t just affect me—they can affect someone Christ loves deeply.

When you look at skandalon through that lens, Paul’s message becomes very personal. He’s not just saying, “Be careful,” He’s saying, “Be mindful of how your life touches others.” So it isn’t just, “Is this okay for me?” I also need to ask, “Could this become a trap for someone else?”

In Romans 15:1–2, we’re reminded that those who are strong ought to bear with the weaknesses of others and seek to build them up. In 1 Corinthians 12:12–26, Paul describes the church as a body—connected, interdependent, and deeply affected by each part. What one person does matters to everyone else.

Jesus spoke in strong terms about this idea in Matthew 18:6. He warned about causing “...one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble…” That’s no casual warning—it shows how seriously God takes how we influence one another.

And that brings us back to where we started. The Bible really is like an onion. You peel back one layer—like the word skandalon—and suddenly you see more than you expected. What looked like a simple instruction becomes a call to deeper love, greater awareness, and more thoughtful living.

So next time you’re reading, don’t be afraid to linger a little. Peel back a layer or two. You just might discover something that not only helps you understand the text better—but also shapes the way you live it out every day.