In Romans 14, the apostle Paul talks about esteeming one day above another and observing the day to the Lord.

Rom 14:5  One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
Rom 14:6  He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

Some people think Paul is talking about keeping the Holy Days or the Sabbath, and thus Christians are free to keep or ignore them, thus justifying Sunday keeping in preference to obeying the fourth commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy.  Is this the real meaning of the passage?  Let’s take a closer look.

But first some background information.

The apostle Paul kept the Sabbath and the Holy Days

Sabbath-keeping was Paul’s regular custom, not just something he did to be able to preach to Jews.

Act 17:2  Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

Act 18:4  And he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

Paul said the commandments are holy, just, and good.  This includes the fourth commandment, keeping the Sabbath.

Rom 7:12  Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

He also delighted in the law.

Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

So this is additional evidence that Paul kept the Sabbath.

Paul kept the New Testament Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

1Co 11:23  For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
1Co 11:24  and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
1Co 11:25  In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

1Co 5:7  Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
1Co 5:8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Scripture strongly indicates that the early church observed the Feast of Pentecost.  The disciples were gathered together on the Feast of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire.  Paul writes about Pentecost as if he kept it.

Act 2:1  When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Act 20:16  For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.

1Co 16:8  But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.

We have seen that the apostle Paul kept the Sabbath and the Holy Days.

The context is not Sabbath keeping

The context of Romans 14 is about not judging one another and not creating stumbling blocks regarding eating and drinking.  It should be noted that the word “Sabbath” does not appear in Romans 14, nor indeed anywhere in the book.

Background of the church at Rome

The church at Rome was composed of both gentile and Jewish believers.

Rom 1:13  Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.

Rom 2:17  Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God,

The Talmud records that many Jews of that time fasted on Mondays and Thursdays.  In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, the Pharisee boasts, “I fast twice a week”, Luke 18:12.  No doubt, some of those in the church at Rome with a Jewish background continued this practice. 

There were also vegetarians. 

Rom 14:2  For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

For some, this was no doubt because they did not want to risk eating meat which had been offered to idols.

What does this passage mean?

Having covered the background information we are now in a position to consider what this passage means.

It is apparent from the context that Paul isn’t discussing the Sabbath.  Furthermore, he is not going to contradict his teaching on Sabbath and Holy Day keeping by now saying they are optional. Rather, he is discussing particular days which various members liked to fast and vegetarianism.  With this in mind the meaning of this passage becomes obvious.

Rom 14:5  One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

Some want to fast on a particular day of the week, others do not.  Do it because you are convinced in your own mind.

Rom 14:6  He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

He who observes a particular day of the week for fasting observes it to the Lord; and he who chooses not to fast, does not fast to the Lord.  Both give thanks to God.

And regarding vegetarianism, Paul addresses this in the previous verses.

Rom 14:2  For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
Rom 14:3  Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

Vegetarians and non-vegetarians should not despise or judge one another.

Conclusion

Romans 14:5-6 has nothing to do with Sabbath or Holy Day keeping, but with how those who fast or don’t fast on particular days and those who are vegetarian or not, should treat each other.