But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.

But fortunately God doesn’t grade us on our diet. We’re neither commended when we clean our plate nor reprimanded when we just can’t stomach it. But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a fellow believer still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track.

But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.

It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do.

But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

But food will not bring us closer to God. Refusing to eat does not make us less pleasing to God, and eating does not make us better in God’s sight.

But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.

Now food will not commend us to God nor bring us close to Him; we are no worse off if we do not eat, nor are we better if we do eat.

Yes, we know that what you eat will not bring you closer to God. You are no better if you don’t eat certain foods and no better if you do.