Matthew Poole and continuators on Romans 14:14

14. I know, and am perswaded by the Lord Jesus , that there is nothing unclean of it self : but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean .

Here he Obviates an Objection. Some might say, they were throughly perswaded, That no Meat was unclean in its self; and therefore they might, and would use their Liberty, in eating any thing that was before them. To this the Apostle answers, First by way of Concession, he grants what they say is True, and tells them, That for his own part he knew it full well, and was himself assured of it; and that he had this Assurance from the Lord Iesus, i. e. That he was Instructed therein by his Word and Spirit.

i. e. That no Meat was unclean in it self; it was not so in its own Nature, vid. Gen. 1.31. and 9.3. Some Creatures might be unwholsome, but none were in themselves unclean: To the Iews they were not unclean by Nature, but by a positive Law, which Law was now antiquated and out of doors, vid. Col. 2.16, 17. 1 Tim. 4.3, 4.

This he adds by way of Restriction, That though no Meat was unclean in its self, yet it was so to him that thought it to be unclean. If a Man shall Believe, that there is yet a difference in Meats, that some are still unclean; and that by Vertue of God's Prohibition, it would be Evil in him to eat such Meats, because he therein Acts against his Conscience, and doth that which he himself thinks to be a Sin, vid. ver. 23.

Marginal references: Tit. 1.15.; Gr. common.; 1 Cor. 8.7, 10.