| Geneva Study Bible {17} For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (17) A general reason, and the foundation of the entire argument: the kingdom of heaven consists not in these outward things, but in the study of righteousness, and peace, and comfort of the Holy Spirit. People's New Testament 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink. Christ's dominion; the church visibly; personally, his sway over your soul. This does not depend on meat and drink. It rises higher than food questions. Personally, its essence is not in external things. It consists of: Righteousness. Justification; the forgiveness of sins. Peace. Reconciliation to God, and peace of soul as the result. And joy in the Holy Ghost. The rejoicing of those who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Ro 8:1,4). Seek these rather than to eat and drink what you will. Wesley's Notes 14:17 For the kingdom of God - That is, true religion, does not consist in external observances. But in righteousness - The image of God stamped on the heart; the love of God and man, accompanied with the peace that passeth all understanding, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Scofield Reference Notes Margin kingdom See, Gal 4:9-11 Col 2:20-23. See Scofield Note: "Mt 6:33". Margin righteousness See Scofield Note: "Rom 10:10". Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 17. For the kingdom of God-or, as we should say, Religion; that is, the proper business and blessedness for which Christians are formed into a community of renewed men in thorough subjection to God (compare 1Co 4:20). is not meat and drink-"eating and drinking" but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost-a beautiful and comprehensive division of living Christianity. The first-"righteousness"-has respect to God, denoting here "rectitude," in its widest sense (as in Mt 6:33); the second-"peace"-has respect to our neighbors, denoting "concord" among brethren (as is plain from Ro 14:19; compare Eph 4:3; Col 3:14, 15); the third-"joy in the Holy Ghost"-has respect to ourselves. This phrase, "joy in the Holy Ghost," represents Christians as so thinking and feeling under the workings of the Holy Ghost, that their joy may be viewed rather as that of the blessed Agent who inspires it than their own (compare 1Th 1:6). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 14:14-18 Christ deals gently with those who have true grace, though they are weak in it. Consider the design of Christ's death: also that drawing a soul to sin, threatens the destruction of that soul. Did Christ deny himself for our brethren, so as to die for them, and shall not we deny ourselves for them, so as to keep from any indulgence? We cannot hinder ungoverned tongues from speaking evil; but we must not give them any occasion. We must deny ourselves in many cases what we may lawfully do, when our doing it may hurt our good name. Our good often comes to be evil spoken of, because we use lawful things in an uncharitable and selfish manner. As we value the reputation of the good we profess and practise, let us seek that it may not be evil-spoken of. Righteousness, peace, and joy, are words that mean a great deal. As to God, our great concern is to appear before him justified by Christ's death, sanctified by the Spirit of his grace; for the righteous Lord loveth righteousness. As to our brethren, it is to live in peace, and love, and charity with them; following peace with all men. As to ourselves, it is joy in the Holy Ghost; that spiritual joy wrought by the blessed Spirit in the hearts of believers, which respects God as their reconciled Father, and heaven as their expected home. Regard to Christ in doing our duties, alone can make them acceptable. Those are most pleasing to God that are best pleased with him; and they abound most in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. They are approved by wise and good men; and the opinion of others is not to be regarded. | 
