1cor10

In chapter 10 we find a discussion of the idolatry that was exemplified in history of Israel! This type of thing was not in line with the fellowship of the Lord's Supper! It was necessary to make sure that things were not done that would hurt or hinder the weaker believers. There is also controversy over this chapter as to whether it truly follows properly after chapter nine--but in the oldest manuscripts the word for is used to begin verse one which would cause one to believe that it is a continuation of the previous chapter.

Paul begins in verses one and two by referring to Israel when she was in bondage and brought out by God! Paul reminds them that their fathers were highly favored. They were God's elect. They were a peculiar people yet when they turned from God--He rejected them. When they turned back to Him--He protected them. He put them under His arm of graciousness. He watched over them during the day and gave them light by night and brought them through the great sea because of their favor with Him! Paul is using Israel as an example--in chapter nine he used himself--now he uses Israel. Moses was the go-between. Israel was brought under the order of Mosaic rules. When a Believer receives water baptism they are said to have been baptized into Christ and therefore fall under the rules of the Gospel of Christ. They are to be obedient to the commandments of Christ just as the Israelites were obedient to the precepts of Moses given to him by God. Verse three says and all ate the same spiritual food--manna--for us this manna would be the Gospel of Christ. The Spiritual blessings of Christ are Spiritual food for us. Verse four talks about the rock that provided Spiritual water for the people, the Rock of Eternity that followed the Israelites, according to Paul is manifest in Christ. Paul says many still labored in themselves and were left behind. Many can profess to be something and not truly live that life and miss out on the blessings of God and be overthrown by the devil. Paul warns the Corinthians to not be this way!

In verse six Paul tells us that we have been given examples as warnings of what we should not do. These warnings are for our benefit so we are not destroyed. If we commit the sins of the world we can expect to suffer the consequences. We are told this so we will crave after the things of God instead of the lusts of the world. Paul goes on in the next verse to give example of when the Israelites made a golden calf and worshipped it. The warning is given so we will not do the same things. We should not partake of feasts that consist of idol worship. (Exodus 32) In verse eight Paul speaks of an incident found in Numbers 25:1-9. In this particular incident the people worshipped Baal of Peor and cavorted in sexual immorality with the Moabite women. Paul is warning us that we should not fall to this same type of immorality lest we be destroyed also. Here in verse nine Paul directs his reference towards the Israelites complaints about food and testing the Lord to see how much He would take. (Numbers 21:5-6) To tempt God is something that we should never do! Numbers 16:41-50 is referenced in verse 10. This particular time is when the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron. Paul associates it with the grumbling and complaining against him by many of the Corinthians.

All of these things Paul says in verse 11 were written as examples and instruction as to how the Corinthians should live and act. This is also for us! So often in today's society we can forget or overlook things we know we should not! And it is only because of the constant pressures put on us such as: “everyone does it!” “They're all doing it!” “The church down the street does it!” “Pastor Smith from the Rolling Mountain church does it!” Paul cautions that we are to not just do something because someone else is doing it. That does not always make it right in God's eyes! We need to be careful to not make the same errors as others! Paul goes on in verse 12 to give warning pertaining to thinking that we cannot fall because we have Christ! We are not eternally secure! We are secure pertaining to eternal life if we endure and keep Christ within us! The next verse tells us to be alert and cautious not letting temptation over come us. We also have the promise that no matter what temptation comes upon us God will always have a way out for us. We will have the strength to bear the temptation. God will never allow anything to come upon us that we cannot handle or overcome through Him! Father, continue to minister to me, through me, and help me to understand all that Your Word has for me and for the people! Give me strength and give me boldness to fend off any form of idolatry. Help me to discern any type of idol worship or false teaching!

Paul begins in verse 14 with a straight forward statement saying, “My beloved--flee from idolatry!” Anything that takes our heart from God is idolatry! Paul's message spoken of in this verse (15) is not directed to people without knowledge. It is addressed to those with knowledge to witness the truth of what is said. Verse 16 addresses where we go to partake of food and fellowship. Paul says we must be aware or cautious of where we go to partake of food and fellowship. Eating at a feast that has sacrificed food can be the same as partaking of the sacrifice to the idol being worshipped. There were many types of feasts in Corinth and some of them were being associated with the sharing of Christ's blood and body. When we partake of the body and blood of Christ we take on Christ and so if we partake of the feast of an idol sacrifice we can also take on the nature of that sacrifice. In other words we make ourselves one with the sacrifice or idol!

In verse 17 Paul speaks of one bread, which means one Christ! The body of Christ is the one bread and since we all partake of that one Body we are all one with that Body. Our partaking as one makes us just exactly that--ONE! Or at least it should make us one with Christ. Paul says in verse 18 for those who eat the sacrifices of the altar not only have a fellowship with one another but they also become one with the sacrifice. If the sacrifice we eat is not Christ, than we are one with the idol instead of one with Christ. If we fellowship with sinners we become like them. Paul says in verses 19 and 20, am I saying that idols are divine or am I saying that which the heathens sacrifice is anything but divine? I say their sacrifices are unto the devil. The heathens have many gods and they hold sacrifices to those gods and if we fellowship with them we also become one with them. I say their sacrifices are unto the devil. The heathens have many gods and they hold sacrifices to those gods and if we fellowship with them we also become one with them.

In verses 21 to 24 Paul reiterates making it very clear that you cannot have both! You cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and the cup of the devil! You must make a choice between the two. It must be one or the other. You cannot partake or fellowship with them both at the same time. We as believers must give God our total allegiance. We cannot continue to unite with evil and be of God! God is a jealous God and He abhors all forms of idolatry. If we fellowship with evil/demons this provokes God to jealousy. So as believers we must strive to flee from all forms of idolatry so as to not provoke God! All things good to eat may not always be proper to eat or edifying to another causing a weaker mind to stumble. Even though they may not harm physically or mentally the person eating if it causes offense because of idolatrous images it would not be appropriate for another believer to do so and confuse the weaker believer. What Paul I believe is implying to all of us is that we should not tempt even ourselves with anything idolatrous. Even though we may have strength within to not fall prey to the idolatry others may not have that same strength. Do all things unto Christ! If it edifies Christ than it will edify the body! All that we do we should do unto others not concerning self with benefit to us. Paul is very adamant on this topic of not seeking self-gratification especially if in doing so we bring distress or confusion to another. All that we do should be done as unto the entire creation--not just self or other believers. Non-believers also watch and listen to our every movement and word so we must be cautious at all times to represent Christ and not man!

Paul gives one answer here in verses 25 to 27 to the question saying that if you do not know where something came from or what it had been used for you make no error or do no sin. In Paul's day it was quite common to find the meat from animals sacrificed in pagan rituals being sold in the markets. Not all of the meat was used in the sacrifice and so as to not waste it, much of it was given to the poor or to the markets for sale. All things belong to God and if we do not ask where it was from our conscience will not bother us. If we go about our daily life doing all things as unto God and keeping ourselves away from all things that outwardly unquestionably are not of God we will grow in Him and not cause others to stumble.

(28) Here Paul says if you know that it is idolatrous or someone has told you that it is then resist it so as to not cause confusion to anyone. While some actions may not be wrong according to law we must look at the whole picture. Some things may have the wrong impression on another causing them to stumble. We must be sure our example set is one that lifts up Christ and strengthens one another not tears down. (29) It is very important especially for a believer to be cautious as to the impression they give to others. If others begin to speak ill of us than we begin to lose our testimony for God. If we blatantly do something that we know is wrong in the eyes of God we offend not just the other person but God as well. It is not that another has control or judgment over our thoughts or conscience but it is our concern with what the other will think of our actions.

If by grace or by thanksgiving to God, not to something else we are partakers of that which is set before us we are showing God that it is HIM we worship or partake with not the idol! In other words even that which was once used by pagan worship can be blessed or purified by the blood of Christ through our giving thanks unto the ONE and ONLY GOD--God the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And next in verse 31 we read that to bring closure to the topic at hand Paul gives a universal ruling relevant to all things not just food. He says, “Whatsoever ye do--this means in anything--all things--making no difference if it is secular or religious do all things as unto God. If we keep the glory of God first and foremost in our life it will flow from us and become a vital part of the life of others. This means as verse 32 says, our life needs to be the same in and out of Church so to speak! We must be aware of our actions so we do not cause ANYONE to stumble. It makes no difference what nationality they are or their religious affiliation. We need to make sure that we do nothing that could cause ANYONE to stumble!

Paul concludes this chapter by saying that even he as it is right with God pleases all men. In other words all that Paul does he does unto God and for the edification of the body of Christ. He does not though do anything that would not be of God! It seems the conclusion to this chapter is actually at the beginning of chapter 11. The first verse of chapter, “Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ.” Seems out of place and possibly should close chapter 10. This verse though will be addressed with chapter 11 even though it seems it belongs at the end of 10.

Father, thank You for Your love and for Your continued grace. Give us today all that we need to walk according to Your desires! So often we say we can't walk the way You desire, but Father the truth is that we don't want to give up our old life completely and become imitators of Christ! Father convict us of our need to become more like Christ in Jesus name, Amen!

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Living Vine Ministries
Pastor Thomas Miles

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