1 Coríntios 10
John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Coríntios 10
MacArthur has an interesting comment - Demons can exhibit considerable power. Many cultic and pagan religious claims are faked and exaggerated; but many are true. They are evil but true. Much that goes under the name of astrology, for instance, is simply exploitation of the gullible. But many predictions come true through the work of demonic forces. Demons are not unlimited in power, but they have power to perform enough wonders and to make enough predictions come true to keep superstitious worshipers deceived and loyal (cf. 2 Thess 2:9–11). Satan is the prince of this world system and he rules this world with the aid of his demons. To participate in the corrupt things of this world, especially in idolatrous acts of worship, is to participate with Satan and his demons. It is to become sharers in demons. Moses wrote of Jeshurun, an affectionate name for Israel, as having “sacrificed to demons who were not God” (Deut. 32:17). The ones they worshiped were not divine but they were real. The psalmist, also speaking of Israel, tells of her following pagan practices to the extent even of sacrificing “their sons and their daughters to the demons” (Ps. 106:37). Christians are not immune from the influence of demons. When we willingly ignore the Lord’s way and flirt with the things of Satan by setting up idols of any kind, we open ourselves up to demonic influence. In rebuking Ananias, Peter said, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?” (Acts 5:3). Richards - First-century banquets like the one pictured above were commonly dedicated to a pagan god or goddess, and all were expected to offer a libation as part of the festivities. Paul urged Christians not to attend. Demonic forces lay behind paganism. One who participates in Christ can hardly join in the worship of demons (1 Cor 10:14–27). (365 Day Devotional) Note: A libation is a ritual pouring of a liquid, or grains such as rice, as an offering to a deity or spirit, or in memory of the dead. It was common in many religions of antiquity and continues to be offered in cultures today. Moses warns about the danger of dining with demons in Numbers 25:1-3 writing "While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab.(NET Version = When Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab) 2 For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods (IDOLS). 3 So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor (IDOL), and the LORD was angry against Israel." Peter Grainger - The fact that the idols worshiped in the temples in Corinth are not real gods at all does not mean that worshiping them is harmless. Demons (maligned spiritual entities) use them as a front to gain a foothold in the lives of idol-worshipers, even though these people may not be aware of their activity or existence. Demons (1140) daimonion from daímon = demon) most often describes demons or evil spirits who have supernatural powers and are neither human nor divine (Mt 7:22). Acts 17:18 refers specifically to to heathen gods. In the context of a Jewish use it more often refers to a demon, evil spirit, devil, or one who is subject to Satan. Daimonion was used in pagan Greek writings to refer to an inferior race of divine beings, lower than the Greek gods, but more powerful than men. Vine - not a diminutive of daimon, but the neuter of the adjective daimonios, pertaining to a demon, is also mistranslated "devil," "devils." In Acts 17:18 , it denotes an inferior pagan deity. "Demons" are the spiritual agents acting in all idolatry. The idol itself is nothing, but every idol has a "demon" associated with it who induces idolatry, with its worship and sacrifices, 1Corinthians 10:20,21 ; Revelation 9:20 ; cp. Deuteronomy 32:17 ; Isaiah 13:21 ; 34:14 ; 65:3,11 . They disseminate errors among men, and seek to seduce believers, 1Ti 4:1 . As seducing spirits they deceive men into the supposition that through mediums (those who have "familiar spirits," Leviticus 20:6,27 , e.g.) they can converse with deceased human beings. Hence the destructive deception of spiritism, forbidden in Scripture, Leviticus 19:31 ; Deuteronomy 18:11 ; Isaiah 8:19 . "Demons" tremble before God, James 2:19 ; they recognized Christ as Lord and as their future Judge, Matthew 8:29 ; Luke 4:41 . Christ cast them out of human beings by His own power. His disciples did so in His name, and by exercising faith, e.g., Matthew 17:20. Acting under Satan (cp. Revelation 16:13,14 ), "demons" are permitted to afflict with bodily disease, Luke 13:16 . Being unclean they tempt human beings with unclean thoughts, Matthew 10:1 ; Mark 5:2 ; 7:25 ; Luke 8:27-29 ; Revelation 16:13 ; 18:2 , e.g. They differ in degrees of wickedness, Matthew 12:45 . They will instigate the rulers of the nations at the end of this age to make war against God and His Christ, Revelation 16:14 . (Demon, Demoniac - Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words) Related Resources: Demon - Baker's Evangelical Demon - Multiple Questions about Angels and Demons Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Demons CARM Theological Dictionary Demon Easton's Bible Dictionary Demon Holman Bible Dictionary Possession, Demon Devil, Satan, Evil, Demonic Demon Possession Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible Demon Hastings' Dictionary of the NT Demon, Demoniacal Possession, Demoniacs Demon Morrish Bible Dictionary Devil, the See Satanand Demon Demon Smith Bible Dictionary Demons Demon Vines' Expository Dictionary Demon, Demoniac Goat-Demons International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Communion with Demons; Devils Demon; Demoniac; Demonology Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Demon McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia Demon; The Nuttall Encyclopedia Demon Demon - Wikipedia NAVE'S TOPIC DEMONS Worship of Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 32:17; 2 Chronicles 11:15; Psalm 106:37; Matthew 4:9; Luke 4:7; 1 Corinthians 10:20,21; 1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 13:4 Worship of, forbidden Leviticus 17:7; Zechariah 13:2; Revelation 9:20 Possession by, instances of Saul 1 Samuel 16:14-23; 18:10,11; 19:9,10 Two men of the Gergesenes (Gadarenes, Gerasenes) Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:2-20 The deaf man Matthew 9:32,33 The deaf and blind man Matthew 12:22; Luke 11:14 The daughter of the Syrophoenician woman Matthew 15:22-29; Mark 7:25-30 The epileptic boy Matthew 17:14-18; Mark 9:17-27; Luke 9:37-42 The man in the synagogue Mark 1:23-26; Luke 4:33-35 Mary Magdalene Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2,3 Cast out by Jesus Matthew 4:24; 8:16; Mark 3:22; Luke 4:41 Power over, given the disciples Matthew 10:1; Mark 6:7; 16:17 Cast out By the disciples Mark 9:38; Luke 10:17 By Paul Acts 16:16-18; 19:12 Disciples could not expel Mark 9:18,28,29 Sceva's sons exorcise Acts 19:13-16 Parable of the man repossessed by unclean spirits Matthew 12:43-45 Jesus falsely accused of being possessed of Mark 3:22-30; John 7:20; 8:48; 10:20 Testify to the divinity of Jesus Matthew 8:29; Mark 1:23,24; 3:11; 5:7; Luke 8:28; Acts 19:15 Sent to foment trouble between Abimelech and the Shechemites Judges 9:23 Messages given false prophets by 1 Kings 22:21-23 To be judged at the general judgment Matthew 8:29; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6 Punishment of Matthew 8:29; 25:41; Luke 8:28; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; Revelation 12:7-9 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Amplified You cannot drink the Lord’s cup and the demons’ cup. You cannot partake of the Lord’s table and the demons’ table. Zodhiates - You absolutely cannot be drinking the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You absolutely cannot be partaking of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. NET 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the table of the Lord and the table of demons. NLT 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord's Table and at the table of demons, too. ESV 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. NIV 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. GNT 1 Corinthians 10:21 οὐ δύνασθε ποτήριον κυρίου πίνειν καὶ ποτήριον δαιμονίων, οὐ δύνασθε τραπέζης κυρίου μετέχειν καὶ τραπέζης δαιμονίων. KJV 1 Corinthians 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. YLT 1 Corinthians 10:21 Ye are not able the cup of the Lord to drink, and the cup of demons; ye are not able of the table of the Lord to partake, and of the table of demons; ASV 1 Corinthians 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. CSB 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord's table and the table of demons. MIT 1 Corinthians 10:21 You are not able to drink both the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share the table of the Lord and the table of demons. NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. NRS 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. NAB 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons. NJB 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons as well; you cannot have a share at the Lord's table and the demons' table as well. GWN 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the Lord's cup and the cup of demons. You cannot participate at the table of the Lord and at the table of demons. BBE 1 Corinthians 10:21 It is not possible for you, at the same time, to take the cup of the Lord and the cup of evil spirits; you may not take part in the table of the Lord and the table of evil spirits. cannot drink: 1Co 10:16 8:10 De 32:37,38 1Ki 18:21 Mt 6:24 2Co 6:15-17 1 Corinthians 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries YOU CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS Zodhiates - There are substances that naturally do not mix. Oil, for instance, does not blend with water. As there are things that do not mix physically, so there are spiritual things that, by the nature of their being, cannot be mixed. Among these are idolatry and Christianity....How can two antithetical spiritual forces sit in fellowship together? You (absolutely) cannot (present tense - continually) drink the cup of the Lord (kurios) and the cup of demons - Note that Paul is not describing a believer who is simply attending an idol feast, but one who is making a choice to actively participate. The tragedy is he also continues to actively participate in the Lord's Supper! In short Paul is addressing one who has made it a practice to go to both the communion service and the table of demons. The cup of the Lord is "the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ" (1 Cor 10:16). As noted above the pagans would often pour out a libation or "drink offering" to their so-called gods, in effect doing this to the demons. The "spiritual mathematics" is crystal clear - there is room for only one Lord on the altar of our heart. As Jesus made clear in Mt 6:24+ "(Absolutely) No one can (dunamai in present tense - continually) serve (douleuo) two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You (absolutely) cannot serve (douleuo) God and wealth ("Mammon" = Syrian "god" of riches!). Since Paul makes this statement, it is possible (likely) that some of the believers in Corinth were mixing fellowship with God and fellowship with demons, but they absolutely do not mix and the believer must flee idolatry. Zodhiates - Paul is referring to the born-again Christian who knows what he is doing when he drinks the cup that represents Christ's blood and when he eats the bread that represents the body of Christ on the cross. Such a born-again believer, partaking of the communion service, cannot also partake on a consistent, regular basis, of the cup of demons. No one can worship both the true God and demons. Demons are rebellious, spiritual beings who are waiting for their day of judgment. You (absolutely) cannot (present tense - continually) partake (metecho) of the table of the Lord (kurios) and the table of demons (daimonion) - Similarly the table of the Lord would presumably be analogous to "the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ." Paul had just used this same verb partake above when he wrote "Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake (metecho) of the one bread." Zodhiates - The difference between the cup and the table is that the cup represents the actual drinking and eating of the elements, whereas the table represents partaking in the whole celebration. The communion service, for instance, would include singing and worship of the Lord Jesus and the expression of His love. Idol feasts were gluttonous, drunken, sexual orgies which are repugnant to a child of God. Paul wants us to understand that when we participate in the communion service, we participate in all that it stands for, including our oneness with other participants. On the other hand, when we participate in the feast of idolatry, we make ourselves one with idolaters and their evils. This is impossible for a Christian to do consciously. 1 Corinthians 10:22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we? Amplified Shall we thus provoke the Lord to jealousy and anger and indignation? Are we stronger than He [that we should defy Him]? Zodhiates - Or shall we continue to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we inherently stronger than He is? NET 1 Corinthians 10:22 Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than he is? NLT 1 Corinthians 10:22 What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord's jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is? ESV 1 Corinthians 10:22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? NIV 1 Corinthians 10:22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he? GNT 1 Corinthians 10:22 ἢ παραζηλοῦμεν τὸν κύριον; μὴ ἰσχυρότεροι αὐτοῦ ἐσμεν; KJV 1 Corinthians 10:22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? YLT 1 Corinthians 10:22 do we arouse the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He? ASV 1 Corinthians 10:22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? CSB 1 Corinthians 10:22 Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? MIT 1 Corinthians 10:22 Or would we cause the Lord to be jealous? We are not stronger than he, are we? NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? NRS 1 Corinthians 10:22 Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? NAB 1 Corinthians 10:22 Or are we provoking the Lord to jealous anger? Are we stronger than he? NJB 1 Corinthians 10:22 Do we really want to arouse the Lord's jealousy; are we stronger than he is? GWN 1 Corinthians 10:22 Are we trying to make the Lord jealous? Are we stronger than he is? BBE 1 Corinthians 10:22 Or may we be the cause of envy to the Lord? are we stronger than he? we provoke: Ex 20:5 Ex 34:14 De 4:24 Dt 6:15 Dt 32:16,21 Jos 24:19 Ps 78:58 Zep 1:18 are: Job 9:4 40:9-14 Eze 22:14 Heb 10:31 1 Corinthians 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: (Note some of the passages are warnings but others indicate Israel had made Yahweh jealous by their going "a-whoring" with the pagan idols!) Exodus 20:5 “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, Exodus 34:14 –for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God– Deuteronomy 4:24 “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 6:15 for the LORD your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 32:16 “They made Him jealous with strange gods; With abominations they provoked Him to anger. Deuteronomy 32:21 ‘They have made Me jealous with what is not God; They have provoked Me to anger with their idols. (ISRAEL WAS NOT STRONGER THAN HE!) So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation, Parazeloo is used in the Septuagint of - Dt. 32:21 = "They have made Me jealous with what is not God; They have provoked Me to anger with their idols." 1 Ki. 14:22 = "Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked Him to jealousy"; Ps. 37:1; Ps. 37:7; Ps. 37:8; Ps. 78:58 = "For they provoked Him with their high places." Joshua 24:19 Then Joshua said to the people, “You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins. Or do we (present tense - continually) provoke the Lord to jealousy? - Paul indicates that is exactly what happens when a believer drinks the cup of demons! MacArthur points out that "The Lord deals strongly with idolatry because nothing is more offensive to Him than idolatry, which is the most detestable sign of unbelief."
1 Coríntios 10
MacArthur adds "The Jews had a popular legend, still known and believed by many in Paul’s day, that the actual rock that Moses struck followed Israel throughout her wilderness travels, providing water wherever they went. I believe the apostle may have been alluding to this legend, saying, “Yes, a rock did follow Israel in the wilderness. But it was not a physical rock that provided merely physical water. It was a spiritual rock, the Messiah (the Hebrew term for Christ) Whom you have long awaited, Who was with our fathers even then." (Bolding added) And the rock (petra) was Christ - Paul explains that the spiritual rock was Christ, which is the Greek word Christos, and is equivalent to the Jewish designation Messiah (messias ). The spiritual rock that followed them in the wilderness was not the physical stones (in Ex 17:6+ and Nu 20:11+). Note that Paul in calling Christ a spiritual rock makes it clear that a literal rock was not following Israel during their 40 years of wandering. Israel even had the presence of Jesus Christ with them in the wilderness! -- David Guzik Brian Bell - Here’s Jesus’ Pre-incarnate presence - a proof text Jesus couldn’t have been only a man, for it speaks of Him being around a few millennium prior! ESV Study Bible - Paul is referring to God providing Israel with bread from heaven (“manna,” Exodus 16) and water from a rock. This rock appears both at the beginning of their wanderings in the desert (Ex. 17:1–7+) and near the end (Num. 20:2–13+). Rabbinic exegesis from after Paul’s time surmised that the rock followed the Israelites throughout their wanderings. This understanding of the rock may have been current in Paul’s time. If so, Paul’s claim that the Rock following them was both spiritual and Christ shows that he did not believe that a physical rock traveled with the Israelites, but that Christ (in spiritual form) was ever-present with them: he was there to supply their need for water, and there to judge those who tested him (1 Cor. 10:9). MacArthur explains "God used a boulder (petra) to provide water for Israel on one occasion. (IN OTHER WORDS IT THIS WAS NOT A ROCK CONTINUALLY ROLLING BEHIND ISRAEL) But the spiritual rock which followed them throughout their journeys was not that small boulder but the great rock of Christ. That supernatural rock protected and sustained His people and would not allow them to perish. Old Testament believers did not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but even during the Exodus they had the sustaining presence of the preexistent Messiah, the preincarnate Christ, caring for and fulfilling the needs of His people. The point of all these affirmations is to recount the privileges of Israel, the assets of her deliverance." (Bolding added) Rock (4073) petra feminine of the masculine noun petros) refers to a massive rock, a massive rock cliff, in essence a large boulder. Vine distinguishes petra as a "mass of rock" from the masculine petros which refers to a detached stone or boulder, including a stone that might be thrown or easily moved. Jesus uses petra to refer to rocky soil in Luke 8:6, 13. NIDNTT writes that in classical Greek "petra means rock, a mass of rock, boulder, and stone as material; it is used as early as Homer for a symbol of firmness (Od. 17, 463), and from the 5th cent. B.C. onwards of hard-heartedness (Aesch., PV 2, 244; Eur., Andromache 537). petros, likewise attested from earliest times, means a (broken off) piece of rock, stone (lithos). A strict distinction of meaning cannot however be maintained: petros can mean, rock, and petra, stone Christ (Anointed One) (5547)(Christos from chrio = anoint with oil - 5x in NT - Lk 4:18+, Ac 4:27+, Ac 10:38+, 2Co 1:21, He 1:9+) describes one who has been anointed with oil, one who has been consecrated. Peter declared "God anointed (chrio) Him with the Holy Spirit and with power." (Acts 10:38+) The majority of the NT uses refer to Jesus. Christos describes one who has been anointed, symbolizing appointment to a task. It is used here as the title "Anointed One" and is the Greek synonym for "Messiah (messias)." Christos is used in the Septuagint describing one anointed with holy oil, especially the priests (Lev. 4:5+, Lev 4:16+). Christos in the Corinthian letters - 1 Co. 1:1; 1 Co. 1:2; 1 Co. 1:3; 1 Co. 1:4; 1 Co. 1:6; 1 Co. 1:7; 1 Co. 1:8; 1 Co. 1:9; 1 Co. 1:10; 1 Co. 1:12; 1 Co. 1:13; 1 Co. 1:17; 1 Co. 1:23; 1 Co. 1:24; 1 Co. 1:30; 1 Co. 2:2; 1 Co. 2:16; 1 Co. 3:1; 1 Co. 3:11; 1 Co. 3:23; 1 Co. 4:1; 1 Co. 4:10; 1 Co. 4:15; 1 Co. 4:17; 1 Co. 5:7; 1 Co. 6:11; 1 Co. 6:15; 1 Co. 7:22; 1 Co. 8:6; 1 Co. 8:11; 1 Co. 8:12; 1 Co. 9:12; 1 Co. 9:21; 1 Co. 10:4; 1 Co. 10:9; 1 Co. 10:16; 1 Co. 11:1; 1 Co. 11:3; 1 Co. 12:12; 1 Co. 12:27; 1 Co. 15:3; 1 Co. 15:12; 1 Co. 15:13; 1 Co. 15:14; 1 Co. 15:15; 1 Co. 15:16; 1 Co. 15:17; 1 Co. 15:18; 1 Co. 15:19; 1 Co. 15:20; 1 Co. 15:22; 1 Co. 15:23; 1 Co. 15:31; 1 Co. 15:57; 1 Co. 16:24; 2 Co. 1:1; 2 Co. 1:2; 2 Co. 1:3; 2 Co. 1:5; 2 Co. 1:19; 2 Co. 1:21; 2 Co. 2:10; 2 Co. 2:12; 2 Co. 2:14; 2 Co. 2:15; 2 Co. 2:17; 2 Co. 3:3; 2 Co. 3:4; 2 Co. 3:14; 2 Co. 4:4; 2 Co. 4:5; 2 Co. 4:6; 2 Co. 5:10; 2 Co. 5:14; 2 Co. 5:16; 2 Co. 5:17; 2 Co. 5:18; 2 Co. 5:19; 2 Co. 5:20; 2 Co. 6:15; 2 Co. 8:9; 2 Co. 8:23; 2 Co. 9:13; 2 Co. 10:1; 2 Co. 10:5; 2 Co. 10:7; 2 Co. 10:14; 2 Co. 11:2; 2 Co. 11:3; 2 Co. 11:10; 2 Co. 11:13; 2 Co. 11:23; 2 Co. 12:2; 2 Co. 12:9; 2 Co. 12:10; 2 Co. 12:19; 2 Co. 13:3; 2 Co. 13:5; 2 Co. 13:13 Related Resources: Christ the Stone Christ our Rock Christ the Rock of Our Salvation Christ the Smitten Rock Christ The Rock of Ages Christ Our Rock of Refuge Christ Our Rock of Refuge - Part 2 Christ a Rock - William Nicholson (1862) CHRIST THE ROCK The metaphor of Christ as a Stone or Rock is intimately woven by the Spirit throughout both the Old and New Testaments and makes for a fascinating and encouraging study Suggestion: This study would make an edifying series in a Sunday School class and would be very enlightening to those who are not that familiar with the Old Testament. Remember to carefully observe the context to arrive at the most accurate interpretation, interrogating each each "base" verse with questions such as... When does this take place? Where does this take place? What are the circumstances surrounding the use of this metaphor? Who is in the "cast of characters"? Who used the name Rock? What attributes do you discover about the Rock or Stone? How should we apply this truth to our life today -- not Can we? - it is God's Word of Truth and it is ALWAYS applicable to our life. The more relevant question is "Will we allow the Spirit to speak the Word of Truth to our innermost being and respond with unhesitating obedience"?)...here are the Scriptures...and as they say when your delicious meal is served, "Enjoy!" Genesis 49:24 > Exodus 17:6 > Exodus 33:21 > Numbers 20:11 > Deut 32:4 > 2Samuel 23:3 > Psalm 18:2 > Psalm 18:31 > Psalm 18:46 > Psalm 19:14 > Psalm 27:5 > Psalm 28:1 > Psalm 31:2-3 > Psalm 40:2 > Psalm 42:9 > Psalm 61:2 >Psalm 62:2 >Psalm 62:6-7 >Psalm 71:3 >Psalm 78:16 > Psalm 78:20 > Psalm 78:35 > Psalm 81:16 > Psalm 89:26 > Psalm 92:15 > Psalm 94:22 >Psalm 95:1 >Psalm 105:41 >Psalm 114:8 >Psalm 118:22 >Psalm 144:1 >Isaiah 8:14 > Isaiah 17:10 > Isaiah 26:4 >Isaiah 28:16 >Isaiah 30:29 >Isaiah 32:2 >Isaiah 33:16 >Isaiah 44:8 >Isaiah 48:21 >Isaiah 51:1 > Da 2:34 > Da 2:35, 44, 45, 46 > Hab 1:12 > Zech 4:7 > Mt 7:24,25> Mt 16:18 >Mt 21:42 >Mk 12:10 >Luke 20:17 > Acts 4:11 >Ro 9:32-33 > Acts 4:11 >1Cor 1:23>1Cor 10:4 >Ephesians 2:20 >1Pe 2:4-5, 6, 7, 8 (Which book of the Bible has the most allusions to Rock? Why might that be the case?) (1) To God Jesus is... Smitten Stone Exodus 17:6+, 1Cor 10:4+, cp John 4:13, 14+ (2) To Israel Messiah is... Stumbling Stone 1 Peter 2:8+, Romans 9:32+ Romans 9:33 +; 1Cor 1:23+ (3) To the Church the Lord Jesus is... Cornerstone 1 Peter 2:6+, Eph 2:20+ 1Cor 3:10, 11, 12+ (foundation) (4) To all the Gentile world powers Jesus the King of kings is the... Stone cut without hands Da 2:34+ Stone that grows and fills the earth Da 2:35+, cf Da 2:44, 45+ (5) To Israel at Second coming Messiah is... Capstone of the corner (6) To unbelievers the Lord Jesus Christ is the... Crushing Stone of judgment James Smith - THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST. 1 Corinthians 10:4. The rock in Horeb was a type of Christ, the apostle calls it "that spiritual Rock." From that spiritual Rock we may learn some deep spiritual lessons. I. That Rock was in a Dry and Barren Place. Horeb means dry or empty. It was in the wilderness, a barren place, and itself, a seemingly hopeless help. Christ was in the world, but the world knew Him not. "When we shall see Him there is no beauty that we should desire Him" (Isa. 53:2). "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46). II. That Rock was a Native of the Desert. It was but one of many, with no apparently outstanding characteristics. Jesus was so like His fellowmen that when He was in a crowd one had to say, "Which is He?" He was born of a woman, and "made in the likeness of sinful flesh" (Rom. 8:3). III. That Rock was Chosen by God. "The rock that I will show thee." The rock to be smitten was appointed by Him. Jesus Christ is the chosen of God. "This is My beloved Son, hear ye Him" (Matt. 3:17). IV. That Rock was God-Possessed. "Behold I will stand upon the rock" (Exod. 17:6). Here lay the secret of its riches and ability to supply the wants of the thirsty Israelites. God was in Christ. "The Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5:17). V. That Rock was Full of Unseen Blessing. A most unlikely place. Can any good come out of a rock? But according to the infinite mercy and fullness of God there were fathomless depths of blessing here. How like the Son of God. "All fullness is in Him" (John 1:14). He says, "If any man thirst let him come unto Me" (John 7:37). VI. That Rock was Smitten. "Smite the rock." Reminding us of similar words, "Smite the Shepherd" (Zech. 13:7). The rock was smitten by a rod. The rod of judgment fell on Christ. It was smitten not for itself, but for the salvation of the people, sinful and discontented. He suffered for us, the Just for the unjust. VII. That Rock gave out its Treasures after it was Smitten. Even the smiter could drink of its mercy. The smiting of Jesus with the reed and the spear was the opening of the fountain for sin and uncleanness. Even those smiters could drink of the stream. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). His death was the death of our sins and the life of our souls. VIII. That Rock Followed Them. "They drank of that spiritual rock which followed them." They shall thirst no more surely, who have such a supply accompanying them day by day in their wilderness wanderings. "The water that I shall give him shall be in him" (John 4:14). The presence of Jesus with us is as a well springing up in the heart. "Lo, I am with you alway" (Matt. 28:20). This spiritual Rock is still following us. Drink ye all of it. James Smith - GOD'S PROVISION FOR HIS PILGRIM PEOPLE. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 Paul assures us here twice over (vv. 6:11) that these things happened unto them as types, or examples unto us, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. We, like them, are pilgrims and strangers on the earth, enjoying great spiritual mercies. They had the "shadows," we have the realities. I. The Moving Cloud. "All our fathers were under the cloud" (v. 1). The cloud of shelter by day, and of fire by night as their protection and guide (Exod. 13:21). The cloud was the symbol and evidence of the Divine Presence, in itself a mystery. When it moved they moved. It seemed to move easily, but nothing on earth outside could move it. What a suggestive emblem of the revealed Word of God! They all were under it, and God was in it, and all were baptized into the one name (Moses), their leader and law-giver (v. 2). They were infallibly led by the God-created cloud, just as we can be by His unerring Word. To move without the cloud was to go in their own name, wisdom, and strength, which would mean for them confusion and failure. This is what it means for us when we choose our way, and act without His authority. It was because they believed and followed the cloud that they were able to go into the midst of the sea upon dry ground (Exod. 14:22). It is because we have believed and acted on the "Word of the Lord" that we have passed from death into life, from the place of bondage into the liberty of the land of the promises. Keep on believing. Keep your eye on the God-inspired cloud. II. The Daily Manna. "They did all eat the same spiritual meat" (v. 3). "He gave them bread from Heaven to eat" (John 6:31). Those who follow the Word of God will surely be fed by the "Bread of God." Jesus said: "I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven" (John 6:48-51). The manna, then, is typical of Jesus Christ, who came down from Heaven as "the Bread of Life." The manna was like Christ in that— 1. It was the Gift of God. Of course all bread is God's gift, whether it comes out of the earth or out of the Heavens; but the wilderness could do nothing by way of producing it. So Christ was God's gift to a starving world (John 3:16). God knew what the hungry heart of man needed when He gave His Son as "the Bread of Life." 2. It was Suited for All. All alike found it what it pretended to be: something to satisfy the craving of hunger. What Christ has to give is just what all the sons of men need, that which exactly suits them, the forgiveness of sins and grace to help in every time of need. Satisfied with His abundance. 3. It was Offered to All. From the youngest to the oldest, without money, without price. The rich and the poor alike needed it. In this offer of Heaven's bread, God is no respecter of persons, for all have sinned. So Christ as the "Living Bread" from Heaven is offered, in God's grace, to any man who will eat this bread (John 6:51), promising that he who eats shall live forever. 4. It was Personally Used. "They did all eat the same spiritual meat." It was not enough to gather and boast of how much they had gotten. To be personally profited there must be a personal appropriation. We may possibly gather much knowledge about Christ, and yet receive little strength and satisfaction from it, if the truth is not assimilated in our own spiritual life. "He that eats Me shall live by Me" (John 6:47). III. The Rock that Followed Them. "They drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ" (v. 4). 1. Like Christ, this Rock was Revealed by God. It may only have taken God a few moments to show Moses this rock in Horeb, but it took Him over thirty years to show the Rock, Christ; for all the years of His earthly life was an unveiling of His character as the Chosen One. "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 2. Like Christ, this Rock was Divinely Possessed. 'Behold I will stand before you there upon the rock in Horeb" (Exod. 17:6). At Christ's baptism the Holy Spirit rested upon Him. There was to be no mistaking Him as the God-appointed medium of blessing to His trusting people. "God was in Christ seeking to reconcile a wandering world to Himself" (2 Corinthians 5:19). 3. Like Christ, this Rock was Rich in Unrealized Blessing. The Israelites might say, "How can any good come out of this rock?" as they said of Christ, "Can any good come out of Nazareth?" or, "How can this Man save us?" but it pleased God that in Him should all fullness dwell (Colossians 1:19). But they could say later on: "Of His fullness have all we received" (John 1:16). 4. Like Christ, this Rock must be Smitten. "You shall smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink" (Exod. 17:6). The rock was not smitten for itself, but for the salvation of the people. He was wounded for our transgressions, the rod of God's judgment fell upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53). 5. Like Christ, the Smitten Rock Poured Forth its Hidden Treasures. "He cleave the rock, and gave them drink as out of the great depths" (Psalm 78:15). O wonder of wonders, that from His smitten Son there should come forth streams of redeeming mercies, out of the great depths of God's eternal purpose. In that day in which Christ was pierced, there was opened a fountain of cleansing for a sinful world. "He, every one that thirsts, come you to the waters" (Isaiah 55:1). 6. Like Christ, this Spiritual Rock followed Them. They drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ" (v. 4). This water from the Rock was to them an abiding blessing. It followed them. Something to satisfy all the way. Jesus said "The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well, springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14). And, "Lo, I am with you, and will never leave you nor forsake you." He is our Rock, the Rock of our eternal salvation and eternal supply. ROCK OF AGES Augustus M. Toplady, 1740–1778 (1 Corinthians 10:1, 3, 4) This fervent plea for Christ our eternal rock to grant salvation through His sacrifice and to be a place of refuge for the believer is one of the most popular hymns ever written. With strong emotional impact, it proclaims Christ’s atonement on the cross to be the only means of salvation, making man’s tears and efforts to justify himself of no avail. Also it urges us to find consolation and security in Christ our rock—even at the time of death. Augustus Toplady’s strong and passionate lines were actually written to refute some of the teachings of John and Charles Wesley during a bitter controversy with them concerning Arminianism (which stresses man’s free will) versus John Calvin’s doctrine of election. “Rock of Ages” was the climax to an article that Toplady wrote in The Gospel Magazine in 1776, in which he supported the doctrine of election by arguing that just as England could never pay her national debt, so man through his own efforts could never satisfy the eternal justice of a holy God. Despite the belligerent intent of this text, God has preserved this hymn for more than 200 years to bring blessing to both Arminian and Calvinistic believers around the world. At the age of 16, as he sat in a barn and listened to the preaching of an uneducated man, Toplady was dramatically converted. Later, he became a powerful and respected minister of the Anglican church. While he was the busy pastor of several churches in England, Augustus Toplady wrote many hymn texts, but few have survived. “Rock of Ages” is the one for which he is known today. Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Save me from its guilt and power. Not the labor of my hands Can fulfill Thy law’s demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone. Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress, Helpless, look to Thee for grace: Foul, I to the fountain fly, Wash me, Savior, or I die. While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyes shall close in death, When I rise to worlds unknown, And behold Thee on Thy throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee. 1 Corinthians 10:5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Amplified Nevertheless, God was not pleased with the great majority of them, for they were overthrown and strewn down along [the ground] in the wilderness. NET 1 Corinthians 10:5 But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness. NLT 1 Corinthians 10:5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. ESV 1 Corinthians 10:5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. NIV 1 Corinthians 10:5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. GNT 1 Corinthians 10:5 ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐν τοῖς πλείοσιν αὐτῶν εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεός, κατεστρώθησαν γὰρ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ. KJV 1 Corinthians 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. YLT 1 Corinthians 10:5 but in the most of them God was not well pleased, for they were strewn in the wilderness, ASV 1 Corinthians 10:5 Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. CSB 1 Corinthians 10:5 But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness. MIT 1 Corinthians 10:5 But with many of them God was not pleased, for they were laid low in the desert. NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. NRS 1 Corinthians 10:5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness. NAB 1 Corinthians 10:5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert. NJB 1 Corinthians 10:5 In spite of this, God was not pleased with most of them, and their corpses were scattered over the desert. GWN 1 Corinthians 10:5 Yet, God was not pleased with most of them, so their dead bodies were scattered over the desert. BBE 1 Corinthians 10:5 But with most of them God was not pleased: for they came to their end in the waste land. Nu 14:11-12,28-35 Nu 26:64,65 Dt 1:34,35 Dt 2:15,16 Ps 78:32-34 Ps 90:1 *title Ps 90:7,8 95:11 106:26 Heb 3:17 Jude 1:5 1 Corinthians 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Numbers 14:11-12+ The LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, (COMPARE Dt 1:32, Dt 9:23, Ps 78:22,32, Ps 106:24 - UNBELIEF WAS THEIR "FATAL" SIN!) despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? 12 “I will smite them with pestilence and dispossess them, and I will make you (MOSES) into a nation greater and mightier than they.” Numbers 14:28-35+ Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will surely do to you; 29 your corpses will fall in this wilderness, even all your numbered men, according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against Me. (WITH MOST GOD WAS NOT WELL-PLEASED so) 30‘ Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 ‘Your children, however, whom you said would become a prey–I will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. 32 ‘But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. 33‘Your sons shall be shepherds for forty years in the wilderness, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness, until your corpses lie in the wilderness. 34‘According to the number of days which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall bear your guilt a year, even forty years, and you will know My opposition. 35‘I, the LORD, have spoken, surely this I will do to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be destroyed, and there they will die.’” Hebrews 3:17+ - And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? Hebrews 3:18-19+ And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. (WHAT EQUATES WITH UNBELIEF?) DIVINE DISPLEASURE DELIVERS DIVINE DISCIPLINE & DEATH
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MacArthur - When Christians worship anyone or anything besides God, that is idolatry. Worshiping the virgin Mary, saints, icons, or angels is idolatry. No matter how sincerely they are meant to honor to God, such practices are false worship and are strictly forbidden in Scripture. The first commandment God gave Moses was “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Ex. 20:3)....All idols, of course, are not physical. They do not have to be made of wood, stone, or metal. Any concept of God that is not biblical is false, and if believed and followed it becomes an idol. Those who follow a man-made god may claim they worship the God of Scripture, just as the Israelites claimed their calf worship was to the Lord. But no false god has anything in common with the God of the Bible....The sin of idolatry, like every other sin, is of the heart. As God told Ezekiel about the elders of Israel, “These men have set up their idols in their hearts, and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity” (Ezek. 14:3). Play (3815) (paizo from pais = child) amuse oneself, dance, "carry on boisterous revelry" (Friberg). Louw-Nida on play in 1 Cor 10:7- The specific reference of paizo in 1 Cor 10:7 is probably to dancing, but some scholars interpret paizo in this context as a euphemism for sex. The Septuagint uses paizo with sexual connotations in Ge 26:8 = "Isaac caressing (Lxx - paizo in present tense) his wife Rebekah." The Septuagint use in Exodus 32:6 is clearly in the context of idolatry (the "golden calf" - Ex 32:4+). And as we see repeatedly in the Old Testament in other passages, immorality is closely linked to idolatry (cf Nu 25:1-3), leaving little doubt that this is the sense this verb is used in 1 Cor 10:7 (Only NT use). Uses of paizo in the Septuagint - Gen. 21:9; Gen. 26:8; Exod. 32:6; Jdg. 16:25; 2 Sam. 2:14; 2 Sam. 6:5; 2 Sam. 6:21; 1 Chr. 13:8; 1 Chr. 15:29; Job 41:5; Prov. 26:19; Isa. 3:16; Jer. 15:17; Jer. 30:19; Jer. 31:4; Zech. 8:5 1 Corinthians 10:8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Amplified We must not gratify evil desire and indulge in immorality as some of them did—and twenty-three thousand [suddenly] fell dead in a single day! Wuest Neither let us be committing fornication even as certain of them committed fornication, and there fell in one day twenty-three thousand (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) NET 1 Corinthians 10:8 And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day. NLT 1 Corinthians 10:8 And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. ESV 1 Corinthians 10:8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. NIV 1 Corinthians 10:8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. GNT 1 Corinthians 10:8 μηδὲ πορνεύωμεν, καθώς τινες αὐτῶν ἐπόρνευσαν καὶ ἔπεσαν μιᾷ ἡμέρᾳ εἴκοσι τρεῖς χιλιάδες. KJV 1 Corinthians 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. YLT 1 Corinthians 10:8 neither may we commit whoredom, as certain of them did commit whoredom, and there fell in one day twenty-three thousand; ASV 1 Corinthians 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. CSB 1 Corinthians 10:8 Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead. MIT 1 Corinthians 10:8 Neither should we commit sexual sin as did some of them, and in one day 23,000 fell dead. NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; NRS 1 Corinthians 10:8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. NAB 1 Corinthians 10:8 Let us not indulge in immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell within a single day. NJB 1 Corinthians 10:8 Nor, again, are we to fall into sexual immorality; some of them did this, and twenty-three thousand met their downfall in one day. GWN 1 Corinthians 10:8 We shouldn't sin sexually as some of them did. Twenty-three thousand of them died on one day. BBE 1 Corinthians 10:8 Again, let us not give way to the desires of the flesh, as some of them did, of whom twenty-three thousand came to their end in one day. 1Co 6:9,18 Nu 25:1-9 Ps 106:28-30 Rev 2:14 1 Corinthians 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Numbers 25:1-9+ While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. 2 For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the LORD was angry against Israel. 4 The LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.” 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you slay his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor.” 6 Then behold, one of the sons of Israel came and brought to his relatives a Midianite woman, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, while they were weeping at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he arose from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand, 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and pierced both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman, through the body. So the plague on the sons of Israel was checked. 9 Those who died by the plague were 24,000. (THIS IS THE EPISODE OF BAAL-PEOR - SEE NOTES BELOW FOR MORE DETAIL). Psalm 106:28-30+ They joined themselves also to Baal-peor, And ate sacrifices offered to the dead (WORSHIP OF THE DEAD - SEE RELATED DISCUSSION What does the Bible say about ancestor worship?). 29 Thus they provoked Him to anger with their deeds, And the plague broke out among them. 30 Then Phinehas stood up and interposed, And so the plague was stayed. 31 And it was reckoned to him for righteousness, To all generations forever. Revelation 2:14+ ‘But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. THE WARNING AGAINST IMMORALITY Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day - Paul's second warning is concerning immorality and he uses the dramatic illustration of Israel's immorality in Numbers 25:1-9 (see above) which resulted in death of 24,000 (23,000 killed one day and the rest who died of the plague for total of 24,000). Don't miss the clear connection with idolatry and immorality in both the passage in Exodus 32 and the passage from Numbers 25.
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MacArthur adds that "Many of the Corinthians were pushing their liberty to the limits, to see how much of the flesh they could indulge and how much of the world they could enjoy. They were trying God and risking severe discipline. As some Christians today, they probably said, “This is the age of grace. We are free and God is forgiving. We can’t lose our salvation so why not get everything out of life that we can?”" God’s people have always lived under His grace. Every blessing Israel had, including her being called as God’s special people, was by His grace. She had been delivered from Egypt by God’s grace and she was being sustained and protected by His grace. When she put the Lord to the test, however, she discovered that He had limits which He would not let them cross over without punishment. Some of the Corinthians had gone past that limit and become sick or even died (1 Cor. 11:30). Jack Arnold - Some of the Corinthian Christians were testing the Lord with the questionable conduct in doubtful things. They wanted to see how close they could get in libertinism and pagan idol worship without being burned by God. They were in danger of being disqualified. Christians today are constantly testing God, trying to push Him to the limit in patience to see how close to the fire they can get without being disciplined. They see how much sin they can get away with. They play games with God. They test Him in the areas of materialism, worldly attitudes, recreations, sexual morals, church attendance and a thousand other areas. God will only let the Christian go so far before He lowers the boom. Testing God displeases Him, and our testing becomes a basis for disqualification from the spiritual race. Try (put to the test) (1598) ekpeirazo from ek = intensifies + peirazo = to test, tempt) means to test thoroughly, subject to test or proof. To test in order to understand the quality of something, including imperfections, faults or other qualities. Louw-Nida - to try to learn the nature or character of someone or something by submitting such to thorough and extensive testing Zodhiates adds that "Sinners are said to tempt God (Mt. 4:7; Luke 4:12, Lk 10:25 all previous use ekpeirázō; Acts 5:9 = peirazo; 1 Cor. 10:9), putting Him to the test, refusing to believe Him or His Word until He has manifested His power. (The root verb) Peirázō is predominantly used to try someone in order to show he is not approved of God but reprobate, in the hope that he will break down under the proof. Peirázō is also used for Satan’s solicitations (Matt. 4:1; 1 Cor. 7:5; Rev. 2:10)." Thayer says that try (ekpeirazo) in this passage means "by irreligion and immorality to test the patience or the avenging power of Christ (exalted to God's right hand)," TDNT -A rare religious use is for tempting the deity by testing the truth of an oracle. (On tempting God TDNT adds) The OT offers many instances of human tempting of God. In Ex. 17:2 Moses asks why the complaining people are putting God to the test. Num. 14:22 contains God's judgment on those who put him to the proof. To tempt God is to fail to accept his power or his will to save. It is to challenge him in doubt and unbelief. True love of God rules out the testing of God (Dt. 6:16-17 ). The strong tradition that one must not tempt God explains the reasoning of Ahaz in Is. 7:12, although in this case the prohibition does not apply, for God offers a sign.....Tempting God. In 1 Cor. 10:9 Paul uses an OT illustration to back up his warning that believers must not “test” or “challenge” God. Heb. 3:8-9 quotes Ps. 95 to the same effect. In Acts 5:9 Peter accuses Ananias and Sapphira of challenging the Spirit by their deceit, for the Spirit sees all things. In 15:10 Peter warns the assembly not to test God by imposing the law on Gentile believers, for by means of the vision God has shown that their freedom from the law is in accordance with his will. Ekpeirazo - 4x in the NT - Mt. 4:7; Lk. 4:12; Lk. 10:25; 1 Co. 10:9. Four times in the Septuagint - Deut. 6:16; Deut. 8:2; Deut. 8:16; Ps. 78:18; And were destroyed by the serpents - Destroyed in in the imperfect tense indicating that they were perishing day after day, one after another was bitten and died. Scripture does not tell us how many died but it was many not just a few. Moses records "The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died." (Nu 21:6+) Note that God gave Israel the bronze serpent to look at to be saved from dying after being bitten by the serpent and Jesus used this metaphorical picture of Himself in John 3:14-15+ declaring "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, (Nu 21:8-9+) even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life." The irony of this story is that Israel turned the bronze serpent into an IDOL! Some 730 years later in making reforms in his kingdom, godly King Hezekiah had the bronze serpent destroyed. He (HEZEKIAH) removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it (AKA IT BECAME AN IDOL!); and it was called Nehushtan ("a mere piece of bronze"--a contemptuous unmasking of what the relic really was). (2 Ki 18:4). (See What was Nehushtan? | GotQuestions.org) Destroyed (perished) (622)(apollumi from apo = away from or wholly + olethros = state of utter ruin <> ollumi = to destroy) means to destroy utterly but not to cause one to cease to exist eternally. This verb includes the idea of ruin which means to damage the quality or value of something irreparably! This what happened to Israel. The Israelites did "cease to exist" on earth, but they were not annihilated in Sheol. (See Eternal Punishment) 1 Corinthians 10:10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Amplified Nor discontentedly complain as some of them did—and were put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death). Wuest Stop grumbling, discontentedly complaining, even as certain of them grumbled and kept on being destroyed one after another by the destroyer. (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) NET 1 Corinthians 10:10 And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. NLT 1 Corinthians 10:10 And don't grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. ESV 1 Corinthians 10:10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. NIV 1 Corinthians 10:10 And do not grumble, as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel. GNT 1 Corinthians 10:10 μηδὲ γογγύζετε, καθάπερ τινὲς αὐτῶν ἐγόγγυσαν καὶ ἀπώλοντο ὑπὸ τοῦ ὀλοθρευτοῦ. KJV 1 Corinthians 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. YLT 1 Corinthians 10:10 neither murmur ye, as also some of them did murmur, and did perish by the destroyer. ASV 1 Corinthians 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. CSB 1 Corinthians 10:10 Nor should we complain as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. MIT 1 Corinthians 10:10 Nor be complainers as were some of them, and they were destroyed by the terminator. NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. NRS 1 Corinthians 10:10 And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. NAB 1 Corinthians 10:10 Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer. NJB 1 Corinthians 10:10 Never complain; some of them complained, and they were killed by the Destroyer. GWN 1 Corinthians 10:10 Don't complain as some of them did. The angel of death destroyed them. BBE 1 Corinthians 10:10 And do not say evil things against the Lord, as some of them did, and destruction overtook them. grumble: Ex 15:24 Ex 16:2-9 Ex 17:2,3 Nu 14:2-3,27-30 16:41 Ps 106:25 Php 2:14 Jude 1:16 were: Nu 14:37 16:46-49 destroyer: Ex 12:23 2Sa 24:16 1Ch 21:15 2Ch 32:21 Mt 13:39-42 Ac 12:23 2Th 1:7,8 Heb 11:28 Rev 16:1 1 Corinthians 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Korah Confronts Moses Related Passages: Exodus 15:24+ So the people GRUMBLED at Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” Exodus 16:2-9+ (KORAH'S REBELLION) The whole congregation of the sons of Israel GRUMBLED against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the LORD’S hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction. 5 “On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, “At evening you will know that the LORD has brought you out of the land of Egypt; 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, for He hears your grumblings against the LORD; and what are we, that you grumble against us?” 8 Moses said, “This will happen when the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread to the full in the morning; for the LORD hears your GRUMBLINGS which you GRUMBLE against Him. And what are we? Your GRUMBLINGS are not against us but against the LORD.” 9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, ‘Come near before the LORD, for He has heard your GRUMBLINGS.’” Numbers 14:2-3+ All the sons of Israel GRUMBLED against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 “Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” Numbers 14:27-30+ “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are GRUMBLING against Me? I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. 28 “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will surely do to you; 29 your corpses will fall in this wilderness, even all your numbered men, according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who have GRUMBLED against Me. 30‘ Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. Numbers 14:36+ As for the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land and who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report concerning the land, 37 even those men who brought out the very bad report of the land died by a plague before the LORD. God Opened the Grave! Numbers 16:32-35+ (KORAH'S FATE) and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 34 All Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth may swallow us up!” 35 Fire also came forth from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense. High Priest Standing Between the Living and the Dead Numbers 16:41-50+ But on the next day (AFTER KORAH AND OTHER REBELS WERE KILLED) all the congregation of the sons of Israel GRUMBLED against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You are the ones who have caused the death of the LORD’S people (KORAH AND FAMILY ABOVE).” 42 It came about, however, when the congregation had assembled AGAINST (SAME PICTURE IN Ex 16:2 = "AGAINST") Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tent of meeting, and behold, the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared. 43 Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.” Then they fell on their faces. 46 Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put in it fire from the altar, and lay incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the LORD, the plague has begun!” 47 Then Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. 48He took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked. 49 But those who died by the plague were 14,700, besides those who died on account of Korah. 50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the doorway of the tent of meeting, for the plague had been checked. Related Resource: What was the significance of the rebellion of Korah? Deuteronomy 1:27 and you grumbled in your tents and said, ‘Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us. Psalm 106:24-26+ Then they despised the pleasant land; They did not believe in His word, 25 But grumbled in their tents; They did not listen to the voice of the LORD. 26 Therefore He swore to them That He would cast them down in the wilderness, Jude 1:5+ Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. All 18 mentions of grumbling in the OT - Exod. 15:24; Exod. 16:2; Exod. 16:7; Exod. 16:8; Exod. 16:9; Exod. 16:12; Exod. 17:3; Num. 14:2; Num. 14:27; Num. 14:29; Num. 14:36; Num. 16:11; Num. 16:41; Num. 17:5; Num. 17:10; Deut. 1:27; Jos. 9:18; Ps. 106:25; Matt. 20:11; Lk. 5:30; Lk. 15:2; Lk. 19:7; Jn. 6:41; Jn. 6:43; Jn. 6:61; Jn. 7:12; 1 Co. 10:10; Phil. 2:14; Jude 1:16 STRONG WARNING AGAINST RUMBLING GRUMBLING GRUMBLERS! "Two sounds accompany the people as they wander in the wilderness: the rumbling of a nation on the march and the grumbling of the people as they complain about the food, water, and leadership." (Daily Walk) Nor grumble, as some of them did (gogguzo is repeated), and were destroyed (apollumi) by the destroyer - Nor grumble is not the best translation, for this is a specific command which the NET Bible renders "Do not complain." (gogguzo) in the present imperative with a negative (see how this is possible below). Stop giving audible expression to unwarranted dissatisfaction! The idea is "Stop grumbling, discontentedly complaining" (Wuest), indicating that some of the saints at Corinth were in the process of murmuring, but Paul does not give us any details regarding what they were grumbling over. Why is grumbling such a big deal? When we grumble and complain about our circumstances (our lot in life) we are in effect showing our dissatisfaction against the sovereignty of God (cf Ro 9:19-20+)(as if He was not able to control our situation or circumstance)! Grumbling contains the idea men instead of giving God thanks and showing obedience to Him, set themselves up in effect as judges over God! Woe! So while grumbling seems like a "minor" sin, clearly it is a "major" sin which God takes very seriously. Complaining dishonors our heavenly Father; contentment glorifies Him. -- John MacArthur MacArthur identifies this example with Korah's rebellion in Numbers 16 (although "the destroyer" is not specifically mentioned) writing - After Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their fellow rebels were destroyed by the Lord (Num. 16:32–35), “all the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, ‘You are the ones who have caused the death of the Lord’s people’ ” (v. 41). God was so incensed at their complaints about divine justice that He immediately sent a plague that killed 14,700 people. The destroyer was the same angel who had slain the firstborn of the Egyptians before Israel left Egypt (Ex. 12:23), who would kill 70,000 men because of David’s census (2 Sam. 24:15–16), and who, in response to the prayer of Isaiah and Hezekiah, would destroy the entire Assyrian army that was besieging Jerusalem (2 Chr 32:21). Knofel Staton - Grumbling is a sin just as serious as idol worship, sexual immorality, and having it your way over God’s. Grumbling places a barrier between a person and God. It also drives a wedge between him and the other people against whom he grumbles (I Corinthians). Brian Bell - Do you meet life with a whine or a cheer? We have perfected the art of grumbling! Matter of fact we even can do it when everything is going great! – I’ll show you… Have you ever complained of not having enough room in your closet…because of having so many clothes? Have you ever complained of your freezer being too full to place something in it? Swindoll - In a context of self-seeking schism, the Corinthian Christians, too, tended to complain, grumble, and rebel against those who had been placed in authority over them. (Ibid)
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MacArthur - Because idolatry is worshiping something other than the true God in the true way, it is the most serious and contaminating of sins. It strikes at the very character of God. Those who worship an idol declare that the Lord is not the only true God and that other “so-called gods” (1 Cor 8:5+) are worthy to share His glory and honor. They testify that the Lord is deficient, that He is not all-wise, all-powerful, and all-sufficient. A Pandora’s box is opened to other loyalties and other moral and spiritual standards. It is not accidental or incidental that the first two of the Ten Commandments are prohibitions that have to do with idolatry. If we do not have the right view of God, nothing else can be in the right perspective....Idolatry includes much more than bowing down or burning incense to a physical image. Idolatry is having any false god—any object, idea, philosophy, habit, occupation, sport, or whatever that has one’s primary concern and loyalty or that to any degree decreases one’s trust in and loyalty to the Lord....Idolatry is listed among the vilest sins of the flesh (Gal. 5:19–21), and the Lord makes it clear that no idolater will inherit His kingdom (Rev. 21:8; Rev 22:15).
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MacArthur - Paul’s words are so framed as to assume that participating in the Lord’s Supper is a regular practice of faithful Christians. It is commanded by our Lord (Luke 22:19+; 1 Cor. 11:24–25+) to remind us of His sacrifice for us and of our oneness with Him and with fellow believers....When we properly share in Communion we spiritually participate in fellowship with Jesus Christ and with other believers. It is much more than a symbol; it is a profound celebration of common spiritual experience....When believers partake of Communion in faith, the Holy Spirit uses those symbols (BREAD, DRINK) as sensitizers to kindle our spirits in awareness and appreciation of our Lord’s great ministry and sacrifice for us. Is not the bread which we break a sharing (koinonia) in the body of Christ? - The bread of the Lord's Supper is also pointing to the oneness we have with Christ by virtue of being in an eternal (new) covenant with Him (see Oneness of Covenant and also Oneness Notes) Reformation Study Bible - These statements about the Lord’s Supper demonstrate the significance of taking part in a distinctively religious meal. Just as it would be impossible to take the Lord’s Supper and claim that it had no religious significance, so it is naive for the Corinthians to think they can participate in temple feasts without being involved in idolatry. Another point is that the unity “of the body of Christ” symbolized by taking the bread and wine excludes union with idols. HCSB Study Bible. - Paul wanted the Corinthians to know that participants at the Lord's Supper represent a unified body that is dependent on the death of Christ. MacArthur points out that "The New Testament makes a special point of the fact that Jesus’ body was not broken on the cross. “For these things came to pass, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, ‘Not a bone of Him shall be broken’ ” (John 19:36). The bread represents Christ’s body, but the breaking of the bread does not represent the breaking of His body, because that never took place." Jesus broke the bread in order to distribute it among the disciples, representing His sharing His life with them. Brian Bell - It all starts at the cross! - Always start at Calvary. Our Communion is at Calvary, but our Contact must be w/the world. Our fellowship is w/the Lord Jesus, but our friendship is for those who do not know the Savior. If a Christian moves in ungodly circles, has social contact with them, even an occasional meal, often times he may be accused of “fellowshipping” with unbelievers. But, it is nothing of the sort. Your fellowship can stay at Calvary & your heart stay tune w/God, while you seek to win souls for Him!. We need to learn to live in separation to God. This is something only you & I can discern personally, when we are right before God regarding this.. If while moving in ungodly circles, I find my heart going out to the things they enjoy, I must quickly put a stop to it! You can’t belong to Christ & live in the enemy’s camp! David tried it for a while at Achish, before the king of Gath, when Saul was chasing him. Of course, remember what he had to do to pull this off. So he changed his behavior before them, feigned madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. Remember God called us to separation but not isolation! Sharing (communion, fellowship) (2842) koinonia from koinos = that which is in common, belonging to several or of which several are partakers) describes the experience (in contrast to koinonia as an act) of having something in common and/or of sharing things in common with others. It describes a close association involving mutual interests and sharing or to have communion (Which Webster defines as "intimate fellowship") It denotes the active, joint participation, cooperation and/or sharing in a common interest or activity. The idea of koinonia is frequently referred to as fellowship (the state of sharing mutual interests, experiences, activities, etc.; a relation in which parties hold something in common; see excellent article on Fellowship). Koinonia in this case a very special kind of sharing—entering into what John and the other apostles experienced with Christ. Believers have fellowship with the Triune God through His Son Christ Jesus and this also leads naturally (supernaturally) to fellowship with other believers. Koinonia is used in “fellowship of the Spirit” (Phil. 2:1), of the “fellowship of His sufferings” (Phil. 3:10), and of “participation in the support of the saints” (2 Cor. 8:4). Koinonia - 17v - Acts 2:42; Rom. 15:26; 1 Co. 1:9; 1 Co. 10:16; 2 Co. 6:14; 2 Co. 8:4; 2 Co. 9:13; 2 Co. 13:14; Gal. 2:9; Phil. 1:5; Phil. 2:1; Phil. 3:10; Phlm. 1:6; Heb. 13:16; 1 Jn. 1:3; 1 Jn. 1:6; 1 Jn. 1:7 Related Resources: What is transubstantiation? | GotQuestions.org What is consubstantiation? | GotQuestions.org Do eucharistic miracles really happen? | GotQuestions.org What is the meaning of Corpus Christi? | GotQuestions.org Puritan Readings - Communion with the Father The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? The way and means, then, on the part of the saints, whereby in Christ they enjoy communion with God, are all the spiritual and holy actings and outgoings of their souls in those graces, and by those ways, wherein both the moral and instituted worship of God consists. Faith, love, trust, joy, etc., are the natural or moral worship of God, whereby those in whom they are have communion with Him. Now, these are either immediately acted on God, and not tied to any ways or means outwardly manifesting themselves; or else they are farther drawn forth, in solemn prayer and praises, according unto that way which He has appointed. The Scripture distinctly assigns all these to the Father, Son, and Spirit. Thus, first, for the Father: faith, love, obedience, etc., are peculiarly and distinctly yielded by the saints unto Him; and He is peculiarly manifested in those ways as acting peculiarly towards them: which should draw them forth and stir them up thereunto. He gives testimony unto, and bears witness of, His Son, “This is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son” (1 John 5:9). In His bearing witness He is an object of belief. When He gives testimony (which He does as the Father, because He does it of the Son) He is to be received in it by faith. And this is affirmed in verse 10. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.” To believe on the Son of God in this place, is to receive the Lord Christ as the Son, the Son given unto us, for all the ends of the Father’s love, upon the credit of the Father’s testimony; and, therefore, therein is faith immediately acted on the Father. H A
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MacArthur points out that Paul's "use of all things are lawful always refers to questionable practices, the gray areas of Christian living that are not specifically forbidden in the Bible." Lawful (permitted)(1832)(exesti from from ek = out + eimí = to be) is an impersonal verb, signifying "it is permitted, it is lawful" (or interrogatively, "is it lawful?"). It means to be authorized for the doing of something - it is right, is authorized, is permitted, is proper. TDNT says the idea is "It is free,” denoting (a) an action that is possible because there is occasion for it or no obstacle to it, (b) an action that is not prevented by a higher norm or court, and (c) an action to which there is no psychological or ethical block. In the NT the term mostly refers to God’s law or will with its specific demands, especially the OT law. 1 Co. 6:12; 1 Co. 10:23; 2 Co. 12:4 But not all things are (present tense - continually) profitable (sumphero). All things are lawful (exesti), but not all things (present tense - continually) edify (oikodomeo) - He is speaking in the realm of spiritually profitable and spiritually edifying, building up character in himself and in his brother (THOUGHT - Edify would seem to imply that one has a foundation, the foundation of Christ, so this call for edification must be specifically addressing Christian brothers, not unbelievers who have no foundation on which to build spiritually). The question we must alway ask is does the "all things" (whatever they are) build up or tear down spiritually (ourself and/or others). And so again we see implicit the principle of self-denial. While a believer in Christ can do all things (that are not sinful, such as eating meat we know has been offered to idols), he or she may (should) choose to limit that freedom if it does not profit or build up one's own or another's spiritual condition. Edify means to build someone's character up spiritually, helping them to stand and be strong. A building that is built up can withstand the winds of adversary and antagonism which are sure to blow against believers in a place like Corinth (or like America circa 2021!) And so whatever aids building up is profitable. Recall the parallel passage in 1 Cor 6:12 ends with an additional declaration by Paul "I will not be mastered by anything." So one could sum it up as assess things by whether they are profitable, build up or enslave. COMMENT - One of the best Scriptures regarding building up or edification is Acts 20:32+ which not speaks of the profit of the living and active Word of God -- “And now I commend you (PAUL IS SPEAKING TO THE EPHESIAN ELDERS) to God and to THE WORD OF HIS GRACE, which is (dunamai in present tense = continuously) able to build (oikodomeo) you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified (hagiazo in the perfect tense - speaks of their initial justification, not their progressive sanctification)." Note that the Word of God's grace has the inherent power to supernaturally build up and also has the power to enable a believer to "tap into" (so to speak) their inheritance in Christ (cf 2 Pe 1:3+)." In 1 Cor 14:4+ Paul says "one who prophesies (probably means preaching) edifies (oikodomeo) the church" In 1 Cor 8:1+ we see that "love edifies (oikodomeo)." In Eph 4:11-12+ we see that "He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up (related noun oikodome) of the body of Christ; THOUGHT - Two simple questions can aid us to quickly decide whether we should undertake some action or activity. Thus when we are faced with the decision, we should first ask if we have a right to do it, according to God's holy Word, and if God's Word does not forbid it then the answer is yes. Second, we should ask, will this it action or activity be spiritually profitable, beneficial, and edifying not only to ourselves but for others? And adding the teaching in 1 Cor 6:12 we could ask will this action or activity enslave me? If the answer to the first two is yes and to the third is no, then we can commence with the activity with a clear conscience and to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). Conversely, if the Word and/or our conscience say "No," to the first two and yes to the third, then we should "die to self" and refrain from the action or activity. Paul has already written about the importance edification in 1 Cor 8:1+ writing "Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies." More 'mature" believers may have no scruples eating an "idol hamburger," but that knowledge only serves to make them arrogant or puffed up if it is not balanced or tempered by self-less, giving, agape love, which sees a "weaker" brother's rights as more important (cf Php 2:3-4+). And so the stronger brother forgoes the "idol burger" for the sake of "building up" of his weaker brother. Profitable (good, advantage, expedient)(4851)(sumphero from sún = together + phéro = bring) means literally to bring together (literally - as in Acts 19:19). Then sumphero comes to mean to confer a benefit, to be profitable, advantageous (Mt. 5:29, 30; 18:6; 19:10; John 11:50; 16:7) or useful. The idea is to bring together for the benefit, profit or advantage of another. And so here in Heb 12:10 sumphero describes the dividends of discipline, the profit of punishment! Paul uses sumphero to describe another advantage of discipline declaring that "when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord in order that we may not be condemned along with the world. (1Co 11:32). Uses of sumphero in the Corinthian letters - 1 Co. 6:12; 1 Co. 7:35 = "I say for your own benefit"; 1 Co. 10:23; 1 Co. 10:33; 1 Co. 12:7; 2 Co. 8:10; 2 Co. 12:1 Edify (build up) (3618)(oikodomeo from oikos = dwelling + doma = building from demo = to build) means literally to build, construct or erect a dwelling. Oikodomeo is used here as a metaphor meaning to build up, establish, confirm, edify. Webster's dictionary says our English edify is derived from the Latin aedificare to instruct or improve spiritually, in turn from Latin, to erect a house, in turn from aedes temple, house. What a picture of the power of Spirit saturated believers on their brethren. Matt. 7:24; Matt. 7:26; Matt. 16:18; Matt. 21:33; Matt. 21:42; Matt. 23:29; Matt. 26:61; Matt. 27:40; Mk. 12:1; Mk. 12:10; Mk. 14:58; Mk. 15:29; Lk. 4:29; Lk. 6:48; Lk. 6:49; Lk. 7:5; Lk. 11:47; Lk. 11:48; Lk. 12:18; Lk. 14:28; Lk. 14:30; Lk. 17:28; Lk. 20:17; Jn. 2:20; Acts 7:47; Acts 7:49; Acts 9:31; Acts 20:32; Rom. 15:20; 1 Co. 8:1; 1 Co. 8:10; 1 Co. 10:23; 1 Co. 14:4; 1 Co. 14:17; Gal. 2:18; 1 Thess. 5:11; 1 Pet. 2:7 Tests (Click Here for list of 67 Tests) 1. THE WORLD TEST. Is it worldly? Will it make me worldly to do it (John 15:19, 1 John 2:15-17)' 2. THE QUALITY TEST. Is it good for me physically, emotionally, and spiritually (Rom. 12:9b)' 3. THE TEMPLE TEST. Can I do it when I remember my body is God’s temple and must not be marred or misused (1 Cor. 6:19)' 4. THE GLORY TEST. Will it glorify my Lord, or will it on the other hand possibly bring shame to His name (1 Cor. 6:20, 10:32)' 5. THE BLESSING TEST. Can I honestly ask God’s blessing on it and be sure I’ll not regret doing it (Prov. 10:22, Rom. 15:29)' 6. THE REPUTATION TEST. Is it apt to damage my testimony for the Lord (Phil. 2:15)' 7. THE CONSIDERATION TEST. Am I being considerate of others and the effect this might have on them (Rom. 14:7, 21)' 8. THE APPEARANCE TEST. Will it look bad? Does it have the appearance of what is wrong or suspicious (1 Thess. 5:22)' 9. THE WEIGHT TEST. Could this slacken or sidetrack me in running the Christian race (Heb. 12:1, 1 Cor. 9:24)' 10. THE COMING OF CHRIST TEST. Would I be ashamed to be found doing this when He comes again (1 John 2:28)' 11. THE COMPANION TEST. Can I invite Christ to go with me and participate with me in this (Matt. 28:20b, Col. 3:17)' 12. THE PEACE TEST. After having prayed about it, do I have perfect peace about doing it (Col. 3:15a, Phil. 4:6-7)' (Basic Bible Beliefs, Bible Baptist Church) Eight Questions To Ask When Facing Ethical Decisions 1. IS IT PERMISSIBLE? (If there is a clear Biblical command against it, then it is not permissible.) " The man who says, ' I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him .… You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love… " (1 John 2:4; Gal 5:13) 2. WILL IT LEAD TO PEACE AND MUTUAL EDIFICATION? " Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification… If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Romans 14:19; 12:18) 3. WILL IT BUILD UP OTHER PEOPLE? " Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others… Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." (1 Corinthians 10:24; Romans 15:2) 4. IS IT PROFITABLE (BENEFICIAL)? " All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify." (1 Corinthians 10:23 – NASB) 5. IS IT CONSTRUCTIVE? " Love… looks for a way of being constructive… Love builds up." (1 Corinthians 13:4b – Phillips; 1 Corinthians 8:1b) 6. DOES IT HAVE THE GOOD OF OTHERS AT HEART? " Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others… Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (1 Corinthians 10:24; Philippians 2:3, 4) 7. WILL IT CAUSE OTHERS TO STUMBLE? " Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved… " (1 Corinthians 10:32, 33) (See 1 Corinthians 8:9; Romans 14:13) 8. DOES IT GLORIFY GOD? " Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God… " (1 Corinthians 10:31) Greg Laurie - CUT IT LOOSE All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. (1 Corinthians 10:23) Often the question is asked, “Can I do this and still be a Christian?” I might be going to certain kinds of movies or listening to certain kinds of music or going to a certain type of place. Whatever it may be in life, be it relationships, friendships, habits, indulgences, or whatever things they are, if they entangle you, if they hinder your walk with God, if they make the reading of the Bible more dull, your prayer life more dead, and the reality of eternity more dim, then they should be cut loose. A question to ask regarding that thing you are wondering about is: “Is it slowing you down in the race of life?” Is that relationship impairing your progress? Is that habit impairing your performance? If so, then cut it loose. This is why Hebrews 12:1 tells us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress” (NLT). If you ever wonder whether something is allowable for you to do as a Christian, then ask yourself these four questions: 1. Does it build me up spiritually? 2. Does it bring me under its power? 3. Do I have an uneasy conscience about it? 4. Could it cause someone to stumble? Paul said, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify” (1 Cor. 10:23). Is some activity or pursuit gaining a hold on you? Maybe you need to cut it loose. Greg Laurie - NO COMPROMISE “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ ”—MATTHEW 3:1–2 HOW OFTEN WE BELIEVERS shoot ourselves in the foot by compromise. A nonbeliever notices we’re not practicing what we preach and so turns his back on the Lord. Compromise is a witness-killer. One of the reasons John the Baptist had such a strong witness in his day was because he did not compromise. The angel Gabriel had prophesied of him even before he was conceived, “He will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:15). John lived a disciplined lifestyle because he did not want to come under the power of anyone or anything but the Holy Spirit. People sometimes ask me, “Is it okay for a Christian to drink?” My response is, “Why ask the question? Why would you want to risk bringing yourself under the power of something other than the Holy Spirit?” I don’t want something impairing my abilities to think clearly. I don’t want something getting in the way of my life or dulling my senses. The Bible says all things are permissible, but not all things build us up (see 1 Corinthians 10:23). All things are permissible, but not all things are good—and we should not be brought under the power of anything. Scripture says we’re free to do whatever God does not forbid. But at the same time, these two questions ought to be at the forefront of our minds constantly: 1. Is this going to build me up spiritually? 2. Does this thing or activity bring me under its power? I use these tests with people who ask me questions like, “Is it all right for a Christian to listen to this kind of music? Is it acceptable to watch a sexually suggestive movie?” I run these folks through my two-question grid: 1 Does it build you up spiritually? In most cases, I don’t think so. 2.Could you be brought under its power? If there is even the slightest chance of that, why risk it? Why fool around with it? Once you’ve been filled with the Holy Spirit, what do you need with cheap substitutes? I give these people one other question to consider, too: Might this thing or activity cause someone else to stumble? Could it be a bad witness? If someone you’ve been trying to reach sees you doing that thing, might he or she ask, “Why are you doing that? I thought you were a Christian!” A lame response like, “It’s really okay. I can explain” just isn’t going to cut it. John was a powerful witness because he did not want to come under the influence of anything but the power of Jesus Christ. What power are you under right now? You might say, “It’s all right if I listen to this music” or, “So what if I like to top one off with the boys?” My question to you is, Does it bring you under its power? Is it controlling you? Is it addictive? If so, you ought to break from it. Even something such as overexposure to television can weaken your spiritual life. I admit I’ve been mesmerized by TV. My eyes have glazed over and I’ve gotten that blank look after being glued to the set for too long. I’ve allowed chunks of my day to be wasted. It’s not worth it. There comes a time when we must say enough is enough! John was consistent and uncompromising. He stuck to his guns, even when severely tested. Herod the king eventually had him arrested and thrown in prison. Yet Herod took a liking to this godly man when he saw how consistent and uncompromising he was. Perhaps the king was fascinated with John because Herod himself was a study in compromise. He had been captivated by his brother’s wife, Herodias, and took her as his own mate. To make matters worse, she was his niece. John was straightforward with Herod and told the king it was a sinful relationship. He told him the truth. The Bible says Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man (see Mark 6:20). When Herod heard John he was perplexed, but Herod enjoyed listening to him. John made a great impact on Herod—though not great enough, because Herod ultimately conceded to John’s execution. Until that day, Herod had a great admiration for John. He knew he could always count on John to tell the truth. That’s the power of a holy, uncompromising life. Nonbelievers look at their Christian friends and can see they’re righteous. They know their friends are living a holy life, and they grow perplexed. On one hand, they don’t understand some of the things their friends do; on the other hand, they have great admiration for them and like to listen to them. They can see their strong convictions. Their moral perimeters are clear and they don’t transgress them. As these non-Christians watch their faithful friends, some of them trade in their unbelief for a solid faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Does that describe your experience? Are you uncompromising in your witness? Your godly and uncompromising lifestyle won’t win everyone, but it can win some. John didn’t win Herod, but he did steer countless others to the Lord Jesus. There’s no reason you couldn’t do the same thing. That is, if you want to. A Christian should be a striking likeness of Jesus Christ. You have read lives of Christ, beautifully written; but the best life of Christ is His living biography, written out in the words and action of His people.” —Charles Haddon Spurgeon Vance Havner - LIBERTY AND LIMITATIONS All things are lawful for me, but ... (1 Cor. 10:23). "All things are lawful for me" says the careless Christian, as though being saved gave him liberty to do as he pleases. Indeed, the law of the Spirit has made us free from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2). But this liberty is not license. Three times "All things are lawful for me" is followed by a qualifying "but." 1. There is the test of expediency Some things do not help me on my way, they hinder my running well the race. 2. There is ... the test of enslavement. The hobby easily becomes a hobble. I will not be brought into bondage by what I allow. 3. There is the test of edification. Some things do not build me up. I must build out of gold, silver and precious stones, not wood, hay and stubble. Let me stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made me free, but I am not free to do wrong. If the problem in our personal lives will clear the three hurdles set forth here, I may go ahead, but if there is any doubt, give God the benefit of the doubt! In another book Vance Havner has "A Test for Making Decisions" If you have a doubtful issue in your life, something with a question mark after it, put it to this fourfold test. The test of expediency (1 Cor. 6:12). The test of enslavement (1 Cor. 6:12). The test of edification (1 Cor. 10:23). The test of example (1 Cor 8:13). If your problem clears these four hurdles, it should no longer be a problem. David Jeremiah - THE RIGHT TO SACRIFICE All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. 1 CORINTHIANS 10:23 One of the biggest issues facing lawmakers today is whether there should be limits on damages awarded in lawsuits where injury has occurred. Opponents of tort reform say it’s impossible to place a limitation of value on personal injury. Proponents say the lack of limits is driving doctors out of business, since they can’t afford the premiums on malpractice insurance. Whose rights are more important? A citizen’s right not to be permanently injured? A doctor’s right not to be driven out of business? A lawyer’s right to profit? Or a jury’s right to decide what’s “right”? The pursuit of rights has made America the most litigious society in the world. What ever happened to people giving up their rights for a greater good? The apostle Paul said everything is “lawful,” but not everything is helpful. For instance, Paul had the right to be paid by those he served. But he gave up that right, and others, for the sake of spreading the gospel without criticism from others. Look at your rights and see if limiting them would give you a greater voice with those you seek to serve. A right is only a right until we discover it makes us wrong. Delightful Liberties and Resources - “You are placed amidst the delightful liberties and resources of your Father’s home, without grudging and without doubt. But you are placed there not simply to enjoy, but to use; not only to be free, but to have the privilege of contributing to the freedom around you. “You are free—but as a child of the Father, and as a member of the family. And such freedom would be only the harsh parody of itself if it were not a freedom, to love, to be loyal, to serve, to share. Your rights are given you as bright implements to promote the highest right. You are saved to be serviceable; you are saved to build up other lives. And not all things are serviceable. And not all things build up the lives of others. “So live out the noble freedom of freely fulfilled mutual duty. Let no one seek his own, but everyone another.”(H.C.G. Moule) If in Doubt . . . Question - J Oswald Sanders 1 Corinthians 6:12, 1 Cor 10:23 To ask and answer the following positive questions will automatically deal with many problems concerning doubtful things. Will it bring glory to God? “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV). If the chief end of man is to glorify God, this should be our first test and chief concern. If the proposed course of action primarily benefits the self and does not bring glory to God, it is something that can well be laid aside. Is it profitable? Will it help me in my Christian life, my witness, my service? “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not” (1 Corinthians 10:23 KJV). Will it tend to make my life more profitable to God and to my fellow human beings? Does it edify? Does it build me up in my Christian character, and will it help me to build up the church of God? “For edification, and not for your destruction” (2 Corinthians 10:8 KJV). God’s supreme interest is centered in His church, and we should share His concern for its upbuilding. Does it tend to enslave? “All things are lawful for me; but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12 ASV). Even lawful things can become our master and get out of balance. They can so demand our attention that we neglect other things of more importance. For example, secular reading can so enslave readers that it dulls their appetite for the reading of the Word of God and spiritual books. Such a condition must be jealously guarded against by strict self-discipline, both as to the quality and the quantity of our secular reading. Will it strengthen me against temptation? It is of little avail for us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation,” if we voluntarily go where we will be exposed to temptation. It is one thing for a Salvation Army officer to enter a tavern to sell his War Cry but quite another for a young person to go in to “celebrate” with friends. Any place or practice that tends to make sin less sinful is to be shunned. (SC) Definition of Sin - J. Wilbur Chapman said, “My life is governed by this rule: Anything that dims my vision of Christ or takes away my taste for Bible study or cramps my prayer life or makes Christian work difficult is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it.” This was how Susannah Wesley defined “sin” to her young son, John
1 Coríntios 10
MacArthur - It is food that the Lord provides from the earth, and can be eaten with a clear conscience and with thanksgiving. “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim. 4:4–5). Zodhiates - Whatever God has provided that is healthy and good belongs to the Christian to enjoy. Because there are idolaters who sacrifice animals does not mean that what remains of those animals and is sold in the open market cannot be bought and enjoyed by the people of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 10:27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience' sake. Amplified In case one of the unbelievers invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is served to you without examining into its source because of conscientious scruples. Wuest On the assumption that anyone of those who are unbelievers invites you to be his guest, and you desire to be going, everything which is set before you be eating, asking not even one question for the sake of your conscience. (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) NET 1 Corinthians 10:27 If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience. NLT 1 Corinthians 10:27 If someone who isn't a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. ESV 1 Corinthians 10:27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. NIV 1 Corinthians 10:27 If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. GNT 1 Corinthians 10:27 εἴ τις καλεῖ ὑμᾶς τῶν ἀπίστων καὶ θέλετε πορεύεσθαι, πᾶν τὸ παρατιθέμενον ὑμῖν ἐσθίετε μηδὲν ἀνακρίνοντες διὰ τὴν συνείδησιν. KJV 1 Corinthians 10:27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. YLT 1 Corinthians 10:27 and if any one of the unbelieving do call you, and ye wish to go, all that is set before you eat, nothing inquiring, because of the conscience; ASV 1 Corinthians 10:27 If one of them that believe not biddeth you to a feast, and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. CSB 1 Corinthians 10:27 If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience. MIT 1 Corinthians 10:27 If any unbeliever invites you to a meal and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is placed before you without any conscientious considerations. NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. NRS 1 Corinthians 10:27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. NAB 1 Corinthians 10:27 If an unbeliever invites you and you want to go, eat whatever is placed before you, without raising questions on grounds of conscience. NJB 1 Corinthians 10:27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal, go if you want to, and eat whatever is put before you; you need not ask questions of conscience first. GWN 1 Corinthians 10:27 If an unbeliever invites you to his house for dinner, and you wish to go, eat anything he serves you without letting your conscience trouble you. BBE 1 Corinthians 10:27 If a Gentile makes a feast for you, and you are pleased to go as a guest, take whatever is put before you, without question of right or wrong. invites: 1Co 5:9-11 Lu 5:29,30 15:23 19:7 whatsoever: Lu 10:7 for: 1Co 10:25 2Co 1:13 4:2 5:11 1 Corinthians 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL FOR YOU If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go - Clearly Paul is not advocating going to a pagan temple and joining in with they revelry and/or worship of idols. Alan Redpath - Here is the case of a believer who has been asked out to dinner with unsaved friends, and he accepts the invitation. I am so glad Paul underlines the fact that we are permitted to do so; it is tragic that so many Christian people just dare not to go into an unbeliever’s home in case they get contaminated. It is not wrong to accept invitations to eat with unbelievers. Eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience' (suneidesis) sake - This sounds a little like our phrase "Don't ask, don't tell." Paul's point is that if the burger is tasty, don't worry about whether it was bought from the idol temple meat market. Enjoy the "idol burger." Your conscience will be clear. If you ask about its origin, your conscience may be offended and you have just ruined a good "idol burger." Spurgeon -There could be no harm in the meat itself, and the believer was free to eat what was set before him so far as he himself was concerned, but there were times when it would be better not to eat it, lest in the judgment of others the Christian should seem to have communed in an idolatrous sacrifice. MacArthur on eat anything that is set before you - Freedom in Christ is a privilege to be forfeited only when it clearly may offend another person. “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1). We should not give up our liberty unless it is clearly for the upbuilding of someone else. If we refrain from doing certain questionable things, we do not do so from a sense of legalistic compulsion but from the voluntary restriction of our liberty in order to help build up someone else. When we restrict our liberty for the sake of a weaker brother, we should also try to help him grow in the understanding of his own Christian freedom. In other words, we should help his conscience grow stronger, in order that he can come to enjoy his full liberty in Christ and not be restricted in the enjoyment of his privileges. Jack Arnold - If a Christian in Corinth was invited to a private dinner party in an unbeliever’s home, the unbeliever being an idol worshiper, the Christian has the liberty to go. If the unbeliever served meat that had been offered to idols on the table, the Christian was to ask no questions as to whether this thing was doubtful. Again, the Christian is never to raise a false issue with an unbeliever over any questionable practice. The early Christians were not hyper-separationists. They had unsaved friends and went to their homes for socializing. Surely if Christians are uptight, self-righteous and legalistic, they will never receive any invitations into the homes of unbelievers. Only if they are friendly, openhearted and outgoing, with a real love and concern for people, will they get invitations into the homes of the unsaved. Non-Christians desperately need the Christ we Christians know and we cannot give Him to them if we are bogged down with an infinite number of taboos. We must never raise any false issue with an unbeliever because the only issue for a non-Christian is his relationship to Jesus Christ. If invited, the Christian is to keep quiet, not making an issue, waiting patiently for an opportunity to present Christ clearly. For sure, no Christian should get on his soap box and make a separation speech about the evils of some questionable practice. This would be terribly offensive to the unsaved man and could drive him far from the Lord and His salvation. The Lord Jesus had the most difficult time with the religious folks of his day—the Pharisees (first century fundamentalists). They were hyper-separationists who lived by the letter of their man-made laws. Christ never opposed any true teaching of the Old Testament, but he viciously attacked the Pharisees for their hyper-piousness and critical attitudes. The Pharisees could not get over the fact that Jesus ate with publicans and sinners. Christ met the spiritual needs of men and women and He went where sinners were. He did not do what the world did, but He moved among worldly people in love. For this, He was called “worldly.” 1 Corinthians 10:28 But if anyone says to you, "This is meat sacrificed to idols," do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience' sake; Amplified But if someone tells you, This has been offered in sacrifice to an idol, do not eat it, out of consideration for the person who informed you, and for conscience’s sake— Wuest But if anyone says to you, This has been offered in sacrifice to idols, stop eating of it in consideration for that one who pointed it out to you and for the sake of his conscience. (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) NET 1 Corinthians 10:28 But if someone says to you, "This is from a sacrifice," do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of conscience– NLT 1 Corinthians 10:28 (But suppose someone tells you, "This meat was offered to an idol." Don't eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. ESV 1 Corinthians 10:28 But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience-- NIV 1 Corinthians 10:28 But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake-- GNT 1 Corinthians 10:28 ἐὰν δέ τις ὑμῖν εἴπῃ, Τοῦτο ἱερόθυτόν ἐστιν, μὴ ἐσθίετε δι᾽ ἐκεῖνον τὸν μηνύσαντα καὶ τὴν συνείδησιν· KJV 1 Corinthians 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: YLT 1 Corinthians 10:28 and if any one may say to you, 'This is a thing sacrificed to an idol,' -- do not eat, because of that one who shewed it, and of the conscience, for the Lord's is the earth and its fulness: ASV 1 Corinthians 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: CSB 1 Corinthians 10:28 But if someone says to you, "This is food offered to an idol," do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience' sake. MIT 1 Corinthians 10:28 But if anyone should say, "This is sacred food," do not eat it, because of that one who made the statement, and because of conscience. NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:28 But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness." NRS 1 Corinthians 10:28 But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience-- NAB 1 Corinthians 10:28 But if someone says to you, "This was offered in sacrifice," do not eat it on account of the one who called attention to it and on account of conscience; NJB 1 Corinthians 10:28 But if someone says to you, 'This food has been offered in sacrifice,' do not eat it, out of consideration for the person that told you, for conscience's sake- GWN 1 Corinthians 10:28 However, if someone says to you, "This was sacrificed to a god," don't eat it because of the one who informed you and because of conscience. BBE 1 Corinthians 10:28 But if anyone says to you, This food has been used as an offering, do not take it, on account of him who said it, and on account of his sense of right and wrong: eat: 1Co 8:10-13 Ro 14:15 for: 1Co 10:26 Ex 9:29 De 10:14 Ps 24:1 115:16 Jer 27:5,6 Mt 6:31,32 1 Corinthians 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Romans 14:15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 1 Corinthians 8:10-13 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble. WHAT TO DO IF WE KNOW But if anyone says to you, "This is meat sacrificed to idols," do not eat it, - Do not eat is a command in the present imperative with a negative signifying either stop a practice you are already doing or refrain from this practice. Who is anyone? This is debated but seems to be another believer. "Pagan Roman households (see v. 27) routinely offered a portion of their meals to their household idols before eating." (ASB) Alan Redpath - if the host intimates that this was meat offered to idols, then he should not touch it. If the host mentions it to his guest, quite clearly he attaches some importance to it. Therefore the Christian must not be identified with him in idol-worship, and must abstain from eating the meat. If nothing is said about it, and the guest knows nothing about the origin of the meat, then he is not to start trouble by asking; he is free from any possible compromise. That is the point at issue. MacArthur - Do not argue or condemn or insist on your own freedom. Give up your liberty so that his conscience will not be offended. Reformation Study Bible - A different problem arises if someone announces that the meat comes from a pagan sacrifice. Presumably, such a comment indicates that the person has problems of conscience about it. In that case, it is right to abstain “for the sake of the one who told you.”
1 Coríntios 10
MacArthur - We are to modify our actions for the sake of others, but we are not to modify our consciences. The legalism of a weaker brother should not make us legalistic, only gracious. Jack Arnold - If someone at the dinner table says, “Do you know this steak was offered as a sacrifice at the temple yesterday?” he has raised the issue, and the Christian must make his stand. Why would an unbeliever raise this issue? The unsaved at Corinth knew how the Christians took their stand against every form of idolatry, and by raising this issue he was testing whether a Christian was wholeheartedly for Christ. Also a non-Christian may have a high standard of what he thinks a Christian should be and false expectations for the Christian, and if the Christian partakes of some doubtful thing, the unsaved person’s conscience may be offended. The Christian’s conscience may be clear, but the unsaved man’s is not. Because the Christian loves Christ more than he loves a steak, he does not partake of it to maintain his testimony. When the unbeliever makes an issue of any doubtful thing, then it becomes an issue with the Christian and it is to be refused. Now the Christian can launch into a clear presentation of the gospel. Spurgeon -So, you see, you may eat the meat if you like, for the idol is nothing at all; but, still, if you are told that it is meat that has been offered to idols, and that you by eating of it seem to join in the worship of idols, abstain from doing it, not for your own sake, but for the sake of the man who might be caused to stumble through you. This is a safe rule with regard to Christian behaviour in many other things. There may be things lawful in drink as well as in meat, which a man may take without sinning; but if he knows that his example leads others astray, then let him take heed that he does not set such an example. An example which is an excuse for drunkenness is not a good one; therefore, let none of us set it before the eyes of men. If any man say to you, “This meat has been offered in sacrifice to idols,” “eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” Question - What does the Bible say about eating food/meat that has been sacrificed to idols? Answer: One of the struggles in the early church concerned meat which had been sacrificed to idols. Debates over what to eat might seem strange to most of us in modern society, but to the first-century believers, it was a subject of great consequence. As the apostles dealt with the issue, they gave instructions on several broader topics with application for today: Unity within the church. In the early years of the church, as Gentile converts began joining Jewish believers in local fellowships, an issue arose concerning the eating of meat. Greco-Roman society was saturated with idol worship, and it was common for meat sold in the marketplace to have been consecrated as a sacrifice to false gods prior to its sale. The Jews would have nothing to do with such meat, wary of “unclean” food-handling practices and believing that to partake of consecrated meat was to give tacit approval of idol worship—kind of a “second-hand” idolatry. The Gentiles rejected the notion that such meat was tainted and held that they could eat meat sacrificed to idols without endorsing idolatry—they had not actually offered the sacrifice, after all. The matter was becoming a point of contention within the church. The church in Syrian Antioch, comprised of both Jews and Gentiles, struggled with this issue (Acts 15). The Jerusalem Council settled the matter by urging Gentile converts to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols (Acts 15:29). This decision was made not to promote legalism but to keep peace within the church. Since eating meat offered to idols was a divisive issue—carrying the possibility of scandalizing fellow believers—abstinence was expedient. Compliance with the council’s directive assured that, at the next church potluck, a Jewish believer could eat the brisket he was served with confidence, knowing it had never been part of a sacrificial cow. And the Gentile believer could not be accused of participating in idol worship. With its ruling, the Jerusalem Council affirmed the need for deference, or consideration for the scruples of others. The principle is one of self-denial; we should be willing to lay down our personal rights for the sake of maintaining unity in the body of Christ. Spiritual growth takes priority over personal preferences. Causing a weaker brother to sin. In 1 Corinthians 8:4-13, Paul clarifies the teaching on this subject. First, he says that eating meat offered to an idol is not immoral, because “an idol is nothing at all.” An idol is an inanimate object. “Food,” he says, “does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.” The meat itself is amoral. However, there is more to consider, namely the brother with a weak conscience. Some believers, especially those with a background of idol worship, were still very sensitive concerning this issue and considered it morally wrong to eat meat sacrificed to idols. Under no circumstances, Paul says, should a believer encourage another believer to violate his conscience. To the pure, all things are pure (Titus 1:15), but to one with a weak conscience, meat taken from pagan temples was spiritually defiled. It would be better never to eat meat again than to cause a believer to sin against his conscience. The “weaker” brother is not someone who simply objects to a certain practice, but one who is in danger of falling into sin. To illustrate, let’s say there are two 1st-century Christians named Demetrius and Clement. Both are former idolaters, now saved by faith in Christ. Demetrius shuns everything to do with his old way of life, including the meat sold in the marketplace, because, for him, eating such meat would constitute a return to paganism. Clement avoids the temple and refuses to participate in the pagan festivals, but he has no problem eating the meat from the market. Clement understands (correctly) that an idol has no power to corrupt good meat, and, for him, eating such meat is a non-issue. Then one day, as both men are in the marketplace, Demetrius sees Clement eating meat that was sacrificed to idols. Demetrius is horrified, but Clement laughs it off and encourages Demetrius to eat some, too. When Demetrius hesitates, Clement cuts off a piece and hands it to him. Demetrius—emboldened by Clement’s confidence—eats the meat. Biblically, both believers have sinned. Clement sinned by violating the conscience of a fellow believer. Demetrius sinned in that he essentially returned to idolatry—at least, that’s what his conscience is telling him. More importantly, Demetrius is learning how to ignore his conscience—a very dangerous thing to learn. The principle here is that the conscience of a weaker Christian is more important than individual freedom. Doing something “permitted” should never hinder the spiritual health of someone else. Maintaining a pure testimony. In 1 Corinthians 10:25-32, Paul again emphasizes the believer’s liberty and what should limit that liberty. If you buy meat for your own use, don’t inquire where it came from; it doesn’t really matter whether it was sacrificed to an idol or not. “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). However, if you are invited to dinner and someone there says, “This meat was offered to idols,” then graciously refrain from eating. Since your associate obviously considers the meat to be “tainted” by the idols, do not eat it for his conscience’s sake—even though your own conscience is fine. The Christian glorifies God when he limits his freedom for the spiritual benefit of others. Compromise with the world. In the letter to the church of Thyatira, Jesus rebukes them for tolerating a prophetess who “misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols” (Revelation 2:20). This is a different situation from what Paul was dealing with in Corinth. It seems that members of the church of Thyatira were partaking of the pagan “love feasts,” celebrated with gross immorality and feasting. These believers were not simply buying meat in the marketplace; they were actually attending idolatrous festivals and joining in the sin of the idolaters. (See verse 14 for a similar rebuke of the church of Pergamos.) Here is a summary of the Bible’s teaching on eating meat sacrificed to idols: Eating meat offered to an idol is not inherently wrong. Meat is not “defiled” because it was taken from a pagan sacrifice. God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17). However, some Christians consider meat offered to an idol to be defiled, and for them it is, since they must follow their conscience. Their scruples should be respected by other Christians with a stronger conscience. Love dictates that all Christians make allowances for their weaker brothers. There are certain cultures today where idolatry is still practiced and where the specifics of the Bible’s teaching about sacrificial meat are still timely. For the rest of us, here are the principles which should govern our participation in the “gray areas” of life: 1) Having the “right” to do something does not mean we are free to do it in every circumstance, regardless of its effects on others. 2) The believer’s liberty in Christ can and should be voluntarily limited in order not to cause a weaker brother to sin by violating his conscience. Liberty is limited in love. 3) Maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of love may require a believer to give up his personal “right” to a thing. “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). 4) We should avoid anything that would make a weak Christian think less of his faith or that would make an unsaved person feel more at ease in his sin. GotQuestions.org 1 Corinthians 10:29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man's; for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience? Amplified I mean for the sake of his conscience, not yours, [do not eat it]. For why should another man’s scruples apply to me and my liberty of action be determined by his conscience? Wuest I mean by conscience, not his own but that of the other person, for to what [good] purpose is my liberty being censured by another’s conscience? (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) Zodhiates But I am not speaking of his own conscience, but the one of another who is different. For why is my liberty judged by another's conscience? NET 1 Corinthians 10:29 I do not mean yours but the other person's. For why is my freedom being judged by another's conscience? NLT 1 Corinthians 10:29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? ESV 1 Corinthians 10:29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? NIV 1 Corinthians 10:29 the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? GNT 1 Corinthians 10:29 συνείδησιν δὲ λέγω οὐχὶ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἀλλὰ τὴν τοῦ ἑτέρου. ἱνατί γὰρ ἡ ἐλευθερία μου κρίνεται ὑπὸ ἄλλης συνειδήσεως; KJV 1 Corinthians 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? YLT 1 Corinthians 10:29 and conscience, I say, not of thyself, but of the other, for why is it that my liberty is judged by another's conscience? ASV 1 Corinthians 10:29 conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other's; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience? CSB 1 Corinthians 10:29 I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person's. For why is my freedom judged by another person's conscience? MIT 1 Corinthians 10:29 I say, "conscience"—not yours, but that of the other party. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:29 "Conscience, " I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? NRS 1 Corinthians 10:29 I mean the other's conscience, not your own. For why should my liberty be subject to the judgment of someone else's conscience? NAB 1 Corinthians 10:29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other's. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else's conscience? NJB 1 Corinthians 10:29 not your own conscience, I mean, but the other person's. Why should my freedom be governed by somebody else's conscience? GWN 1 Corinthians 10:29 I'm not talking about your conscience but the other person's conscience. Why should my freedom be judged by someone else's conscience? BBE 1 Corinthians 10:29 Right and wrong, I say, not for you, but for the other man; for the fact that I am free is not dependent on another man's sense of right or wrong. not: 1Co 10:32 8:9-13 Ro 14:15-21 why: Ro 14:16 2Co 8:21 1Th 5:22 1 Corinthians 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries I mean not your own conscience (suneidesis), but the other man's - So Paul is not referring to the conscience of the Christian eating the meat but that of the other person. for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience (suneidesis)? - Amplified = "For why should another man’s scruples apply to me and my liberty of action be determined by his conscience?" Here Paul is assuming the role of the Christian invited to dinner and he refers to another's (allos-another of the same king) which seems to refer to the conscience of another fellow Christian. Jack Arnold - What Paul is saying is that he will not exercise liberty if that liberty is going to be censured or judged by another person. Furthermore, rather than let an unsaved man incorrectly judge his conscience, it is better to set aside the questionable practice. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil (Rom. 14:16). Suppose you were going to a movie (a perfectly good one) and an unbeliever sees you. He lumps all movies into the same category—sinful. They are all right for him to see, but he thinks Christians ought not to see any movies at all (a false concept). If the unsaved man raises the issue, perhaps this is a reason to set aside one’s freedom for the good of the gospel. Zodhiates explains it this way - Paul declares the independence of his own conscience, but maintains that more significant than his independence is his love for those who belong to the same community of Christians. Christians have a redeemed conscience, but there is room for each one to develop variably by the grace of God. To be judged by another's conscience means to form or express an opinion as to where someone else stands insofar as his relationship to God is concerned. Such judgment is usually unfavorable. One Christian who chooses to act differently than another is often considered to be less intimately related to Christ. In this regard, we would do well to heed the words of our Lord: "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). Our judgment need not be dependent upon the judgment of others, but it must be correct, as our Lord said in Luke 12:57, "Yes, and why even of yourselves judge you not what is right?" Righteous judgment does not preclude independent judgment, but it has to be investigative and without prejudice. Spurgeon -That man may not be able to do it without injury to himself, but I may, and I have liberty so to do; but yet, as a Christian man, I am to consider his want of power, and I am not to use my liberty lest I do harm to my brother. 1 Corinthians 10:30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? Amplified If I partake [of my food] with thankfulness, why am I accused and spoken evil of because of that for which I give thanks? Wuest As for myself, assuming that I partake with thankfulness, why am I being evil spoken of unjustly because of that for which I am giving thanks? (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) International Children's Bible - If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? NET 1 Corinthians 10:30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for the food that I give thanks for? NLT 1 Corinthians 10:30 If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it? ESV 1 Corinthians 10:30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? NIV 1 Corinthians 10:30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? GNT 1 Corinthians 10:30 εἰ ἐγὼ χάριτι μετέχω, τί βλασφημοῦμαι ὑπὲρ οὗ ἐγὼ εὐχαριστῶ; KJV 1 Corinthians 10:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? YLT 1 Corinthians 10:30 and if I thankfully do partake, why am I evil spoken of, for that for which I give thanks? ASV 1 Corinthians 10:30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? CSB 1 Corinthians 10:30 If I partake with thanks, why am I slandered because of something I give thanks for? MIT 1 Corinthians 10:30 If I partake with gratitude, why am I slandered for eating something for which I give thanks? NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? NRS 1 Corinthians 10:30 If I partake with thankfulness, why should I be denounced because of that for which I give thanks? NAB 1 Corinthians 10:30 If I partake thankfully, why am I reviled for that over which I give thanks? NJB 1 Corinthians 10:30 Provided that I accept it with gratitude, why should I be blamed for eating food for which I give thanks? GWN 1 Corinthians 10:30 If I give thanks to God for the food I eat, why am I condemned for that? BBE 1 Corinthians 10:30 But if I give praise to God for the food which I take, let no man say evil of me for that reason. for which: Ro 14:6 1Ti 4:3,4 1 Corinthians 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PAUL IS SLANDERED Zodhiates - Even when one is living a dedicated life and is doing his utmost to win souls to Christ, he is often criticized. In fact, it often seems that the harder one tries to please and serve his Lord, the more evil is spoken of him. We see that even a servant as great as Paul suffered in the same manner. If I partake with thankfulness - Amplified - If I partake [of my food] with thankfulness." NLT - "If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it" Paul is presenting himself as if he were in the home of an unbeliever and says he partakes with thankfulness which is charis our word for grace. Zodhiates - This acceptance by the Apostle Paul was bathed in the grace of God, for Paul was extremely careful not do anything but what that grace led him to do, in this particular case counting it as a benevolent opportunity. Without the grace of God there can be no true thanksgiving. The grace of God makes every gift of God acceptable with gratitude, recognizing that one does not deserve it, but has the privilege of receiving it. When one is a recipient of the grace of God (cháris), he is also grateful. Paul implies that he, as a partaker of the grace of God, should also seize every opportunity to win a soul to Christ, such as an invitation by an unbeliever to join him in a meal. Grace compromises in nothing that is essentially sinful, but it will take advantage of every opportunity that may lead someone to Jesus Christ. This is the context in which Paul would consider an invitation to dinner at an unbeliever's house. Paul willingly accepted and used every opportunity that the grace of God presented to him. Why am I slandered (blasphemeo) concerning that for which I give thanks (eucharisteo)? - NLT - "why should I be condemned for eating it?" eucharisteo gives us our word "Eucharist" another name some give to the Lord's Supper. Zodhiates - Why, Paul asks, is my reputation hurt by slander as if my decision to accept an invitation to eat at an unbeliever's house was not guided by grace. The intimation is that one moved by the grace of God should be grateful for that which it is permissible for him to have and should not be condemned. MacArthur - We should give thanks for the food and for our liberty and then express our liberty by choosing not to eat the food that offends the brother. How can we be thankful to the Lord for something a Christian brother or sister is going to stumble over? Reformation Study Bible - This question makes plain that Paul had been accused of eating meat offered to idols, with the suggestion that he has no right forbidding the Corinthians to do the same (1 Cor 9:19+). Giving Thanks "For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?" 1 Corinthians 10:30 In 1860, a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan near Evanston, Illinois. Edward Spencer, a nearby ministerial student, saw the event and waded again and again into the frigid waters to rescue seventeen passengers. In the process, his health was permanently damaged and he had to live with complications for the rest of his life. Years later at his funeral, it was noted that not one of the people he rescued ever thanked him. Giving thanks, even for such a monumental task as saving someone's life, seems to go unnoticed today. And if something so large as this can go unthanked, how many smaller acts of kindness go unnoticed on a daily basis? How often do you give God thanks? God desires that we would live in a spirit of thankfulness each day, daily pointing out kindness from others and being grateful for the goodness of others and from Him. When was the last time you made a special note to thank God for all He's done for you? We may say thanks for a meal or express gratitude after an answer to prayer, but how often do we make time to thank God? God has blessed each of us in so many countless ways and deserves constant praise from our lips. Take time today to thank God for His goodness. Carve out a time in your schedule when you can be alone with God and reflect on His blessings. Perhaps write them down. You'll soon find that God's goodness cannot be fathomed. Make a point of constantly living in a state of thankfulness and never go a day without giving God thanks. Growth Principle: Taking time to give God thanks will remind you just how blessed you truly are. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Amplified So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God. Wuest Whether, therefore, you are eating or drinking or whatever you are doing, be doing all to the glory of God. (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) NET 1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. NLT 1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ESV 1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. NIV 1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. GNT 1 Corinthians 10:31 εἴτε οὖν ἐσθίετε εἴτε πίνετε εἴτε τι ποιεῖτε, πάντα εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ ποιεῖτε. KJV 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. YLT 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether, then, ye eat, or drink, or do anything, do all to the glory of God; ASV 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. CSB 1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God's glory. MIT 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything to God's glory. NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. NRS 1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. NAB 1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. NJB 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whatever you eat, then, or drink, and whatever else you do, do it all for the glory of God. GWN 1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything to the glory of God. BBE 1 Corinthians 10:31 So then, if it is a question of food or drink, or any other thing, whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. eat: 1Co 7:34 De 12:7,12,18 Ne 8:16-18 Zec 7:5,6 Lu 11:41 Col 3:17,23 1Pe 4:11 1 Corinthians 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1 Peter 4:10-11+ As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Cor 6:19-20+ Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify (doxazo - aorist imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) God in your body. 1 Corinthians 11:7+ For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. THE SUMMUM BONUM OF MAN'S EXISTENCE! Summum Bonum "is a Latin expression meaning the highest or ultimate good, which was introduced by the Roman philosopher Cicero[1][2] to denote the fundamental principle on which some system of ethics is based — that is, the aim of actions, which, if consistently pursued, will lead to the best possible life." D L Moody - Let us not be Christians as to the few great things of our lives, and atheists as to the many small things which fill up a far greater space of them. God is in both, waiting for the glory we can give Him in them.
1 Coríntios 10
MacArthur - When you confessed Jesus as Lord, you did so to the glory of God. Now whatever else you do—even the most mundane functions of life such as eating and drinking—should be focused on the glory of God. That should be the underlying attitude of your life. Jesus observed His focus in this way: “I honor My Father…. I do not seek My own glory” (John 8:49, 50). You will grow spiritually when you follow Christ’s example of submitting your life to Christ’s lordship, you will be characterized by His humble desire to glorify the Father. (Truth for Today) (Related Resource: The Holy Spirit-Walking Like Jesus Walked!) Question: What is the glory of God? Answer: The glory of God is the beauty of His spirit. It is not an aesthetic beauty or a material beauty, but it is the beauty that emanates from His character, from all that He is. James 1:10 calls on a rich man to “glory in his humiliation,” indicating a glory that does not mean riches or power or material beauty. This glory can crown man or fill the earth. It is seen within man and in the earth, but it is not of them; it is of God. The glory of man is the beauty of man’s spirit, which is fallible and eventually passes away, and is therefore humiliating—as the verse tells us. But the glory of God, which is manifested in all His attributes together, never passes away. It is eternal. Isaiah 43:7 says that God created us for His glory. In context with the other verses, it can be said that man “glorifies” God because through man, God’s glory can be seen in things such as love, music, heroism and so forth—things belonging to God that we are carrying “in jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7). We are the vessels which “contain” His glory. All the things we are able to do and to be find their source in Him. God interacts with nature in the same way. Nature exhibits His glory. His glory is revealed to man’s mind through the material world in many ways, and often in different ways to different people. One person may be thrilled by the sight of the mountains, and another person may love the beauty of the sea. But that which is behind them both (God’s glory) speaks to both people and connects them to God. In this way, God is able to reveal Himself to all men, no matter their race, heritage or location. As Psalm 19:1-4 says, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands; day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their utterances to the end of the world.” Psalm 73:24 calls heaven itself “glory.” It used to be common to hear Christians talk of death as being “received unto glory,” which is a phrase borrowed from this Psalm. When the Christian dies, he will be taken into God’s presence, and in His presence will be naturally surrounded by God’s glory. We will be taken to the place where God’s beauty literally resides—the beauty of His Spirit will be there, because He will be there. Again, the beauty of His Spirit (or the essence of Who He Is) is His “glory.” In that place, His glory will not need to come through man or nature, rather it will be seen clearly, just as 1 Corinthians 13:12 says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known.” In the human/earthly sense, glory is a beauty or vibrancy that rests upon the material of the earth (Psalm 37:20, Psalm 49:17), and in that sense, it fades. But the reason it fades is that material things do not last. They die and wither, but the glory that is in them belongs to God, and returns to Him when death or decay takes the material. Think of the rich man mentioned earlier. The verse says, “The rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.” What does this mean? The verse is admonishing the rich man to realize that his wealth and power and beauty come from God, and to be humbled by the realization that it is God who makes him what he is, and gives him all he has. And the knowledge that he will pass away like the grass is what will bring him to the realization that God is the one from whom glory comes. God’s glory is the source, the wellspring from which all smaller glories run. Since God is the one from whom glory comes, He will not let stand the assertion that glory comes from man or from the idols of man or from nature. In Isaiah 42:8, we see an example of God’s jealousy over His glory. This jealousy for His own glory is what Paul is talking about in Romans 1:21-25 when he speaks of the ways people worship the creature rather than the Creator. In other words, they looked at the object through which God’s glory was coming, and, instead of giving God the credit for it, they worshiped that animal or tree or man as if the beauty it possessed originated from within itself. This is the very heart of idolatry and is a very common occurrence. Everyone who has ever lived has committed this error at one time or another. We have all “exchanged” the glory of God in favor of the “glory of man.” This is the mistake many people continue to make: trusting in earthly things, earthly relationships, their own powers or talents or beauty, or the goodness they see in others. But when these things fade and fail as they will inevitably do (being only temporary carriers of the greater glory), these people despair. What we all need to realize is that God’s glory is constant, and as we journey through life we will see it manifest here and there, in this person or that forest, or in a story of love or heroism, fiction or non-fiction, or our own personal lives. But it all goes back to God in the end. And the only way to God is through His Son, Jesus Christ. We will find the very source of all beauty in Him, in heaven, if we are in Christ. Nothing will be lost to us. All those things that faded in life we will find again in Him. GotQuestions.org J H Jowett -RELATING EVERYTHING TO GOD “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” —1Corinthians 10:23-33. AND so all my days would constitute a vast temple, and life would be a constant worship. This is surely the science and art of holy living—to relate everything to the Infinite. When I take my common meal and relate it to “the glory of God,” the common meal becomes a sacramental feast. When my labour is joined “unto the Lord,” the sacred wedding turns my workshop into a church. When I link the country lane to the Saviour, I am walking in the Garden of Eden, and paradise is restored. The fact of the matter is, we never see anything truly until we see it in the light of the glory of God. Set a dull duty in that light and it shines like a diamond. Set a bit of drudgery in that light and it becomes transfigured like the wing of a starling when the sunshine falls upon it. Everything is seen amiss until we see it in the glory! And, therefore, it is my wisdom to set everything in that light, and to do all to the glory of God. Question - How can I glorify God in everything I do? Answer - The concept of “glorifying” God is that of honoring God with one’s life 1 Corinthians 10:31 teaches believers to honor the Lord in all they do: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” The context of this verse includes a discussion of the freedom believers have in Christ. We are free to make personal choices in life, but we are not to do anything that causes another person to “stumble” or sin in his own walk with God. We are to seek the good of others (1 Corinthians 10:32–33). Watch the Video - How To Glorify God? Further, believers may have the “right” to do anything, but not everything is beneficial (1 Corinthians 10:23). Paul used the illustration of eating meat that had been dedicated to idols. To him, such a dedication meant nothing since idols are not real gods. However, he would abstain from ever eating meat again for the good of others who might sin by following his example. Believers serve the Lord both through their personal lives and in their actions toward others. To glorify God requires full commitment to Him. In Colossians 3:23 we read, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” The context includes Paul’s directions for Christian slaves working for human masters. Even in this role, their work was to be done as if they were serving Jesus (Colossians 3:24). To honor or glorify God in everything includes having a strong work ethic, even when we work for those we do not like or labor in difficult situations. Glorifying God in everything means we honor Him in our thoughts and actions. Our thoughts are to be set on the things of God (Psalm 1) and the Word of God (Psalm 119:11). When we focus on God’s Word, we know what is right and can follow through with doing what is right. Jesus always glorified His Father in heaven. There was never a moment when He did not glorify God. Our Lord’s every thought, word, and action was totally devoted to the glory of God. When Jesus faced the temptations of Satan (Matthew 4:1–11), Jesus quoted Scripture all three times. Jesus was a man of the Word, fully committed to God’s will, and His example in overcoming temptation offers hope to all of us who seek to stand firm during times of testing. Another way we glorify God in everything we do is in the proper treatment of our bodies. In speaking of sexual immorality, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 teaches, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” To glorify God in everything, we must exercise faith (Hebrews 11:6), love without hypocrisy (Romans 12:9), deny ourselves (Luke 9:23), be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), and offer ourselves as “living sacrifices” to God (Romans 12:1). Every area of life is important to evaluate and live to its fullest for the glory and honor of God. We should strive for every thought and deed to bring joy to our Father in heaven. GotQuestions.org Your Purpose Matters “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” 1 Corinthians 10:31–33 Many people are looking for a purpose or meaning in their lives. Books regularly hit the best-seller list by promising help in this search. Television is filled with programs and advertisements that offer (usually for a small fee or three easy payments) to guide people to finding meaning. Yet such efforts are focused in the wrong place. This life is not about us, but about God. We do not belong to ourselves, but to Him. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Charles Spurgeon said, “If God had willed it, each of us might have entered Heaven at the moment of conversion. Why then are we here? Would God keep His children out of paradise a single moment longer than was necessary? We remain on earth as sowers to scatter good seed; as ploughmen to break up the fallow ground; as heralds publishing salvation. We are here as the ‘salt of the earth,’ to be a blessing to the world. We are here to glorify Christ in our daily life.” The life that is aimed at bringing glory to God will look different from one that is focused on human accomplishment and meaning. Rather than trying to be promoted, we will be humble. Rather than trying to be prominent, we will be serving. Rather than trying to be successful, we will be faithful. The world may not value such a life, but God certainly does. Growth Principle: Seeking to glorify God in all that we do changes how we think, how we speak, and how we act. 1 Corinthians 10:32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; Amplified Do not let yourselves be [hindrances by giving] an offense to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God do not lead others into sin by your mode of life]; Wuest Be becoming those who do not cause others to sin by your mode of life, giving no occasion of stumbling both to Jews and Gentiles and also the Church of God, (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) Zodhiates Continue to become inoffensive both to the Jews and to the Gentiles, and also to the church of God. NET 1 Corinthians 10:32 Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, NLT 1 Corinthians 10:32 Don't give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. ESV 1 Corinthians 10:32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, NIV 1 Corinthians 10:32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God-- GNT 1 Corinthians 10:32 ἀπρόσκοποι καὶ Ἰουδαίοις γίνεσθε καὶ Ἕλλησιν καὶ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ, KJV 1 Corinthians 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: YLT 1 Corinthians 10:32 become offenceless, both to Jews and Greeks, and to the assembly of God; ASV 1 Corinthians 10:32 Give no occasions of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God: CSB 1 Corinthians 10:32 Give no offense to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God, MIT 1 Corinthians 10:32 Be blameless in regard to the Jews, the Greeks, and God's church. NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, NRS 1 Corinthians 10:32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, NAB 1 Corinthians 10:32 Avoid giving offense, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, NJB 1 Corinthians 10:32 Never be a cause of offence, either to Jews or to Greeks or to the Church of God, GWN 1 Corinthians 10:32 Don't cause others to stumble, whether they are Jewish, Greek, or members of God's church. BBE 1 Corinthians 10:32 Give no cause of trouble to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God. no: 1Co 10:33 1 Cor 8:13 Ro 14:13 2Co 6:3 Php 1:10 the church: 1Co 11:22 Ac 20:28 1Ti 3:5,15 1 Corinthians 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PAUL DESCRIBES THREE GROUPS TO WHICH WE SHOULD BE INOFFENSIVE Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God - The three groups are Jews and Greeks refer to unsaved and the church to the saved. In short, this is every person in the world! "Once individuals become members of the church of God, they cease to be what they were. They are God's own peculiar (private or special) people; no longer are they citizens of the world." (Zodhiates) Arnold - With much light comes much responsibility. The strong brother has been given special light on the subject of questionable practices but he must use this light in a responsible way, even restricting his freedom if necessary. It is like light that comes into the eye. The more light that comes in, the more the pupil restricts. So it is with Christian maturity. The more light we have, the more we willingly restrict our lives for the cause of Christ and the love of the brethren. The Christian is to live a life which brings the least offense to the unsaved and the saved. As Christians, we are not to deliberately offend anyone. We cannot help offend at times because we have to be faithful to Christ, but in the area of questionable practices, our lives are to be lived in such a positive way as to not give offense by misuse or abuse of Christian liberty. No offense is an adjective (aproskopos) which is a way of saying Christians must not become something over which others stumble or as Young's Literal says "become offenceless!" The word no offense speaks of "relational integrity" (See digression on Integrity an attribute that is rapidly vanishing in American society and even in Christianity!) meaning that believers are to continually live lives of true integrity that do not cause others to stumble. Our lives are to be blameless in the sense of not offending or not causing someone else to stumble. The word describes one who does not lead others into sin (as might a stronger brother who eats meat sacrificed to idols in front of a weaker brother). Is your life a stumbling block to others? Zodhiates - The illustration of the Christian running a race in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 applies to the whole tenth chapter of 1 Corinthians. In his race, the Christian does not want others to hinder him. The believer is supposed to strive or struggle (agōnízomai [75], to agonize or strive for victory and to exercise self-control; egkrateúetai, the present tense of egkrateúomai [1467], to exercise self-control [1 Cor. 9:25]) for the prize. How well, however, Christians run to receive the prize (brabeíon [1017]) depends not only on themselves, but also on bystanders who may thrust themselves in the path of the race and become a stumbling block to the runners. The picture that the Apostle Paul wants to present to us as Christians is that we are to run the race with the consciousness that there is a prize to be won, and in order to win it we must struggle and exercise self-discipline. But it is also our passive duty not to be a stumbling block to others who are running. When a Christian begins to run the race himself, he then becomes conscious of the fact that at any time he may become a stumbling block to others who are also in the race with him. To have a conscience void of offense (apróskopon) takes conscious effort on the part of an individual. The Apostle Paul tried to develop this in himself, and he is advising the Corinthian Christians to individually develop the same in themselves. MacArthur - That many people are offended by the gospel is their problem, but when they are needlessly offended by our way of living, that is our problem; and it dishonors the Lord.