In this chapter Israel is used to further illustrate this mixture of life and godliness on the one hand: and with profession of religion on the other: both externally occupying the same position. All Israel, including the mixed multitude that left Egypt with them, were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Freed from the tyranny of Pharaoh, and placed under the leadership of Moses, they did eat the same spiritual food, and drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
We see this in the followers of Christ when He was on earth. (Compare John 2:23-2523Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. (John 2:23‑25) with 6:66-71). In the parables we find tares in the wheat fields; good and bad fish in the net (Matt. 13); the man without the wedding garment (Matt. 22); wise and foolish virgins waiting for the Bridegroom (Matt. 25); good and wicked servants. And in the history of the professing church, as the witness for Christ, we find the mixture (Rev. 2 and 3).
All who are real are born of God, and sealed with the Holy Spirit, and are members of the body of Christ. No unconverted can be in that body (1 Cor. 12:12, 1312For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12‑13); Eph. 4:44There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:4)).
It is therefore into this external place that baptism admits us. We may take the Lord’s supper, and be attentive to all the meetings, but none of these can save the soul. If we have not eternal life, we will assuredly be left behind when the Lord comes for His people, and will eventually be cast into the lake of fire.
Verse 5. “With many of them God was not well pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness.” This does not mean that they were lost. All the men who left Egypt died in the wilderness, except Joshua and Caleb. The things that happened to Israel are to teach us. Moses, Aaron, Miriam all needed chastening. Moses, the law, could not bring them into the land. Joshua, the Savior, can bring us in, but we need chastening on the way (Heb. 12:5-115And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:5‑11)). There is much about us all that needs self-judgment constantly. Our great High Priest strengthens us. Our Advocate with the Father maintains us if any man sin. So we are chastened and exercised by God’s dealings with us.
“If ye live after the flesh ye shall die” (Rom. 8:1313For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13)). That is one who has no spiritual life; he may be all that pleases men, but he cannot bear fruit for God. We cannot always point them out. “The Lord knoweth them that are His.”
If you have any doubts about your salvation, dear reader, get it settled at once. Go straight to the Lord, and get from Him by His Word, this full assurance of faith.
In our behaviors we all more or less fail, but our standing in Christ is eternally perfect. He is perfected in glory now, and “by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” This blessed assurance should encourage us in faithfulness to the Lord in our ways.
Verse 6. Lust is gratifying the flesh.
Verse 7. Through idolatry, the true God is displaced from our souls.
Verse 8. Instead of fornication, purity of life is a necessity.
Verse 11. All these things happened as types, and were written for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages are come. Let us therefore hear the warning, “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” None of us are safe from falling now, though we may be saved for eternity.
Next we see God’s faithfulness (verse 13), “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” This should make our hearts rejoice, and encourage us to look to Him as our resource in time of trial.
Verses 14-17. “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.” And to clear their minds fully he speaks of the ground of communion of Christians, Jews and Idolaters.
Verses 16 and 17 is Christian communion. “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? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.” It seems plain that no unconverted person could take this place. Notice that the cup comes first here; when we believe the gospel of our salvation, our sins are washed away, and we learn that we are forgiven, and then God gives us His Holy Spirit to dwell in us, uniting us to Christ our living Head in glory. Our communion is therefore on this ground—that our sins are cleansed away by His blood, and we are now members of His body, and this is expressed in partaking of this bread.
The One bread or loaf alludes to this oneness of Christ and His members. We shall see in chapter 11 that we partake of it in remembrance of Christ in His death. But in this chapter (10) it is the communion of the blood and the body of Christ, and thus in our minds we may include every member as we look upon that One bread.
Verse 18. Israel after the flesh partook of the sacrifices, and were thus identified with Israel’s altar.
Verses 19-22. “What say I then?” and he brings out the serious truth to those who had been idolaters, that eating their sacrifices offered to idols was having fellowship with demons (evil spirits), for while an idol is nothing in itself, yet the power of Satan is behind it, to keep men’s hearts away from the living and true God (Deut. 32:1717They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. (Deuteronomy 32:17)). This should deliver the Christians from doing such a thing, for it was morally impossible to go on with the table of the Lord, and the table of devils; they could not have fellowship with both. It would be to provoke the Lord to jealousy. Are we stronger than He?
Some Christians have ignorantly spoken of sectarian tables as tables of devils. This is entirely wrong, yet we see in such passages as Acts 20:3030Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. (Acts 20:30) that Christian men—your own selves—arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them (see also Rom. 16:17, 1817Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17‑18); and 2 Tim. 1:1515This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. (2 Timothy 1:15)). These are clearly in division, and walk as men (chapters 1 and 3), and we could not say that they are gathered to Christ’s name, as in Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20). They rather might be spoken of as men’s tables, though that expression is not in the Word; one could not put the Lord’s name to their gathering. Another thing, we know that godly souls, earnest and sincere, enjoy personal communion with the Lord in whatever company they are. How gracious the Lord is with His people in all the confusion that has come in.
Verses 23, 24. The instructions teach us to seek the edification of others, even in what we feel at liberty to do. We are to seek each other’s good. In chapter 8, we had the importance of this, lest we should turn a brother from the Lord.
Verse 25. That which was bought in the markets, they could eat without inquiry, for the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof: and if they went to a feast, they were to eat what was set before them, asking no question for conscience sake; but if said to them, “This is offered in sacrifice to idols,” then he was not to eat, because of the man’s conscience who said it, yet they gave thanks, and were going to partake of it as coming from the Lord. Why should this be? The answer is, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all things to God’s glory. Giving no occasion of stumbling, neither to the Jew, nor to the Greek, 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. Blessed happy servant he! and he added: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:11Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)).