1 Corinthians 10
Verse 10. If in the ninth verse there is a solemn warning with regard to turning against God as in Numbers 21, in this verse is an equally needed word on the subject of murmuring, pointing to the flagrant case of this kind among the children of Israel which is recorded in Numbers 16:4141But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord. (Numbers 16:41). The believer who habitually walks with God, is not likely to be found finding fault with what He does.
The 11th verse is, like the 6th, an important one, throwing a flood of light on much of Old Testament history as recorded therein by the divine Penman:
“Now all these things happened to them as types, and have been written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages are come” (JND). Another has said of this verse:
“There cannot be a more important canon for our intelligent and profitable reading of these Old Testament oracles. The facts happened to them, but they were divinely cast in systematical figures or forms of truth for admonishing us, who find ourselves at so critical a juncture of the world’s history. They contain therefore far more than moral lessons, however weighty. They do disclose man’s heart, and let out God’s mind and affections, but they have the larger and deeper instruction of events which illustrate immense principles such as sovereign grace on the one hand, and pure law on the other, with a mingled system of government on legal ground, while mercy and goodness, availed through a mediator, which came in when the people worshiped a calf at Horeb. There is thus an orderly, as well as prophetic, character in the mode these incidents are presented, which, when lit up with the light of Christ, and His redemption and the truth now revealed, prove their inspiration in a self-evident way to him who has the teaching of the Holy Spirit. Israel only witnessed the facts, and the writer was enabled by the Spirit of God to record them in an order which was far beyond his own thoughts, or the intelligence of any before redemption; but now that this mighty work of God is accomplished, their figurative meaning stands out in the fullness of a wide system, and with a depth which reveals God, not man, as the true Author. Be it our happiness not only to know, but to do the truth! The scriptural history of Israel is thus exceedingly solemn as well as instructive. It was so recounted by the Spirit as to be typical of us.” (W. Kelly: “Notes on 1 Corinthians”).
Let him then that thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. God has made abundant provision for the guidance of His children through the world, but let them avail themselves of it! It is all ready for them, plainly written in His Word.
Another verse for the saint of God who may be passing through trial is that which follows (verse 13):
“No temptation has taken you but such as is according to man’s nature; and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able (to bear), but will with the temptation make the issue also, so that (ye) should be able to bear it” (JND).
No load ever too great to be borne; and the issue of the trial, made with the trial itself; this the gracious and kind provision of our God.
The Apostle now returns to the subject of idolatry, a great danger, as we have seen, to the Corinthian believers. At the outset he enjoins them to flee from it; that is not to temporize with it in the least. The believer is on dangerous ground when he thinks to compromise in the smallest degree with anything God has not sanctioned. Flee from it! Flee from it!
He speaks as to wise, or rather intelligent persons; they are to judge what he says,
“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The loaf which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? Because we (being) many are one loaf (or bread), one body; for we all partake of that one loaf (or bread).”
The Apostle is speaking of the Lord’s supper, the moral center and object of the assembly, as it has been called, and the token of association of all who are linked together in church fellowship; is this not, at least in symbol, fellowship with the blood and body of Christ? The blood is mentioned first, as that which speaks most powerfully to the Christian heart; the loaf is mentioned last, because it expresses both the body of Christ offered in death, and the fellowship of the saints with Christ as one loaf, one body. In the comparative case, brought out in the 18th verse, of Israel according to flesh, they who eat the sacrifices are in communion with the altar. How holily we should guard in personal life, and in our associations, what is committed to our trust!
In the eighth chapter it is brought out (verse 4) that an idol is nothing; there is none other God but one. Does the Apostle then say now that the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything? No;
That idol sacrifices were sacrifices to demons, is stated at least twice in the Old Testament (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); Psa. 106:3737Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, (Psalm 106:37)). And some of the Corinthian believers, as was pointed out in the eighth chapter, puffed up with their knowledge (knowledge puffs up, but love edifies), sat down to eat in an idol house. How wrong it was! And doubly so, because of the truth brought now to bear upon their consciences in these two highly instructive chapters. He who partook of what was offered to an idol, had fellowship with the idol, no matter how little (if at all) he was aware of it.
“Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth” – or advantage (verse 24).
Here are general rules which God has provided for the guidance of His children in their path through life in many circumstances such as those discussed in the verses which follow.
It was the custom to sell carcases for food in the common way, after the animals had been offered in an idol’s temple.
“Everything sold in the shambles” – the market – “eat, making no inquiry for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness. But if any one of the unbelievers invite you, and you are minded to go, all that is set before you eat, making no inquiry for conscience sake. But if anyone say to you, This is offered to holy purposes (or, to a god), do not eat, for his sake that pointed it out, and conscience sake; but conscience, I mean, not thine own, but that of the other; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience? If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I spoken evil of, for what I give thanks for?” (1 Cor. 10:25-3025Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: 26For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 27If 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. 28But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: 29Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? 30For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? (1 Corinthians 10:25‑30) JND).
Since the earth is the Lord’s, I may eat all food that is sold in the market, and what is on an unbeliever’s table, if I should be there for a meal. But the circumstances are altered for the Christian, if there were present one who had just come out of idolatry, whose conscience is not free; for his sake I am not to eat, though to me all is common meat. By this self-denial, I do not expose my liberty to be judged by another, or bring about evil speaking for a thing for which I give thanks; and the scruples of the weakest saint are respected.
And now the subject is drawn to a close with the laying down of a golden rule for Christian conduct (verse 31). How far reaching it is, and no room is left for the natural will, so prone to assert itself!
May you and I, dear young Christian, know more and more of this verse in the practice of our own lives! No occasion of stumbling should be, given to any – to Jew, or Gentile, or to the church of God, the Apostle presenting himself as an example in godly walk with the qualification,
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (verses 32, 33, and 1 of the following chapter).
(Continued)