1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1
Ps Paul Cheng
~6 min read
Dear Bethelites,
The Apostle Paul had to spend three chapters stressing to the Corinthians that there was only one living and true God and all the idols were nothing, not real and false. Some Corinthians were wondering, “In that case, then the food offered to idols meant nothing and it could not draw them closer or further away from God. So we have the liberty to eat the food offered to idols.”
We always think that the answer to any question is surely, a yes or a no! But sometimes, the answer to a particular question may not be a simple, yes or no! It depends on the context, or the situation, or the way the question was asked. Your child may ask you, “Mum, is it alright for me to spend some time with my classmates to get to know them?” The answer is, yes! Then your child says, “So, does it mean I can go to my friend’s party where there is drinking and other worldly activities?” To that second question, the answer is no! You would say, “Spending time with your classmates, yes, spending time with your classmates in those kinds of activities, no!”
Is the idol nothing? The answer is, yes! Can one go to the temple, where there is the worship service and then eat the food offered to idols? The answer is, no! Can one eat the food bought from the market place which may have been offered to idols? The answer is, yes (because the idol is nothing)! Can one eat the food offered to idols, and stumble our weak brothers and sisters in Christ? The answer is, no! Does one have the right to eat? The answer is, yes! Can one insist on our rights in any situation? The answer is, no (you must be willing to give up your rights for the sake of the gospel)! The answers to all these questions, depend on the context, situation or the way the question was asked.
Let us learn from this passage how Paul answered these questions according to the context, situation or the way the question was asked.
1 Corinthians 10:23, All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. The Corinthians were thinking, if the Bible does not forbid it, then it is lawful and permissible. The word expedient means “profitable,” and the word edify means to build up. In other words, not all things are profitable and edifying to our spiritual growth.
It may be lawful or permissible for us to do certain things, but we need to consider something else. Is it profitable for us? Is it edifying for us? Does it build me up spiritually? We must not only be thinking about our own selves but we must also be thinking about other people’s edification and spiritual growth. 1 Corinthians 10:24, Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth. The word wealth speaks of the neighbour’s good or spiritual wealth.
Dear friend, when we are faced with a choice or decision to make, firstly, we need to ask, “Does the Bible permit it?” and secondly, “How does it impact us?” and thirdly, “How does it impact others?” Some things may be lawful and permissible, but in a particular setting, it may not be profitable and not edifying!
Some years ago, a preacher friend of mine from the Philippines had a visitor who stayed at his house. Late one night, the visitor woke the preacher up saying, “Let us go out to the streets to do evangelism.” The preacher said to him, “At this time of the night?” Who would be out there roaming the streets but the prostitutes, partygoers and drunkards!” But the visitor insisted that they should go out to do evangelism. Evangelism is not only lawful and permissible but is also commanded in the Bible, but to do that in the streets, at that hour of the night, is not expedient and edifying. That young man may have the zeal for evangelism but he certainly lacked the discernment to know when to do it!
Paul went on to answer the question, “Are we allowed to eat the meat which was sold at the marketplace, or at our friend’s house?” The answer is, yes! 1 Corinthians 10:25, Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: Shambles was the meat market or the butcher stall. In those days, the meat which had been offered to idols; a portion of it would be given to the priests, another portion would be given to the one who offered it, and whatever leftovers would be sold at the marketplace. When the people bought the meat from the marketplace, they would not know whether or not that meat was the “leftover” of those offerings. Well, the believers would not know and he needed not to ask for his conscience to be troubled, and simply buy and eat it.
In another similar situation, 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 (v.27). If their neighbour invited them over for a feast, they had the freedom to go or not to go. If they choose to go, whatsoever is set before you (whatever meat was placed before them), they need not ask for their conscience to be troubled. For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof (v.26). This was a quotation from Psalm 24. The earth belongs to the Lord, and everything that fills up this earth belongs to Him as well, including the animals that God has created for mankind to eat.
However, there were times when they must say, no, and not partake of the meat! 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: (v.28) If the person said to him that the meat had been offered in sacrifice to the idols, then he should not eat.
Some people may say, “Why can’t I eat the meat, to teach the person a spiritual lesson that an idol is nothing and false gods do not exist?” One must be careful because instead of teaching the person, he may stumble him. Though one’s conscience may be strong, and he knows that the earth and everything on it belongs to God, he should also be concerned about the conscience of his neighbour. Thus, Paul said, Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: (v.29)
But what about one’s Christian liberty? Why should one’s liberty be based on another man’s conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? (v.30) In other words, “If I have already given thanks to God for the food which I have partaken, why should anyone speak evil about me?”
Well, the answer is, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God (v.31). Consider what will happen when one insists on his Christian liberty;
- If that person is a weak or new believer, he may think since it is alright to eat meat offered to idols, then perhaps it is alright to go back to idolatry.
- If that person is an unbeliever, he may think since it is alright to eat meat offered to idols, then perhaps Christianity and all the other pagan religions are the same.
- In that situation, how can one’s action, eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, be glorifying unto God?
We do not want to stumble the unbelievers from coming to Christ, and we do not want to stumble the believers in their walk with the Lord. As Paul went on to say, 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 (v.32-33).
Many of us have unbelieving loved ones, relatives, friends and colleagues. We ought to live our lives in such a way that we please them in all things, not as compromisers or men-pleasers, but as far as their salvation is concerned. We want to do all we can for their profit so that they may be saved. We will not do anything to stumble them in any way.
Finally Paul said, Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul was willing to give up his right as an Apostle, following the example of Christ who was eternally the Almighty God, yet He was willing to give up His prerogatives to come into this world and ultimately to die and shed His precious blood on the cross for the salvation of sinners.
Dear friend, is there anything you are unwilling to give up for the sake of the Gospel and the salvation of lost souls?
Shalom,
Pastor Paul Cheng
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