Paul has been proclaiming clearly that liberty is not license; it must be balanced with the responsibility Christians have to edify one another. He has shown a great illustration of what that looks like by pointing to his own life. He has unlimited freedom in Christ, but he has submitted himself to all people for their good. Paul has foregone his own rights that by whatever means possible he might save others. And he gives an illustration of the importance of living this way in the first part of this chapter. In the second part of this chapter, he wraps up his teaching on the whole issue of using freedom for the good of others (Galatians 5:1,13). Let’s take a look.
Warnings From Israel's History
1For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
6Now these things occurred as examples[1] to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry."[2] 8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9We should not test the Lord, as some of them did--and were killed by snakes. 10And do not grumble, as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel.
11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
One preacher says that v1-4 show the privileges of liberty; v5-10 note the pitfalls of liberty; and v11-12 declare the practicalities of liberty. George Santayana, a Harvard philosophy professor, said these famous words, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Paul refers to the things that happened to Israel in the wilderness as examples for the Church (v11), and in all their knowledge, Paul doesn’t want them to be ignorant of the facts. Calvin says, “He admonishes them, from the example of the Jews, not to deceive themselves by a mistaken confidence; for if they are puffed up on account of outward things and gifts of God, he shows that the Jews were not without similar ground of glorying, and yet all this availed them nothing, because they abused their privileges.”
Israel was intended to correspond with the experiences of the Church, and we’re in the time of “the fulfillment of the ages” (v11; Hebrews 1:2). The Corinthians ought to have recognized their great responsibility (like us) (Hebrews 11:39-40); otherwise, they’re condemned to repeat it. In other words, just because ALL believers (note the repetition in v1-3, as in 12:13) were united with Christ through baptism (just as ALL Israelites followed Moses under the cloud, which represented supernatural guidance, God’s presence, and passed through the Red Sea, and drank from the rock – they were partakers of the privileges of liberty in Christ, for Christ is the rock who delivered them (v4), as well as New Testament believers), God is not pleased with ALL believers (all who left Egypt perished in the wilderness except Joshua and Caleb). Paul speaks of the Lord’s Supper (v3-4) in addition to baptism (he’s alluding to the Holy Spirit’s supernatural provision for ALL believers – as in the wilderness, manna, and their shoes didn’t wear out).
One commentator says, “Imagine the graphic scene that Paul is painting here for these Corinthian believers – bodies scattered about the whole desert floor like broken potsherds, vessels not meet for the Master’s use, vessels that Paul would speak of later as vessels of dishonor.” Another author said, “What a spectacle is that which is called up by the apostle before the eyes of the self-satisfied Corinthians, all those bodies filled with miraculous food and drink strewn across the soil of the desert.” With all their privileges, what a shock! And that’s what it’s meant for. When we wonder why the Israelites disobeyed God and wanted to go back to Egypt, it’s easy to point to their sin nature. But Paul says it happened in order to warn us, “to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things” (v6).
In v7-10, Paul speaks of 4 specific things the Israelites did in the wilderness that cost them dearly: First, they were idolaters (v7); Paul quotes Exodus 32:6 to support his claim, and notice that they were using idols in the name of worshipping God – they were condemned for it! Second, they committed “sexual immorality” (v8); the punishment was mass death, and the Corinthians were probably, as we’re tempted to do, flirting with their old sins thinking they had it under control. Third, they “tested the Lord” (v9); they questioned God’s faithfulness, and snakes killed them (Numbers 21:6; Psalm 78). (One commentator clarifies, “This testing God isn’t trusting God’s promises and claiming them, that’s not what he’s talking about here. We encourage that, and the word of God does. Neither is it holy argumentation with God from the standpoint of faith, asking Him to do what He has said He will do – but what we’re talking about here with these Israelites was daring God to move, daring Him to move, with an attitude within you of doubt and craving for something else which is sinful.) Fourth, they grumbled against the plan of God and His providence (v10; Philippians 2:14); they were challenging the wisdom of God, and His angel destroyed them.
In case we didn’t get it from the intro in v6, Paul again asserts in v11, “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us.” The word translated “warnings” means, “To put or set into the thinking a change of one’s behavior.” One commentator says, “It’s like shock treatment to make them change their ways and their thoughts and their lives, because they’re under the chastisement of God if they do not! So really what Paul is saying to us, and we need to all take note here tonight, that there are dangers in Christian maturity as well as Christian immaturity. Overconfidence was their undoing, self-confidence.” The message is v12 – “Be careful that you don’t fall!” Proverbs 16:18 is the old adage, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Self-confidence is a bad idea. Instead your confidence is to be in “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
We can take some practical truth from this passage pretty easily. First, we need to know the Old Testament. Some Christians are content reading the New Testament, but knowing the Old Testament helps us better understand the New; and vice versa. We have the entire Bible as God’s word; we shouldn’t any of it – including Minor Prophets and Revelation, etc. Second, we need to see this as historical truth. “These things happened.” There’s no doubt; they are myths or mere stories; the Old Testament historical narrative is truth. Third, we need to see that sinning as an unbeliever, or even as an ignorant believer, is quite different than sinning as a maturing believer. There’s no excuse. Humble yourself and repent.
Idol Feasts and the Lord's Supper
14Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.
18Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21You 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. 22Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
Though v13 is encouraging that we are not alone in the midst of unavoidable temptation (God is with us), it’s also a rebuke for the Corinthian believers, and us maturing believers of today. We cannot claim temptation as reason for sin, for God provides a way out. We never have to sin. And in wrapping up his instruction on liberty without license for the sake of the edification of the Body of Christ, Paul ties this instruction back to 1 Corinthians 8:1 and food eating ties to pagan ceremonies (v14-33). The message is that we, as “sensible people” (v15), should want to distance ourselves from pagan idolatry (v14), to evident some distinction from the world in our lives, to exhibit the holiness of godliness for the glory of God.
We learn from v16-22 that just as the Lord’s Supper is significant, so taking part in a pagan religious meal is significant. The Corinthians were naïve to think they could participate without negative effect in the congregation. Unity in the Body symbolized by the Lord’s Supper excludes union with idols. It may be true that idols are nothing (v19), but Satan is behind them; and we should flee from him (20-21). “Don’t you realize that the Lord is jealous for you?! He will have you for Himself, and yet you are running from Him? All in the name of freedom? How can this be?” That’s the gist of Paul’s argument. Calvin says, “After alarming them by this threatening [regarding the failure of the Hebrew exiles in the wilderness] he returns immediately to the subject on which he had previously entered, and shows how unseemly it is for those who partake of the Lord’s Supper to be participants in the ‘table of devils,’ that being a shameful and insufferable pollution.”
The problem is that the Corinthians don’t see it as a big deal; we don’t see it as a “shameful and insufferable pollution.” C.S. Lewis understood the profundity, and explained it this way:
“Christian writers seem to be so very strict at one moment, and so very free and easy at another. They talk about mere sins of thought as if they were immensely important, and then they talk about the most frightful murders and treacheries as if you had only got to repent and all would be forgiven… But I have come to see that they are right, what they’re always thinking of is the mark which the action leaves on that tiny central self which no one sees in this life, but which each of us will have to endure or enjoy forever, that little mark is there. One man may be so placed that his anger sheds the blood of thousands, and another so placed that however angry he gets he will only be laughed at - but the little mark on the soul may be much the same in both! Each has done something to himself which, unless he repents, will make it harder for him to keep out of the rage the next time he is tempted, and will make the rage worse when he does fall into it. Each of them, if he seriously turns to God, can have that twist in the central man straightened out again. Each is, in the long run, doomed if he will not! The bigness or smallness of the thing seen from the outside is not what really matters, what matters is the imprint that it leaves on the soul.”
It’s the idea from James 1:15 that one commentator talks about: “There is progressiveness in sin, and if something on your heart and mind is left unerased, that little mark on the soul, it will eventually smear from your mind in your heart to your character and your very personal being will be permanently stained… You’re better to stay away from something that could potentially lead you into trouble, you’re better to stay clear of it than court spiritual disaster – even if it’s only an association…that may not be sinning in and of itself, but could lead you and lure you into an awful spiritual catastrophe.”
The Believer's Freedom
23"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive. 24Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
25Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."[3]
27If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28But 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[4] -- 29the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? 30If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God-- 33even 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.
Serving as a bookends on this section of Scripture, again Paul quotes the common sayings of the day, which people used to justified immoral lifestyle choices (1 Corinthians 6:12-13). Is what we choose to do in our liberty helpful? Is it good for us? Does it build us up? Edification before gratification! What about others? Does it help them? Is it good for them? Does it build them up? Others before self! If not, then we ought to ponder carefully how engaging in such activity despite its lack of goodness would glorify God. If it wouldn’t, then we freely abstain, because we don’t live for self; rather, we live for Him who died for us.
Though Paul condemns participating in pagan feasts, overly scrupulous behavior in this matter is unnecessary (v27). Liberty over legalism! “Ignorance is bliss,” when it comes to buying meat at the marketplace (v25), or when it comes to eating at a pagan’s house (v27), for the Corinthians! But thinking more highly of others than yourself is the principle (v24; Philippians 2:3). God’s entire creation is holy (v25-26). However, there could be a matter of the other person’s conscience if you know where the meat came from (v28-29). This is applicable today as well. Chuck Swindoll gives an illustration: “Imagine this: you’re an active member of the church in Corinth, you’re very involved and very respected. You’ve been invited to a patio party by Rufus and Julia, a non-Christian couple who own the chariot shop on Colosseum Way. They have also invited a young man named Erastus who, unknown to them, has recently come to know the Lord Jesus as his Savior and become a member of the church that you attend. You all sit down and the meal is served – enjoying your Caesar salad, you look across the table and see a familiar face – it’s Erastus, the new believer who has begun attending your church services. You smile and chat a little, and then your attention is diverted by a delicious smelling entree, sirloin steak delicately seasoned and cooked to perfection – and just as you’re reaching for your fork, Erastus leans over to you and whispers: ‘I just heard the cooks talking about how they were glad so much meat was left over from the sacrifices. You know, that bothers me, because I was involved in idol worship for a long time and I just don’t feel right about eating this meat.’ What do you do? Mustering all the resistance you have, you leave the meat on your plate and politely say: ‘Please pass the grapes, rolls and broccoli,’ and you skip the meat because an issue was made of it.” Now we don’t accept that the meat is forbidden, but we abstain out of love for the weaker brother (v29).
In v30, it appears that some may have accused Paul of engaging in that which he prohibited to others. Paul offers a rebuttal claiming thanksgiving to God as glorifying to Him and nullifying any error made. That inspires Paul to conclude the chapter with v31-33 – “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God… seeking…the good of many, so that they may be saved.” Calvin says, “All our actions should be regulated in such a manner as not to be an occasion of offense to any one.” The first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and its answer, are these: “What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” John Piper made a slight change, saying, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.” One commentator notes, “The pinnacle of man’s existence is to glorify God and to enjoy God with all that is in Him, to bless His holy name. Anything and everything that a Christian does ought to be done for the glory of God. This is Paul’s chief point.”
Footnotes
- 10:6 Or types; also in verse 11
- 10:7 Exodus 32:6
- 10:26 Psalm 24:1
- 10:28 Some manuscripts conscience' sake, for "the earth is the Lord's and everything in it"
Bible text from Gospelcom.net. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.