Lesson for July 31, 2022
The Book of I Corinthians
Chapter 10:14-33
Verses 14-15
“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise people; you then, judge what I say.”
Idolatry is a system of religion which was universally practiced by pagans of the ancient world. The words wise men refer to those in the Corinthian church who had doctrine in their souls. The word judge means to discern. The only ones who could discern what Paul was about to say about the devil’s “communion table” are those who understand the accurate doctrine he had taught them.
Verses 16-17
“Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.”
This began Paul’s comparison between the true ritual of communion and the false ritual of “satanic communion.” Remember, Satan has a counterfeit for everything in the Christian life. Two elements were used in the true ritual of communion, unfermented wine, and unleavened bread. The cup of blessing is called “blessing” because it is a reminder of the work of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 20:22, Jesus actually called the Cross the cup. When Christ partook of the cup of spiritual death on the Cross, it meant that the Father was pouring the sins of mankind upon Him and judging them. The cup which Jesus took was a cup of cursing, so that mankind could partake of the cup of blessing, salvation. The purpose of the true communion is designed to bring back to mind information regarding our Savior (sharing in the blood of Christ).
Sharing in the body of Christ is a reference to the physical death of Christ on the Cross, which was necessary so that He could conquer physical death and be resurrected. Without His physical death and resurrection, there is no salvation.
Verse 18
“Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar?”
The believing Jews would eat the sacrifices because eating was a picture of faith. The altar was a way of declaring the work of Christ on the Cross for sin. The animal being sacrificed at the altar spoke of Christ taking their place on the Cross and being judged for their sins. So, this was their communion table. The Passover was the communion table of believing Jews in the Old Testament
Verses 19-20
“What do I mean then?” That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 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.”
An idol is nothing and there is only one true God. (I Corinthians 8:4-8) Therefore, the food which has been offered in sacrifice to an idol is nothing. However, there is a counterfeit communion table in pagan rituals used by Satan to counterfeit the true communion table of Christ. Satan’s false “communion table” is worshipping idols. Those believers in the church at Corinth who were continuing to go to the pagan temple and were continuing to practice idolatry by worshipping pagan gods, by eating meat sacrificed to those pagan gods, and/or participating in immoral activities were worshipping and fellowshipping (communing) with Satan and his demons (whether they realized it or not). A spiritual believer cannot practice fellowship with demons and fellowship with God at the same time. When a believer today engages in religious rituals or activities that do not conform to accurate doctrine, they are in effect worshipping idols and fellowshipping with Satan. For example, there are religions that practice Transubstantiation, which is a false teaching. Transubstantiation teaches that the elements of Communion “supernaturally” become the literal body and blood of Christ. Worshipping statues or icons is also a form of idol worship, as is worshipping a human being as deity, such as Mary, the mother of the humanity of Christ.
Verse 22
“Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?”
God wants His children to come to the communion table and worship Christ as their Savior. A child of God should not constantly ignore the partaking of communion or partake out of fellowship with God. We don’t get away with that, because God is a good Father, and He will discipline accordingly.
Verses 23-26
“All things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; ‘for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains.’”
The Law of Love supersedes our liberty in Christ in relationship with others. Seeking the good of your neighbor means applying doctrine and being discerning regarding the Law of Liberty. There are things that we do which are legitimate but should be avoided if it is going to cause another to stumble, believer or unbeliever. We must evaluate each situation carefully. Remember, the issue in before and after salvation is Christ, not our liberty. When a believer is filled with the Holy Spirit, the Law of Liberty will be properly applied, resulting in a relaxed mental attitude about everything in life.
‘for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains’ is a quotation from Psalm 24:1. When it says the earth belongs to the Lord, it means everything on it, including the meat. Meat is ordained by God to nourish and sustain mankind, according to Genesis 9:3-4. The cattle on a thousand hills belong to the Lord whether they have been offered in a heathen temple or not. Therefore, believers in Corinth had the liberty to purchase meat offered to an idol and could feel free to eat it as long as it did not cause a stumbling block.
Verses 27-29
“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. 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; I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks.”
These verses address a dinner invitation from an unbeliever. Paul advised a spiritually mature believer to accept the invitation and eat what is placed before him. By doing this a believer does not make an issue of some religious practice. However, if an issue is made by the unbeliever that the meat was sacrificed to an idol, do not eat it. The reason to abstain is that as a spiritually mature believer you know not to make an issue of religion, which is what this would be. If you make an issue out of the food as a believer, you obscure the issue of the Gospel.
Conscience’s sake means according to a norm or standard. The reason not to offend an unbeliever by using your liberty in Christ is for the sake of this unbeliever who has no divine norm and standard and is operating on human viewpoint. So, not offending the conscience of an unbeliever is more important than exercising your liberty in Christ. Give thanks means that he offers prayer at the meal which “sanctifies” the food.
Verses 32-33
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.”
A believer’s liberty must be correlated with his overall objective, to win the unbeliever to Christ. Therefore, he must set aside something which is a mere detail in order to accomplish his overall objective. So, when those things which are a part of life become an issue, they are to be set aside in order to focus the real issue which is Jesus Christ (which glorifies God). Give no offense means not to become a stumbling block to unbelievers or believers. Just as I also please all men in all things means that the true issue is salvation and the spiritual life. It is the unbeliever’s impression and understanding of what Christ did on the Cross that counts.