1Corinthians 10
Outline:
I. \\#1:1-4:21\\ In Answer to Chloe’s Report
II. \\#5:1-6:20\\ In Answer to Common Reports
III. \\#7:1-16:4\\ In Answer to the Church’s Requests
A. \\#7:1-40\\ Counsel Concerning Marriage
1. \\#7:1-9\\ Principles for Married Life
2. \\#7:10-16\\ Principles for the Married Believer
a. \\#10-11\\ Saved to the Saved
b. \\#12-16\\ Saved to the Unsaved
3. \\#7:17-24\\ Principle of Abiding in God’s Call
4. \\#7:25-38\\ Principles for the Unmarried
5. \\#7:39, 40\\ Principles for Remarriage
B. \\#8:1-11:1\\ Meat Offered to Idols
1. \\#8:1-3\\ The Most Important Thing
2. \\#8:4-13\\ Our Actions Should Not Hurt Another
3. \\#9:1-27\\ Keeping Our Rights Should Not Be Our Goal
a. \\#1-14\\ Paul Had Surrendered His Rights
b. \\#15-18\\ Paul’s Point - Voluntary Sacrifice Brings A
Reward
c. \\#19-23\\ Paul’s Reasoning - For the Gospel
d. \\#24-27\\ Paul’s Challenge - It’s the Race That Counts
4. \\#10:1-11:1\\ Eating Meat Offered to Idols Is Idolatry
a. \\#10:1-5\\ All Who Were Blessed Did Not Benefit
b. \\#10:6-14\\ All Who Have Been Taught Did Not Learn
c. \\#10:15-11:1\\ All Who Have Been Warning Have Not
Heeded
One might will not understand chapters 9 and 10 being located in this
book at all but especially at this location unless one also
understands that Paul was still talking about the eating the meat
that had been offered to idols. \\#1Co 8:1\\
Paul had not finished that topic.
1. So far he had argued that if eating meat that has been offered
idols is offensive to a weaker brother, we should not do it.
1Co 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to
offend, I will eat no flesh while the world
standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
2. And Paul pointed out that the Christian race is NOT won by
exercising our rights:
1Cor 9:23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake,
that I might be partaker thereof with you.
3. But so far, Paul had not answered the most important question
about this topic; namely, "Is eating meat that has been
offered to idols wrong?
He will in this chapter.
I. All Who Were Blessed Did Not Benefit
A. \\#1-4\\ Notice the word "all," used 5 times.
1Cor 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that
ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers
were under the cloud, and all passed through the
sea;
1. \\#1\\ "…all our fathers were under the cloud" - I
believe this is a reference to them all following and
being protected by the presence of God in the Cloud and
the Pillar of Fire.
2. "…all passed through the sea…" - That is the Red Sea.
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud
and in the sea;
3. \\#2\\ "all were baptized unto Moses" in these two
a. Being joined together in these two events, joined them
together with Moses.
b. The word "baptized" or "submerged" is symbolic to say
that they identified and joined with Moses.
c. When we are Scripturally baptized, we are identified
and joined with Jesus in the same fashion.
d. So Paul’s thought is that all of the Jews were joined
to and with Moses.
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink:
for they drank of that spiritual Rock that
followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
4. \\#3\\ The same spiritual meat and drink are both pictures
of being fed the same spiritual truths.
a. All of the Jews that came out of Egypt saw the same
things and experienced the same miracles.
b. They were all exposed to the spiritual Rock, Jesus
Christ.
(1) In \\#Exodus 16:3\\, the Israelites were hungry
and God gave them manna, \\#Ex 16:15\\ "bread
from heaven."
(2) In \\#Exodus 17:3\\, the Israelites were thirsty
and God commanded Moses smite the rock that
water might come out of it \\#Exodus 17:6\\.
(3) Manna is a picture of Jesus, the Bread of Life.
(4) The water was a picture of Jesus, the Well of
Eternal Life.
(5) All of the Jews ate of the manna and all drank of
the water, hence all were exposed to this and
other pictures of Jesus.
(a) Of course there were many other pictures.
(b) For example, every sacrifice was a picture
of faith and repentance; and all of the
Jews followed that practice for 2,000
years.
B. \\#5\\ Despite their commonality, God was not pleased with ALL
of the Jews.
5 But with many of them God was not well
pleased: for they were overthrown in the
wilderness.
1. In fact, God slew many and rejected many others.
2. Paul was using history to make a point to the Corinthians.
a. We are all privy to the Holy Spirit, the Word of God,
and Jesus Christ, but that does not mean we all
understand the truth or that God is pleased with all
of us.
b. On the one hand, that should concern us all—pastors
and laity alike.
(1) Not all pastors or Bible scholars or theologians
agree on the Bible—and it is astonishing how
far apart good people can be on major issues.
(2) And some of us are so far off base that I would
think God is "not well pleased" with us.
c. But on the other hand, we should also have confidence
that truth can be found in the Bible when we study it
consistently and with an open heart.
d. We need not be the people with whom God is displeased,
and we certainly do not need to fear being
"overthrown."
II. \\#10:6-14\\ All Who Have Been Taught Did Not Learn
A. Paul’s history lesson continued as he demonstrated we, like
the Jews of old, are all likewise tempted.
1. Each temptation Paul mentioned described the Old Testament
Jews coming out of Egypt, the same Jews that he had made
reference to in \\#1Cor 10:1-5\\.
a. But I wonder if Paul was comparing more than just the
people of the two time periods (Jews leaving Egypt to
New Testament Christians).
b. Is it possible that he was comparing the sins of the
people as well.
2. It seems that most, if not all of Paul’s examples, might
also apply to the Corinthians who insisted on their right
to eat meat that had been offered to idols.
B. \\#6-10\\ "our examples" -Paul listed several examples.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the
intent we should not lust after evil things, as
they also lusted.
1. \\#6\\ "we should not lust after evil things, as they also
lusted."
a. The Old Testament Jews lusted after everything Egypt,
especially the food and security.
(1) I suppose their lust made them forget the abuse.
(2) If nothing else, the Jews lust to return to Egypt
proved that our lusts do not have to be
reasonable!
b. What evil things were the Corinthians lusting after?
(1) Perhaps meat that had been offered to idols?
(2) Perhaps to be more accepted by the pluralistic
culture of that day?
(3) Perhaps something else.
(4) Whether the Corinthians were eating that meat in
order to "better fit in" or just because it was
cheaper, eating it demonstrated they had a lust
for something or else giving it up would not
have been an issue.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them;
as it is written, The people sat down to eat and
drink, and rose up to play.
2. \\#7\\ "Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them"
a. Paul still has not plainly stated a truth that he
will state in this chapter, namely, eating meat
offered to idols was idolatry.
b. To show that is what Paul was thinking about, let’s
read one of his judgments now:
1Cor 10:20 But I say, that the things which the
Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils,
and not to God: and I would not that ye should
have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the
cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the
Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
c. In more subtle language, I believe Paul was telling
the Corinthians that those who eat meat offered to
idols are just as guilty of idolatry as those who
made the golden calves, then "sat down to eat and
drink, and rose up to play."
d. And we know that Moses and God condemned those who
committed that idolatry.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of
them committed, and fell in one day three and
twenty thousand.
3. \\#8\\ "Neither let us commit fornication"
a. Fornication, in its strictest sense, is sexual sin.
(1) But fornication has not been Paul’s main topic
since chapter 5.
(a) Is this example totally unrelated to the
topic of eating meat offered to idols?
(b) The previous two examples seem applicable to
the situation going on at Corinth, i.e.
eating meat that had been offered to idols.
(c) Has Paul left his topic altogether?
(d) Some might disagree, but I don’t think so.
(2) God often symbolically referred to idolatry as
sexual unfaithfulness:
Jer 3:1 They say, If a man put away his wife,
and she go from him, and become another man’s,
shall he return unto her again? shall not that
land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played
the harlot with many lovers; yet return again
to me, saith the LORD.
Mal 2:11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an
abomination is committed in Israel and in
Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness
of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the
daughter of a strange god.
(3) It would be more logical and contextual for Paul
to be comparing the eating of meat offered to
idols as spiritual fornication than to think Paul
had picked this topic at random in the middle of
this section.
b. Most consider this a reference to Israel’s sin with
Moab \\#Num 25:1-15\\, however, the total given there
for those who died by the plague was 24,000
\\#Num 25:9\\ while Paul stated that those who died
"in one day" was 23,000.
(1) Is this an error? NO.
(a) Paul’s count was only for one day of the
plague, but Moses counted the total number
who had died in the plague.
(b) Some with the plague lived until the next
day.
(2) It is worth mentioning that Moses figure ONLY
counted those who died in the plague
\\#Num 25:9\\.
Num 25:9 And those that died in the plague were
twenty and four thousand.
(a) Some also died by being slain
\\#Num 25:5-8\\ at Moses’ command.
(b) It is also possible that Paul’s count was of
those who died only by the sword and that
the total who died were 24,000 (the plague)
plus 23,000 (the sword) for a total of
47,000; but I think it is more reasonable
to stick with the previous thoughts for
reconciliation.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them
also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
4. \\#9\\ "Neither let us tempt Christ"
a. To tempt Christ is to do something wrong expecting
Him not to punish us.
b. This is what the Israelites did in \\#Num 21:5-6\\
when they spoke "against God," and God sent the fiery
serpents among them and many died.
c. This is what the Corinthians were doing when they ate
of the meat offered to idols and expected nothing to
happen to them. (They may not have thought what they
were doing was wrong, but Paul will make it clear
that God did.)
d. Remember, sin is not doing what we know is wrong. Sin
is doing what we don’t know is right.
Ro 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he
eat, because he eateth not of faith: for
whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
1Cor 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them
also murmured, and were destroyed of the
destroyer.
5. \\#10\\ "Neither murmur ye"
a. Murmuring was a common activity of the Israelites
coming out of Egypt.
(1) \\#Ex 15:24, Ex 16:2, 17:3, Num 14:2, 16:41\\
\\#De 1:27\\
(2) While the principal sins which sentenced the
Israelites to wander in the wilderness for 40
years were their lack of faith and disobedience,
God share another reason for it:
Num 14:26 And the LORD spake unto Moses and
unto Aaron, saying,
27 How long shall I bear with] this evil
congregation, which murmur against me? I have
heard the murmurings of the children of Israel,
which they murmur against me.
28 Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the
LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I
do to you:
29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness;
and all that were numbered of you, according to
your whole number, from twenty years old and
upward, which have murmured against me,
30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land….
b. Murmuring is a common activity of Christians who want
to do something that God has commanded us not to do
or that we know we should not do.
(1) Did murmuring occur at Corinth?
(2) The Bible doesn’t say, but I am pretty sure it
did!
C. \\#11-14\\ Paul’s Point
11 Now all these things happened unto them for
ensamples: and they are written for our
admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are
come.
1. \\#11\\ "all of these happened… for ensamples"
a. Paul was telling the Corinthians that these examples
were to teach us a lesson.
b. All of the examples given were of the Jews coming out
of Israel, a strange event to use as an example to a
Gentile church; but Paul was not without purpose.
c. His primary theme in all of the examples given was
that the Old Testament Jews foolishly placed
themselves in danger by giving themselves to or by
being influenced by their old lifestyles.
d. That is what the Corinthians were doing by eating meat
offered to idols.
(1) Christians are not called to relive our old
lives.
(2) Christians are called to live new lives in Christ
through the power of the resurrection.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth
take heed lest he fall.
2. \\#12\\ So Christians should not think too highly of
themselves or their interpretations of Scripture.
a. Think very highly of the Scripture but not too highly
of our interpretation of the Scripture.
b. That goes for both sides when the issue cannot be
settled by the Scripture itself.
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 to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
3. \\#13\\ The fact that Paul put this verse here indicates
Paul wrote it in relation to this conversation.
a. Since we know that Paul was attempting to change the
minds of those who were eating meat that was offered
to idols, we may suppose they were the ones being
tempted.
b. God had and was making a way out of that temptation
for them.
c. He and others were telling them they were wrong!
d. Sometimes the way God provides for us to escape
temptation is as simple as listening to what people
are telling us.
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from
idolatry.
4. And so Paul told them AGAIN.
a. Eating the meat offered to idols was idolatry.
b. Christian need to stay as far away as far away from
all things pagan as possible.
III. \\#10:15-33\\ All Who Have Been Warning Have Not Heeded
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I
say.
A. \\#15\\ Paul wanted them to be listening carefully as he told
them something he knew some would not like.
B. \\#16-18\\ Paul gave them two examples;
1. \\#16-17\\ The Lord’s Supper
16 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?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one
body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
2. \\#18\\ Israel’s Sacrifices
18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they
which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the
altar?
C. Then Paul repeated what he knew were the arguments of those
who ate the meat offered to idols.
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing,
or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols
is any thing?
1. Paul already acknowledged idols were actually nothing but
rocks and wood \\#1Cor 8:4-5\\. There is just one God.
2. And he already acknowledged that the meat that was being
offered was still just meat \\#1Cor 8:8\\.
a. Why, then, is he repeating them here?
b. Paul wanted the people to know he had not forgotten
their arguments, that he was about to tell them
something they were not going to agree with knowing
what their arguments were.
D. \\#20-33\\ Paul’s Judgments
1. \\#20-22\\ Eating meat offered to idols is idolatry.
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles
sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to
God: and I would not that ye should have
fellowship with devils.
a. That meat was given to the devil and not God.
b. By eating it, you are having fellowship with the
devil.
c. Don’t!
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the
cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the
Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
d. You cannot sit at a table with the devil and God!
(1) Why?
(2) Because they do not sit together!
22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we
stronger than he?
2. \\#23-24\\ Just because we can, it doesn’t mean we
should.
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things
are not expedient: all things are lawful for me,
but all things edify not.
a. There may not be a law forbidding us from eating the
meat offered to idols, but it is not the best thing
for us (expedient).
b. It certainly won’t build us up (edify us).
c. And, as already discussed, it will not help others.
24 Let no man seek his own, but every man
another’s wealth.
3. \\#25-26\\ So if you buy meat and don’t know where it came
from, eat it and consider it God’s.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat,
asking no question for conscience sake:
26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness
thereof.
4. \\#27\\ And if you go to a party, do the same.
27 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.
5. \\#28\\ But if you know it is meat offered to idols, don’t
eat it.
28 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:
a. Don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you.
b. Don’t eat it for your sake.
6. \\#29-30\\ And if it doesn’t bother you, don’t eat it so
that it won’t bother someone else.
29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the
other: for why is my liberty judged of another
man’s conscience?
30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I
evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
a. Paul wrote these as questions but he was not looking
for answers.
b. He was telling the Corinthians that whether it bothered
them or not was not the issue.
c. If it bothered someone else they should not do it.
7. \\#31-33\\ Then Paul closed with a universal principal:
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or
whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
a. No Christian gets to decide for himself what he will
or will not do.
b. His actions must be based on what will bring glory to
Jesus Christ.
c. But the rule is NOT "Don’t live to offend."
d. The rule IS, "Live to glorify God."
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor
to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
e. And Paul gave himself as an example of living so one
more time.
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not
seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many,
that they may be saved.
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