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1
Corinthians Chapter Ten
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Diet of Christians
A. The types and examples of
the
1. They had baptized into
Moses and all ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink
(v.1-4).
2. The people sat down to eat
and drink, and rose up to play and fell in the wilderness (v.5-11).
3. These things happened to
them became our examples (v. 12-13).
B. Christians cannot partake
of the Lord's table and of the table of demons (v.14-22):
1. We have partaken of the
Lord’s cup and bread and have communion of the blood and body of Christ
(v.14-17).
2. We shall no longer eat
things offered to idols or partake of the table of demons (v.18-22).
C. The principles of
Christians’ diet (v.23-33):
1. Let no one seek his own,
but each one the other's well-being (v.23-24).
2. Eat whatever is sold in the
meat market and in the table of a dinner (v.25-27).
3. We do not eat for the sake
of the conscience of others (v.28-30).
4. Whether we eat or drink, or
whatever we do, do all to the glory of God and edify others (v.31-33).
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1Cor. 10:1 “Moreover, brethren, I do
not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all
passed through the sea,”
YLT: “And I do not wish you to be ignorant,
brethren, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the
sea,”
Literal
Meaning: “moreover,
brethren, I do not want you to be unaware”, the word “moreover” indicates that
it takes up where the last chapter left off, which illustrates that “brethren”
in the Lord shall not only be governed by the limits of the liberty (right) of
Christians (see 1Cor. 9:12, 15, 18) but also run the race before us diligently
(see 1Cor. 9:24-27). Here, the apostle Paul “does not want us to be unaware” that
all things happened to the children of Israel in the wilderness after they were
come out of the land of Egypt before they entered the land of Canaan would be
examples for believers in last days (see v.6, 11).
“That all our fathers were under the
cloud”, “our fathers” are the fathers of the
“All passed through the sea”, it
refers to passing through the
Spiritual
Meaning: the
1Cor. 10:2 “all were baptized into
Moses in the cloud and in the sea,”
YLT: “and all to Moses were baptized in the
cloud, and in the sea;”
Literal
Meaning:
this is the typical example of the spiritualized interpretation of the
Scriptures of the apostle Paul. The experience of the
Spiritual
Meaning: “in
the cloud”, it typifies in the Spirit; “in the sea”, it typifies the water of
baptism; “Moses” typifies Christ. That how the
1Cor. 10:3 “all ate the same
spiritual food,”
YLT: “and all the same spiritual food did
eat,”
Literal
Meaning: “spiritual
food” refers to manna comes down out of heaven (Ex. 16:4, 31, 35).
Spiritual
Meaning: the
manna typifies that Christ is the bread of life that comes down out of heaven
(John 6:31, 35, 41). He is the daily provision for the life of the people of
God as well as the spiritual food that we have to eat.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
We
believers should eat “the same” spiritual food instead of anything out of
Christ.
2)
Since
the Lord has saved us, He shall take responsibility of all the need of our
spiritual life so as to maintain our life.
3)
The
words that the Lord has spoken unto us are spirit and are life (John 6:63).
Today that we believers have fellowship with the Lord and read the Lord’s words
are receiving the Lord’s bread of life.
1Cor. 10:4 “and all drank the same
spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and
that Rock was Christ.”
YLT: “and all the same spiritual drink did
drink, for they were drinking of a spiritual rock following them, and the rock
was the Christ;”
Literal
Meaning: “and
all drank the same spiritual drink”, “spiritual drink” relates to the living
water flown out of the Rock in the dry land (Ex. 17:6; Num. 20:8).
“For they drank of that spiritual Rock
that followed them”, “that spiritual Rock that followed them”, it was the Rock
out of which the living water flowed twice ---- in Rephidim and Meribah of
Kadesh respectively (Ex. 17:1; Num. 20:1, 13). In the view of the apostle Paul,
the Rocks in the two places were the same Rock that went with the people of
“And that Rock was Christ”, this is
the typical example of spiritualized interpretation of the Scriptures of the
apostle Paul. Many people and things in the Old Testament typify Christ in the
New Testament (see
Spiritual
Meaning: “that
Rock” typifies Christ who was smitten (Is. 53:4-6) on the cross by God in order
to redeem sinners. There came out blood and water from His side (John 19:34),
signifying the two effects of the death of Christ’s redemption. Negatively, it
removes men’s sins. And positively, the water is life that will be given to
men.
“The water out of the Rock” typifies the living water of the life of
Christ, who can quench the thirst of men (John 4:14).
Controversial
Clarification: many
theologians in the past ages opposed spiritual interpretation of the
Scriptures. There were many extremists and heretics of the Christianity who
interpreted the Scriptures excessively and even deduced new truth from one
certain verse. Normal Christians can not agree with the above-mentioned
attitudes towards the spiritual interpretation of the Scriptures. It is
necessary of proper use of the spiritual interpretation of the Scriptures like
the apostle Paul so as to persuade those who are instructed easily. Note that
any spiritual interpretation of Scriptures should in no wise be against the
literal meaning of other Scriptures. Those who interpret the Scriptures
spiritually should have grasped the whole truth in the Scriptures and not go
too far. One should not deduce anything he likes through his own imagination.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
Lord Jesus is the spiritual Rock of us. He does not only give us reliance but
also follows us to provide us the living water of the Spirit to quench the
thirst of our spirit.
2)
“Followed
them”, where the people of God are, there is Christ of God. Though they wander
in the wilderness of the world, God has not forsaken them. What grace!
1Cor. 10:5 “But with most of them God
was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.”
YLT: “but in the most of them God was not
well pleased, for they were strewn in the wilderness,”
Literal
Meaning: “but
with most of them God was not well pleased”, “most of”: the majority of them;
“God was not well pleased”, the whole assembly of the people of Israel wept and
murmured on account of hearing and believing the evil report of the ten that
searched out the land, and thus the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the
people. And He would destroy them. However, the people of
“For their bodies were scattered in
the wilderness”, among the people of Israel who come out of the land of Egypt
from twenty years old and upwards, their carcasses fell in the wilderness
during their wandering in the wilderness forty years, save Caleb and Joshua
(see Num. 14:26-30).
Note that the word “all” has been mentioned
five times from verse one to four. It is what the apostle Paul wants to focus
on. “All” the people of
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
liberty and rights of Christians are gifts of God’s grace, not attainments
obtained by our cost. Therefore, we shall be willing to sacrifice our liberty
and rights for the sake of God’s glory, lest we should not be pleased by God.
2)
Believers
can do nothing without the Lord (John 15:5). If we think and walk as we wish
outside of the Lord, it is the most thing that does not please the Lord.
3)
The
people of
4)
God
does the work of resurrection on us. On one hand, He makes the outward men of
us scattered in the trial of the wilderness like the people of
1Cor. 10:6 “Now these things became
our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they
also lusted.”
YLT: “and those things became types of us,
for our not passionately desiring evil things, as also these did desire.”
Meaning of
Words:
“example”: sampler, type, a model, figure;
Literal
Meaning: “now
these things became our examples”, “these things” referred to the experience
that when the people of
“To the intent that we should not lust
after evil things”, “lust”: covet for things outside of the range that one
should obtain. “Evil things” refer to various things that sin against God, just
like what are listed from verse six to eleven.
In the Bible, lust and idolatry are
often mentioned together (see 1Cor. 5:11; Eph. 5:5;
“As they also lusted”, it was that the
people of
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Lusts
for evil things can distract men from God to seek after men or things outside
of God so as to let men be ruled by them unconsciously.
2)
Evil
things will sooner or later catch the hearts, time and souls of those who lust
after evil things and cast them into miserable condition eventually.
1Cor. 10:7 “And do not become
idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to
eat and drink, and rose up to play."”
YLT: “Neither become ye idolaters, as
certain of them, as it hath been written, `The people sat down to eat and to
drink, and stood up to play;'”
Literal
Meaning: “and
do not become idolaters as were some of them”, “as were some of them”, it
referred to the worship of golden calf (Ex. 32:1-6).
“As it is written”, the following
Scriptures are quoted from the Book of
Exodus (32:6).
“The people sat down to eat and drink,
and rose up to play”, “eating and drinking” are put together with “playing” in
the Scriptures, in which there is a significant meaning. The attitude of the
people of
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Today,
men seem to not worship the tangible idols made by men as that in the past, but
the worship of various intangible idols has become increasingly popular. No
matter the adoration for spiritual giants, sportsmen, stars, or money worship,
or crazy for works or for computers and etc., these are all idolatry. Believers
should take heed of it.
2)
The
idolatry especially relates to eating and drinking. On the feasts of idols and
in the places where men worship idols, men tend to be extravagant in eating and
drinking, which indicates us that there is evil spirit behind eating and
drinking. Satan often snatches the worship of God by things of eating and
drinking.
3)
Eating
and drinking are put together with playing. The lack of temperance in eating or
drinking fulfills the lust of the flesh, which neither profits men (see v.24,
33) nor glorifies God (see v.31).
1Cor. 10:8 “Nor let us commit sexual
immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;”
YLT: “neither may we commit whoredom, as
certain of them did commit whoredom, and there fell in one day twenty-three
thousand;”
Literal Meaning: “nor let us commit sexual immorality,
as some of them did”, “as some of them did”, it referred to the fornication of
the people of
“And in one day
twenty-three thousand fell”, “twenty-three thousand”, it was actually
twenty-four thousand (Num. 25:9). Some Bible exegetes thought the number here
was the amount of the death one day, and the number in the Book of Numbers included another one thousand who died
afterwards because of the plague.
1Cor. 10:9 “nor let us tempt Christ,
as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;”
YLT: “neither may we tempt the Christ, as
also certain of them did tempt, and by the serpents did perish;”
Literal
Meaning: “nor
let us tempt Christ”, “tempt” refers to extreme temptation or doing one’s best
to tempt; the first “tempt” is different from the second on in this verse. The
latter one means common or general temptation.
“As some of them also tempted, and
were destroyed”, it indicated the history that when the people of Israel
journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea to go round the land of
Edom, the soul of the people spoke against God and against Moses because of the
way (Num. 21:4-5).
“By serpents”, Jehovah sent fiery
serpents among the people, which bit the people. And much people of
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
people of
2)
He
who “tempts God” gives room to the devil and will be eventually bitten “by
serpents”. He who “tempts God” just opens the doors of disaster and distress.
1Cor. 10:10 “nor complain, as some of
them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.”
YLT: “neither murmur ye, as also some of
them did murmur, and did perish by the destroyer.”
Literal
Meaning: “nor
complain”: “complain”, there is much murmur, showing dissatisfaction at someone
or something in one’s heart.
“As some of them also complained”, the
people of
“And were destroyed by the destroyer”,
there were fourteen thousand seven hundred who died in the plague (Num. 16:49).
Someone also thought it referred to the history that Jehovah burned among the
people of
1Cor. 10:11 “Now all these things
happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon
whom the ends of the ages have come.”
YLT: “And all these things as types did
happen to those persons, and they were written for our admonition, to whom the
end of the ages did come,”
Meaning of
Words:
“example”: sampler, type, a model, figure;
Literal
Meaning: “now
all these things happened to them as examples”, “all these things happened to
them”, we shall not see lightly all things that happened to the people of
“And they were written for our
admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come”, “be written”: be written
in the Old Testament; “the ends of the ages”, it refers to the age of grace in
the New Testament from the first time that Christ came to the earth to His
second coming. It is the end of the past ages in the Old Testament.
The record of the history of the
people of
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
people of
2)
The
failures and negative things in the Scriptures are not of no use, for at least
they are examples to us. The saints who think eating and drinking the Lord are
enough and dislike hearing any negative things should note that they Scriptures
have not mentioned eating spiritual food or drinking spiritual water only.
There is positive provision in the Scriptures as well as negative dealing.
1Cor. 10:12 “Therefore let him who
thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
YLT: “so that he who is thinking to stand
-- let him observe, lest he fall.”
Literal
Meaning: “therefore
let him who thinks he stands”, “therefore”, it takes the previous seven verses
(v.5-11) as background to put forward the following warning. Note that here it
means that he who thinks he stands may not be “truly” able to stand firm.
“Take heed lest he fall”, excessive
confidence leads to pride. Pride leads to carelessness. Carelessness leads to
stumble.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
He
who falls in spiritual way is usually not those who are trembling, but those
who think they stand.
2)
He
who thinks he stands may have at least attained to a certain degree. It seems
that they need no longer “be cautious”, but in fact it is necessary.
3)
The
preacher should take heed to himself and his teaching, for, doing this, he
shall save both himself and those that hear him (see 1Tim. 4:16).
1Cor. 10:13 “No temptation has
overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will
not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation
will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
YLT: “No temptation hath taken you --
except human; and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above
what ye are able, but He will make, with the temptation, also the outlet, for
your being able to bear .”
Meaning of Words: “way”: way to escape, end;
Literal
Meaning: “no
temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man”, “temptation”:
that man drawn away, and enticed by his own lust (James. 1:14) and it is out of
the devil (see Matt. 6:13). Let no man, being tempted, say, I am tempted of God
(James 1:13). God governs the temptation of the devil (see Job. 1:12; 2:6). He
will not allow men to be tempted by the devil beyond what men are able.
“But God is faithful, who will not
allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able”, “God is faithful”, it means
that the principle of God’s works is always the same. He never changes, and
never lets the devil tempt believers beyond what they are not able.
“But with the temptation will also
make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it”, when believers are
tempted, God will on one hand restrict the temptation of the devil and on the
other hand make the way of escape for us so that we are able to bear it.
Note that the word “temptation” has
two meanings: one is “temptation” from Satan, and the other is “trial or test”
from God. The former is negative, and the latter is positive. The trial or
test, like the refinement of gold, can remove the impurity so that believers
may be serviceable to the Lord (see Job. 23:10; Zech. 13:9; James. 1:2-3; 1Pet.
1:6-7; 4:12-13).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
When
we are in temptations and trials, God will “make the way of escape” for us that
we may be able to bear them. This “way” is often not a way outside, but a way
inside ---- that we will experience Christ is our “way” (see John 14:6). Many
times, there is no way in the circumstance. However, once we have touched
Christ inside, there is a way. This is the most wonderful and sweetest
experience in the spiritual wilderness.
2)
All
the temptations are all that we can bear and overcome. Therefore, we should
take the responsibility for our failure before God. We have failed, because we
have not relied on God not that the temptation is too strong.
3)
God
is faithful. He allows the temptation to come upon us and He will strengthen us
so that we can bear it. If we cannot bear it, it is certainly because that we
have not held the faithfulness of God but have relied on ourselves and that we
rely on the power of us instead of that of God.
4)
When
we are tempted, God will make us the way of escape. God always has the way and
He shall never let us always in temptations or failures. The temptations can
not always stump us, for God will surely deliver us out of the difficulty.
5)
A
preacher says, “The way that God gives to us is a way of escape as well as a
pair of running feet”. The wise attitude of us towards temptation is escape
(see Matt. 6:13). We shall neither be seized by it nor struggle with it.
1Cor. 10:14 “Therefore, my beloved,
flee from idolatry.”
YLT: “Wherefore, my beloved, flee from the
idolatry;”
Literal
Meaning: “therefore,
my beloved”, the word “therefore” shows that the content as follows is the
application and conclusion of the first half part of this chapter (v.1-13). In
other words, the words as below take up the thing that is talked about from
chapter eight to the previous verse of this chapter, namely, eating things
offered to idols. And eating things offered to idols are closely connected with
the worship of idols.
“Flee from idolatry”, “flee”, the
present tense shows that it is an unceasing action. This verse suggests that
the sins of lusts, eating and drinking (wrong eating and drinking), sexual
immorality, tempting the Lord and complaining mentioned in the first half of
this chapter have something to do with idolatry and stem from idolatry.
1Cor. 10:15 “I speak as to wise men;
judge for yourselves what I say.”
YLT: “as to wise men I speak -- judge ye
what I say:”
Literal
Meaning: “I
speak as to wise men”, “wise men” refer to those who have understanding and
discernment.
“Judge for yourselves what I say”,
“judge”: discern, examine;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Believers
should not lightly esteem prophecies, but prove all things and hold fast the
right and hold aloof from every form of wickedness (1Thess. 5:20-22).
2)
To
the teachings of any preacher, we should learn from the examples of believers
in
1Cor. 10:16 “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?”
YLT: “The cup of the blessing that we bless
-- is it not the fellowship of the blood of the Christ? the bread that we break
-- is it not the fellowship of the body of the Christ?”
Literal
Meaning: “the
cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of
Christ?” ---- “The cup of blessing”, it refers to the cup in the bread-breaking
gathering in remembrance of the Lord. There is wine and grape juice in the cup.
“Communion”: fellowship, partake of; “the blood of Christ” refers to the
precious blood of the Lord Jesus shedding on the cross.
The cup in the bread-breaking
gathering in remembrance of the Lord (the wine or grape juice in the cup)
symbolizes that the Lord shed His blood for us (see Matt. 26:28; 1Cor. 11:25).
Believers that partake of the cup partake of the blood of Christ.
The emphasis here is the “communion”
of the blood of Christ. The cup is singular. We have received from the same cup
---- this is fellowship.
“The bread which we break, is it not
the communion of the body of Christ”? ---- “Bread” refers to the bread (the
unleavened cake of fine flour) that is broken in the gathering in remembrance
of the Lord; “break”: break and eat; “the body of Christ”, it indicates that
the body of the Lord Jesus who was crucified on the cross.
The bread (the unleavened cake of fine
flour) that is broken in the gathering in remembrance of the Lord symbolizes
the body of Christ (1Cor. 11:24). That believers eat the bread that is broken
is partaking of the body of Christ.
The emphasis here is the “communion”
of the body of Christ. When we partake of the same bread, we are partaking of
the communion of the body of Christ.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
We
partake of whatever we eat. This is very serious. If we are not careful in our
eating and drinking, we will unconsciously partake of the condition that we
should not have.
2)
We
believers have fellowship with the blood and body of Christ though the bread
and cup so that we are jointed into one with the Lord as well as all the
saints. All the saints are jointed together with one another when they are
jointed into the Lord.
3)
The
blood of Christ represents redemption. And the body of Christ stands for life.
We have not only been redeemed but also have close fellowship in the same life.
1Cor. 10:17 “For we, though many, are
one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.”
YLT: “because one bread, one body, are we
the many -- for we all of the one bread do partake.”
Literal
Meaning: “for
we, though many, are one bread and one body”, the emphasis here is “one”. The
“communion” in verse 16 refers to having fellowship with the body of Christ.
And “one bread and one body” in this verse just put the emphasis on the oneness
of believers.
“For we, though many, are one bread”,
we are the bread. That is to say, all the children of God are one, just like
the one bread. We have only one bread, and everyone partakes of the same bread.
The total of the bits that we each take is one. Though the bread is broken and
delivered to everyone, the bread in Spirit is the same.
“For we all partake of that one
bread”, “we” includes all believers, and there is no difference in races,
language, culture, classes, status, gender (see 1Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:28; Col.
3:11) and there is no restriction in time or space ---- we are all of the
bread, namely, the spiritual body of Christ.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
bread that is broken in the gathering in remembrance of the Lord is always one,
ne matter how many believers take part in the gathering. It suggests that when
we believers are united, we are the spiritual body of Christ, namely, the
church. Oh, how close the relationship is!
2)
The
oneness of Christians is a spiritual fact that the Lord has accomplished for us
(see Eph. 4:3-4). Our responsibility is to keep the oneness. We cannot create
oneness, but we may destroy the oneness.
1Cor. 10:18 “Observe
YLT: “See
Literal
Meaning: “observe
“Are not those who eat of the
sacrifices partakers of the altar?” ---- They have fellowship with the
sacrifices and the altar by eating the sacrifices on the altar (see Deut.
14:22-23).
1Cor. 10:19 “What am I saying then?
That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything?”
YLT: “what then do I say? that an idol is
anything? or that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything? --”
Literal
Meaning: “what
am I saying then”? ---- Paul here mentions his words in chapter eight again and
gives further explanation then.
“That an idol is anything”, when he
mentions things offered to idols, he says that meat does not commend us to God,
for neither if we should not eat do we come short nor if we should eat have we
an advantage (1Cor. 8:8).
“Or what is offered to idols is
anything?” ---- When he mentions the idols, he says the idol is nothing, for
there is no other God save one (see 1Cor. 8:4).
1Cor. 10:20 “Rather, that the things
which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do
not want you to have fellowship with demons.”
YLT: “but that the things that the nations
sacrifice -- they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not wish you to
come into the fellowship of the demons.”
Literal
Meaning: “rather,
that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice”, “rather”, he wants to further
explains his words so that believers can know his true meaning in his words.
“Gentiles” refer to heretics who do not believe the Lord.
“They sacrifice to demons and not to
God”, though the idols are nothing, there are demons behind the idols.
Therefore, sacrificing to idols is sacrificing to demons.
“And I do not want you to have fellowship
with demons.” ---- If men eat things offered to demons, they are “having
fellowship with demons”. The apostle Paul does not desire believers in
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
He
who eats things offered to idols is “having fellowship with demons”. The
apostle Paul here does not desire us to have fellowship with demons, for it
will destroy our fellowship with Christ.
2)
We
have fellowship with whatever we eat. The people of
1Cor. 10:21 “You cannot drink the cup
of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and
of the table of demons.”
YLT: “Ye are not able the cup of the Lord
to drink, and the cup of demons; ye are not able of the table of the Lord to
partake, and of the table of demons;”
Literal
Meaning: “you
cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons”, “drink the cup of the
Lord”: have fellowship with the Lord; “drink the cup of demons”: have
fellowship with the demons;
“You cannot partake of the Lord's
table and of the table of demons”, it has the same meaning with the first half
of this verse.
Man cannot have
fellowship with the Lord and with demons at the same time, for there is no
concord of the Lord with demons (see 2Cor. 6:15).
1Cor. 10:22 “Or do we provoke the Lord
to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?”
YLT: “do we arouse the Lord to jealousy?
are we stronger than He?”
Literal
Meaning: “or
do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?” ---- “Jealousy”: envy; the rhetorical
question shows that man can by no means provoke the Lord jealousy.
“Are we stronger than He?” ---- Man’s
fool works just challenge the power of God. Man has overreached himself and
will suffer the consequences.
1Cor. 10:23 “All things are lawful for
me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all
things edify.”
YLT: “All things to me are lawful, but all
things are not profitable; all things to me are lawful, but all things do not
build up;”
Literal Meaning: “all things are lawful for
me, but not all things are helpful”, it repeats the teaching of verse twelve in
chapter six. However, it mentions the principle of one’s walking to himself,
but here it talks about the principle of one’s walking to others.
“All
things are lawful for me, but not all things edify”, “edify”: build up (see
1Cor. 8:1).
Enlightenment in the Word: though we are perfectly
free after we have been saved. However, we should also consider others whatever
we do so as to edify others. This is the principle of Christians’ walking to
others.
1Cor. 10:24 “Let no one seek his own,
but each one the other's well-being.”
YLT: “let no one seek his own -- but each
another's.”
Literal
Meaning: “let
no one seek his own”, it is “not all things are helpful” in the previous verse.
However, in this verse, it means that though it has well-being, we shall also
see who will be profited. Christian should not give priority to his own
well-being.
“But each one the other's well-being”,
if one thing is not helpful to others, even though it is helpful to ourselves,
we should still give it up.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
We
were self-centered before we were saved. We shall be other-centered after we
are saved.
2)
Look
not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others
(Phil. 2:4).
1Cor. 10:25 “Eat whatever is sold in
the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake;”
YLT: “Whatever in the meat-market is sold
eat ye, not inquiring, because of the conscience,”
Literal
Meaning: all
the food in the market at that time might have been offered to idols,
especially meat. Christians can buy and eat whatever is sold in the market and
need not to ask whether the meat has been offered to idols to seek the peace of
conscience.
1Cor. 10:26 “for "the earth is
the LORD's, and all its fullness."”
YLT: “for the Lord's the earth, and its
fullness;”
Literal
Meaning: this
verse is quoted from the Book of Psalm
(24:1). “For”, it shows that. Since one has unconsciously eaten things offered
to idols, after all, they are still of the Lord and are gifted by the Lord.
Enlightenment
in the Word: for
every creature of God good, and nothing to be rejected, being received with
thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by God's word and freely addressing (1Tim.
4:4-5).
1Cor. 10:27 “If any of those who do
not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set
before you, asking no question for conscience' sake.”
YLT: “and if any one of the unbelieving do
call you, and ye wish to go, all that is set before you eat, nothing inquiring,
because of the conscience;”
Literal
Meaning: “if
any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go”,
here the dinner must not be the dinner set in the temple, for Paul has
commanded “not to eat the table of demons” (see v.21). Here, it refers to the
dinner in one’s private house.
“Eat whatever is set before you,
asking no question for conscience' sake”, the food set by those who do not
believe may have been offered to idols, but Paul exhorts not to ask for the
same reason mentioned in the literal meaning of the previous verse.
1Cor. 10:28 “But if anyone says to
you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the
one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the LORD's,
and all its fullness."”
YLT: “and if any one may say to you, `This
is a thing sacrificed to an idol,' -- do not eat, because of that one who
shewed , and of the conscience, for the Lord's the earth and its fulness:”
Literal
Meaning: “but
if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols,"” if someone
purposefully tells you the food has been offered to idols, it shows that he has
doubt as to whether Christians should eat this kind of food or not, or even
thinks Christians should not eat it.
“Do not eat it for the sake of the one
who told you, and for conscience' sake”, Paul exhorts believers not to eat and
sacrifice the liberty and right of Christians for the sake of others.
1Cor. 10:29 “"Conscience," I
say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by
another man's conscience?”
YLT: “and conscience, I say, not of
thyself, but of the other, for why that my liberty is judged by another's
conscience?”
Literal
Meaning: “conscience,"
I say, not your own, but that of the other”, it is because the conscience of
the other one is weak and he may be stumbled. As for your conscience, there is
no problem for you have the knowledge that “the earth is the LORD's” (v.30).
“For why is my liberty judged by another
man's conscience?” ---- Though a Christian is not afraid of judgment of others,
he fears that his liberty may become a fall-trap to his brother. Therefore, we
should avoid judgments caused by weak conscience of others.
1Cor. 10:30 “But if I partake with
thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?”
YLT: “and if I thankfully do partake, why
am I evil spoken of, for that for which I give thanks?”
Literal
Meaning: “but
if I partake with thanks”, “with thanks”, it shows that the food that he
partakes is gifted by God.
“Why am I evil spoken of for the food
over which I give thanks?” ---- It is a rhetorical question, indicating that
the food that I have partaken with thanks has even something to do with demons,
so I am evil spoken of. All of these are caused by my liberty that I am
unwilling to give up.
1Cor. 10:31 “Therefore, whether you
eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
YLT: “Whether, then, ye eat, or drink, or
do anything, do all to the glory of God;”
Literal
Meaning: this
is the conclusion of the previous paragraph. If I am evil spoken of on account
of eating and drinking, it is not to glory of God. Christians should try to
avoid such condition and eat and drink to glory of God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
principles of Christians’ walking: a) to the glory of God; b) have well-being
to oneself and have no dominion over oneself; c) have well-being to others and
be able to edify others.
2)
We
should not do anything that comes short of God’s glory, for it is sin (Rom.
3:23).
1Cor. 10:32 “Give no offense, either
to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the
YLT: “become offenceless, both to Jews and
Greeks, and to the assembly of God;”
Literal
Meaning: “either
to the Jews or to the Greeks”, “the Jews” refer to the Jews who do not believe
the Lord; “the Greeks” refer to all the Gentiles who do not believe the Lord.
“The
“Give no offense”, Christians should
not only have responsibility of not making believers not stumbled but also have
the duty of not blocking the way of believing the Lord to those who have not
believed the Lord.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Believers
do not eat things offered to idols so as not to destroy our fellowship with
Christ (see v.21) and not to offend brothers and thus make the
2)
We
are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt. 5:13-16), owning
the responsibility of manifesting good testimony before the world so that man
shall glorify God.
1Cor. 10:33 “just as I also please all
men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they
may be saved.”
YLT: “as I also in all things do please
all, not seeking my own profit, but that of many -- that they may be saved.”
Literal
Meaning: “just
as I also please all men in all things”, here the apostle Paul sets himself as
an example for us to imitate (see 1Cor. 11:1).
“Not seeking my own profit, but the
profit of many, that they may be saved”, Paul always takes his preoccupation
with things concerning saving men (see 1Cor. 9:19, 22). This is the motive of
his walking.
Enlightenment
in the Word: the
motives of the apostle Paul are: 1) “not seeking my own profit”, it is that the
death of the cross cuts off all the profit of one’s self; 2) “but the profit of
many, that they may be saved”, it is providing the full Christ (being saved is
obtaining the full salvation of Christ). In a word, he provides the full Christ
through the death of the cross. This is the general principle of Christians’
life.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The
Blessings that All Believers Partake Of
A.
Under
the cloud (v
B.
In
the sea (v.2b, 3b) ---- all of them were baptized in the water;
C.
Be
baptized into Moses in the cloud (v
D.
All
were baptized into Moses (v.3b) ---- all of them were unto Christ;
E.
All
ate the same spiritual food (v.4) ---- all of them partook of the bread of
life;
F.
All
drank the same spiritual drink (v
G.
Spiritual
Rock that followed them (v. 5b) ---- all of them had the presence of Christ;
H.
They
were all obtained God’s help in temptation (v.13);
I.
The
communion of the blood of Christ (v
J.
The
communion of the body of Christ (v.16b) ---- all of them partook the body of
Christ;
K.
Partake
of the Lord's table (v.21) ---- all of them had fellowship with the Lord.
Things
that Sin Against God
A.
Lust
after evil things (v.6);
B.
Idolaters
(v
C.
Eat
and drink, and rose up to play (v.7b) ---- be extravagant in eating and
drinking;
D.
Commit
sexual immorality (v.8);
E.
Tempt
Christ (v.9) ---- the evil hearts of unbelief;
F.
Complain
(v.10) ---- be disobedient;
Reasons
Why Believers Should Not Eat Things Offered to Idols
A.
Eat
of the sacrifices partakers of the altar (v.18) ----
B.
Idolatry
is having fellowship with demons (v.20);
C.
Idolatry
provokes the Lord to jealousy (v.22);
D.
Eating
things offered to idols may hurt the conscience of those who are weak
(v.28-29);
Christians’
Principles of Eating Or Not Eating
A.
The
principle of not eating:
1.
We
should not eat in the temple ---- for we have clearly known that things have
been offered to idols (v.19-22).
2.
We
should not eat after we have been told that the food has been offered to idols
(v.28-29).
B.
The
principle of eating:
1.
Eat
whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions (v.25);
2.
Eat
whatever is set before you, asking no question (v.27);
Principles
of Christians’ Walking
A.
We
should not hurt Christ or the church.
1.
We
provoke the Lord to jealousy (v.22).
2.
We
should not give no offense to anyone in the
B.
We
walk to glorify God and edify men:
1.
Whatever
you do, do all to the glory of God (v.31).
2.
We
shall not seek our own profit, but the profit of many (v.23-24, 33).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou