1 Corinthians 10

CHAPTER 10THEME: Liberty is not licenseWe are still in the section concerning Christian liberty, which extends through this chapter and into the first verse of chapter 11. We are going to see another area of liberty illustrated through the nation Israel.

1 Corinthians 10:1

“Moreover, brethren” ties into the last verse of chapter 9. Paul had just been saying that he did not want to be disapproved at the judgment seat of Christ, but he wanted to receive a reward. “I would not that ye should be ignorant.” When Paul writes that, you can be sure that the brethren were ignorant or unaware of something he is going to explain to them. The church in Corinth was a mixed church; that is, it was made up of both Jews and Gentiles. Today a Jewish Christian is somewhat unusual, but in that day a Gentile Christian was more unusual since the first Christians were Jews. When Paul says, “All our fathers,” he is speaking to the Jewish part of the congregation. They, along with Paul, were Israelites and shared the same history. “Our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea” refers, of course, to the time when the people of Israel were escaping from Egyptian bondage and crossed the Red Sea.

1 Corinthians 10:2

“Many of them” is in the Greek “most of them.” This shows how far a person can go and still not be a believer. It reveals the wonderful liberty the Israelites had when they crossed the Red Sea. The Mosaic Law had not been given at that time; so they were not under law. They had great liberty, but they abused that liberty. Privilege is no insurance against ultimate failure. Many a rich man’s son has had to learn that. It has also been learned by many men who had certain privileges granted them in the political realm or in the business world or in the social world. They “were under the cloud"that is, they had guidance. They all passed safely through the sea. They “were all baptized unto Moses.” Here we come again to that word baptized. Baptized can mean many things. I have a classical Greek lexicon which gives twenty meanings for the Greek word baptizo. Our translators never did translate the word; they merely transliterated it. They simply took the word out of the Greek and gave it an English spelling. Therefore, to try to say exactly what the writer had in mind is difficult because the translators did not attempt to do that. They just spelled the word out. A great many folk have dogmatically narrowed down the word to one meaning. Now baptizo means to “identify.” In fact, water baptism has that meaning, as it speaks of our identification with Christ. We are buried with Him by baptismby the baptism of the Holy Spiritthat is what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is. He identifies us with the body of ChristHe puts us into the body as a member. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (1Co_12:13). Paul will deal with this in chapter 12. But here we have the statement that they were “baptized unto Moses.” How were they baptized unto Moses? Don’t try to tell me that Moses had a baptismal service at the Red Sea and baptized them because, actually, they did not get wet at all! The record in Exodus tells us that they went through the sea on dry ground. When God dried up the Red Sea for them, He dried it upthey didn’t get wet at all. They went over on dry land. The folk who really got wet were the Egyptians.

They were soaked through and through. So obviously when it says they were baptized unto Moses, he is not talking about water. Neither is it the baptism of the Holy Spirit because it says they were baptized unto Moses. Well, it simply means that they were identified with Moses. Heb_11:29 says, “By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.” The children of Israel were identified with Moses. By faith they passed through the Red Sea.

Whose faith was it? It wasn’t their faith. They had none. Read the story in Exodusthey wanted to go back to Egypt, and they were blaming Moses for bringing them out into that awful wilderness. It was Moses who had the faith. It was Moses who went down to the water and smote the Red Sea as God had commanded.

It was Moses who led them across on dry ground. When they got to the other side, they sang the song of Moses (see Exod. 15). What a song it was! The people of Israel were identified with Moses. All of this is a picture of our salvation. Christ went through the waters of death. And we are brought through by His death, identified with Him, and now identified with a living Savior, baptized into Christ. That is the way baptism saves us. When we trust Christ, the baptism of the Holy Spirit puts us in Christ. Water baptism illustrates this and is very important, but it is merely ritual baptism. Real baptism is the work of the Holy Spirit. Now the people of Israel were baptized unto Moses, and they were able to cross the Red Sea. “And did all eat the same spiritual meat"the manna. “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ"that is, it sets forth Christ. “But with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.” Why was all of this recorded for us? Paul tells us the reason:

1 Corinthians 10:6

The first five verses give us the illustration of the liberty that these people enjoyed as a nation. Now in this very searching section we learn that these people abused their liberty. He makes an application of that for us. It happened to them for examples unto us. This was written for you and for me, and so we ought to pay close attention to it. The Israelites had this wonderful liberty, and what did they do with it? It says that they lusted after evil things. What were those things? Well, we can turn back and see: “And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a-lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes” (Num_11:4-6). They lusted, we are told, after evil things. What was wrong with leeks, onions, and garlic? Well, if they ate those things, they wouldn’t be very desirable companions, but the point is that they lusted for that which was outside the will of God for them. This was the beginning of their defection. Have you noticed how many times it is desire that leads to sin? It started back in the Garden of Eden. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat” (Gen_3:6). It was the desire for something outside the will of God. What is desire, after all? Psychologists talk about inhibitions and prohibitions, and they speak of desire as the supreme thing in life. What is desire? In these instances it was to want that which was outside the will of God. It wasn’t God’s will for them to have those things at that particular time.

1 Corinthians 10:7

An idol is anything in your life that you put in the place of God.

1 Corinthians 10:8

Paul lists some of the sins of the people. These people had continually murmured and complained against God. This is an illustration of those who want those things that are outside the will of God. God always has something good for His people. That was true then, and it is still true now. But they constantly wanted something that was beyond God’s will for them.

1 Corinthians 10:11

We are to learn a lesson from all this. We do have Christian liberty, but our desires are to be according to the will of God. That is so important for us to see.

1 Corinthians 10:12

It makes no difference who you are, you could fall today. It would be very easy for any one of us to blunder and stumble and fall. One can be a mature Christian, a real saint, and still fall. Therefore, you and I need to be very careful that we stay in the realm of the will of God where we are not quenching the Spirit of God in our lives.

1 Corinthians 10:13

A great many people feel that nobody has ever been tempted as they are tempted. My friend, no matter what temptation you experience, there have been others who have had the same kind of temptation. The encouraging thing is that God will make a way of escape for you. God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can endure. Dr. Hutton used to say it like this: “God always makes a way of escape and sometimes the way of escape is the king’s highway and a good pair of heels.” In other words, let the Devil see your heelsrun as hard as you can to get away from the temptation. One of the reasons we yield to temptation is that we are like the little boy in the pantry. His mother heard a noise because he had taken down the cookie jar. She said, “Willie, where are you?” He answered that he was in the pantry. “What are you doing there?” He said, “I’m fighting temptation.” My friend, that is not the place to fight temptation! That is the place to start running.

1 Corinthians 10:14

Idolatry was a temptation in Corinth. Idolatry may not be a temptation to you, but the Bible tells us that covetousness is idolatry. There is a lot of that around today. Paul is going on to teach that fellowship at the Lord’s Table requires separation.

1 Corinthians 10:16

Paul’s argument here is quite logical. He says that an idol is nothing. So if you offer meat to an idol, it is nothingthe meat is not affected at all.

1 Corinthians 10:20

Paul is still talking about Christian liberty. Although the idol is nothing, behind the idol is demonismPaul recognizes this.

1 Corinthians 10:21

That is, for some people to eat meat which had been sacrificed to idols would be idolatry. A believer would have to examine his heart very carefully.

1 Corinthians 10:22

Paul now comes back to what he said at the very beginning of this section on Christian liberty.

1 Corinthians 10:23

Paul says that he has the freedom to do these questionable things, things on which the Bible is silent as to their being right or wrong. For example, I think Paul would say, “If I felt that I should go to the games, I would go.” I think Paul must have attended the great Olympic events which took place in his day because many of his illustrations are taken from athletic events that were carried on in the great Colosseum and stadiums of that day. Paul says all such things are lawful for him, but all things are not expedient because of the fact that the thing he could do might hurt a weak believer. He says, “All things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” That is, they don’t “build me up in the faith.” A young preacher once asked me, “Do you think a preacher ought to go to ball games?” He knew I didn’t go. I said this to him, “Although I always enjoyed participating in all athletic events, I’ve never been much of a spectator at any of them. I don’t have much interest in watching somebody else play football or baseball, especially when they are being paid for it. I always played for fun and enjoyed it. However, when I was in school, I read a very helpful book which pointed out that a preacher should confine his life to that which he can use in his ministrywhat he sees, where he goes, what he experiencesbecause his total life is his ministry. Everything should be grist for his mill.

In other words, a minister should take into the pulpit his entire life (he is not to have a hidden part) and be able to use all of it.” So I said to him regarding baseball, “If you can use the baseball gameand you canthere would be nothing wrong in your going. You could draw many good illustrations from a baseball game. However, it might not be expedient for you to go because it might have a bad influence on someone else.” So Paul lays down this guideline:

1 Corinthians 10:24

The Christian has a tremendous liberty in Christ. However, we are to seek the welfare of the other man. So a Christian’s life should not be primarily directed and dictated by liberty. Liberty is limited by love. A Christian is not pinned down by legality; he is not circumscribed by strict rules. He is limited by love. He should be concerned about his influence and effect on others. That is the thought which Paul has here.

1 Corinthians 10:25

The Christian can enjoy all the things of God’s creationthe beauties of it and the produce of it. The Lord has provided it. Now Paul is going to give a very practical suggestion. He says that when you go out to eat, don’t say to your host, “This is a very lovely steak that you have here today. Where did you get it? My butcher doesn’t have meat like this to sell to the public.” Then your friend may tell you that he went to the temple to buy the meat. The best thing to do is not to ask where the meat came from. Now Paul gives a very practical illustration:

1 Corinthians 10:27

If you are invited to the home of an unbeliever, go and eat whatever is put before you. Don’t ask any questions.

1 Corinthians 10:28

Now there is another principle involved, and this is an entirely new matter. Paul has advised to eat everything and ask no questions. But suppose there is someone else at the table who sees you eat the meat and says, “This meat has been offered to idols.” In that case you should not eat the meatnot because eating it is wrong, but because it is obvious it may harm the person who pointed it out to you. It is not because of your conscience but because of his conscience that you should not eat the meat. There is no rule that you should not eat the meat. But out of your love, out of your desire to help that brother whose conscience is bothered, you should not eat the meat. That is the whole point. Let me illustrate this. Down in Georgia they have a berry that is called a scuppernong. It is similar to a grape, but it grows singly on a vine. They make wine out of it. A friend of mine told me that he went to preach in a certain church and was invited out to dinner by one of the church officers. He was handed a glass of scuppernong. He didn’t know what it was, but he tasted of it. He realized that it had an alcoholic contenthe is not a super pious individual, but he put the glass down. His host said to him, “What’s the matter? Don’t you like it?” He said, “I think it is delicious, but I noticed that it is wine, and I feel that I as a Christian should not drink it.” Well, that created a tense moment, but he got his point across. I feel that he did the right thing. The question would arise: did that minister have as much right to drink it as the elder did? He didthere’s no question about that. But he also had a testimony, which is the reason he did not drink it. So many Christians are harsh in their dealing with others because their motive is legality"I don’t do this, and you shouldn’t do it.” However, if their motive were love, the approach would be altogether different. Love for the other believer should be the motive in the Christian’s conduct.

1 Corinthians 10:29

Why should I be restricted by some of these weak brethren?

1 Corinthians 10:30

Paul asks, “Isn’t it unfair to judge me because of another man’s conscience?” He answers by stating a great principle:

1 Corinthians 10:31

Paul has stated certain great principles that relate to Christian liberty. One of those principles is: “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient.” Also, “all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” Now here is another one: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, and whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” This is the test every believer should apply to his life. Not “should I do this, or should I do that,” but “can I do it for the glory of God?” Unfortunately, there are Christians who don’t even go to church for the glory of God. They go for some other reasonmaybe to criticize or to gossip. With a motive like that it is better to stay at home. Whatever a believer does should be done for the glory of God. That is very important.

1 Corinthians 10:32

Here Paul divides the whole world into three groups: Jews, Gentiles, and church of God. Some of these folk have differing beliefs. An example would be the Jewish abhorrence of pork. It would certainly give offense to invite a Jewish friend for dinner and serve him ham. A believer should love other people enough so that his actions will not offend them. There are a lot of Gentiles who have peculiar notions too.

It would be impossible to please all of them, but we should try not to offend those with whom we have contact. Neither should we offend those who are of the church of God. Some young people who were rebelling against “the establishment” came to me and said they had attended a certain church and were rebuked because of the way they dressed. They asked me if I thought the members of that church were all wrong. I told them I thought that both groups were wrong. Neither acted in love.

The members of the church were wrong in criticizing them before others. On the other hand, these young folk knew their clothes and hair would be an offense to the members of the church. So none of them showed love toward the other. We are told that we are not to offend either the Jews, the Gentiles, or the church of God. This includes the entire human family. These are the three divisions of the human family today, but one of these days the church of God is going to leave this earth.

Then there will be only the Jews and Gentiles in the world, and God has a tremendous program which will take place at that time.

1 Corinthians 10:33

Now primarily what we do we are to do for the glory of God"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” A Christian woman can wash dishes and sweep the floor to the glory of God. A Christian man can mow the lawn and dig a ditch for the glory of God. Regardless of what you are doing, if you cannot do it for the glory of God, you should not be doing it. As we live like this we are a testimony to the worldthat those who are lost might be saved. Friend, it is more important for us to make tracks in the world than to give out tracts. A zealous man in Memphis, Tennessee, was handing out tracts to everyone. He handed a tract to a man, but he would not accept it. He asked, “What is that?” “A tract,” was the answer. “I can’t read,” said the man, “but I’ll tell you what I’ll do, I’ll just watch your tracks.” That is much more impressive. People read our tracks in life better than they read tracts that we hand out. It is a good thing to give out tracts, but along with them we must also make the right kind of tracks. Now the first verse of chapter 1Co_11:11 belongs in this division: