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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
July 21
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Today's Pathway:
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I Corinthians 10:23-28
- All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
- Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
- Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
- For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
- 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.
- 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:
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Today's passage opens with Paul repeating a phrase that he used back in I Corinthians 6:12,
"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient".
Just because something may be legal doesn't mean that it should be done. In that same verse he also said that something might be lawful, but he wouldn't do it if it had power over him. Now in verse 23 he adds a third criterion: if something is lawful, but it doesn't edify others, then I won't do it. Paul is returning to the fact that others are more important than we are. If my liberty might offend a brother, or even a lost man, then I need to surrender my liberty so as to not spiritually harm that person. In verse 24 he says that each of us should not be concerned about ourselves, but we should be looking for ways to help others prosper spiritually. The word "wealth" has been added by the translators, and, lest we be confused, the theme of this passage is not material gain. The idea is that instead of seeking what's best for you, seek what's best for someone else.
In verses 25-26 Paul goes back to his discussion about meat sacrificed to idols. Paul gives some very practical advice here. He knows that much of the meat in the butcher shops ("shambles") had been sacrificed to idols, which created a dilemma for Christians who wanted to purchase good meat. So he gives them a guideline: just buy it and eat it without asking any questions about where it came from. Matthew Henry commented,
"Now the apostle tells them they need not be so scrupulous as to ask the butcher in the market whether the meat he sold had been offered to an idol. It was there sold as common food, and as such might be bought and used; for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, and the fruit and products of the earth were designed by Him, the great Proprietor, for the use and subsistence of mankind, and more especially of his own children and servants."
In verse 27 he gives similar advice concerning what to do if you have been invited to dinner at an unbeliever's home. Paul says to just eat what is put in front of you and don't ask where it came from. Again, the idol is nothing and the meat is nothing, so therefore the believer has the freedom to eat it. However, if the host specifically tells you that this is meat sacrificed to idols, then you should not eat it. While eating it will not harm the believer, it could harm the unsaved host because he might think that your willingness to eat the meat means that you are acknowledging that pagan deity as a legitimate god. Alan Redpath wrote,
"If the host intimates that this was meat offered to idols, then he should not touch it. If the host mentions it to his guest, quite clearly he attaches some importance to it. Therefore the Christian must not be identified with him in idol-worship, and must abstain from eating the meat. If nothing is said about it, and the guest knows nothing about the origin of the meat, then he is not to start trouble by asking; he is free from any possible compromise."
Jack Arnold adds,
"Why would an unbeliever raise this issue? The unsaved at Corinth knew how the Christians took their stand against every form of idolatry, and by raising this issue he was testing whether a Christian was wholeheartedly for Christ. Also a non¬-Christian may have a high standard of what he thinks a Christian should, and if the Christian partakes of some doubtful thing, the unsaved person’s conscience may be offended. The Christian’s conscience may be clear, but the unsaved man’s is not. Because the Christian loves Christ more than he loves a steak, he does not partake of it so he can maintain his testimony."
What is more important to you: your rights, or the spiritual condition of others?
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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