One of the questions the Corinthians asked Paul in their letter concerned the eating of meat. There were many gods in Greece, and much of the meat offered for sale in public market places had first been offered in sacrifice to some idol. The question at issue involved not only the eating of the meat, but the matter of participating in social functions of their heathen friends, many of which functions were often accompanied with shameful acts.
Although we do not face this particular situation of eating sacrificial meat, there is a lesson for us in this chapter, so keep reading.
1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3But whoever loves God is known by God.
Look at verse 2—what a confusing verse! Some earlier manuscripts and ancient writings show this verse to say “Those who think they have knowledge do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves truly knows.”
Still confusing. However, Paul’s point is knowledge causes us to be filled with false pride. I believe what he is saying here is to not be arrogant about our knowledge in Christ, but to show all men love and compassion. Don’t be judgmental, but loving.
Paul is saying even the wisest and most knowledgeable Christians realize their knowledge is limited. God is the only one who knows all.
1 John 4:7-8 says “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
4So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”),
Idols are man-made and have no power. The so-called ‘gods’ are from men’s imaginations, not real gods. Yet, there are demons behind them.
Psalm 115:4-8 “But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.
5They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. 8Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.”
5They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. 8Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.”
1 Corinthians 10:20 “No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.”
In the parenthesis of verse 5, Paul is saying there are many ‘gods’ and ‘lords’ people have come to believe in. He’s not saying they exist, but there are a lot of beliefs among the people.
6yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
God the Father is the ultimate SOURCE of all creation.
God the Son is the dynamic one through whom all things came into existence. John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
Colossians 1:15-16 “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”
7But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
Some still want to believe the idols are gods and have powers. Christians who conceive of an idol as being real have a difficult time ridding themselves of this idea. So they think in eating meat that has been sacrificed to these idols they have involved themselves in the worship of them. But Paul says the food is no different from any other food. It’s been slaughtered and ready to eat. Eating it won’t bring us closer to God, nor will it make us any better or worse in His sight. Frankly, God doesn’t care one way or the other if we eat the meat or not.
9Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
Paul goes on to say even though we have the freedom of knowing it’s okay with God, others may not understand this. He tells them even though they may have been invited into the idol’s temples to feast on the meat, if they do so, they could hurt their testimony for Christ and cause others to turn away from Christ, therefore they would be sinning against Christ.
Paul says the weak Christian is influenced by the stronger one. If you do something that is perceived to be sinful, even though God accepts it, the weak brother may be appalled enough to withdraw from Christ.
It’s also a sin against Christ because it breaks the unity of the members of the body (the church).
Therefore, be careful not to do anything that will turn someone else against Christianity. There are a lot of believers and nonbelievers in this world who are looking for reasons to call Christians hypocrites, and all too often we give them plenty of reasons. A simple utterance of a naughty word, a purchase of a bottle of wine, a piece of gossip shared among friends, judging another person’s past, or saying a blessing in public and then cursing during the meal—all of these seemingly innocent everyday occurrences can cause someone to turn away from wanting to be a Christian or cause a weak or new Christian from wanting to admit it.
Am I saying it is sinful to purchase a bottle of wine? Absolutely not. But it is the same type of example Paul was talking about when discussing eating the meat from a sacrifice to an idol. It is not a sin against God, but it may cause someone who doesn’t understand that to question your sincerity as a Christian. That is why many Christians refuse to buy or drink alcohol. Not because it is a sin, but because they don’t want to cause this type of misunderstanding.
When faced with decisions, weigh the influence your decision might have on those around you. We are not saved by our works or lack of sin, but by God’s grace. With a Christian’s freedom from law come Christian responsibilities to help strengthen other Christians and God’s Kingdom here on earth.
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