1 Corinthians: A 9-Day Devotional For WomenSample

Liberty and Love
1 Corinthians 10:23–33

There was much confusion in the early church about eating food sacrificed to idols. Under the old covenant this would have been fiercely prohibited, but Peter’s vision in Acts 10:9–33 showed that, in light of the coming of Christ, God was overturning the ceremonial laws of the Mosaic covenant. This included dietary laws and the distinction between clean and unclean foods. Such ceremonial laws were not to get in the way of Jewish believers enjoying fellowship with their Gentile brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Paul addresses the issue of food offered to idols in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10. In chapter 8, he discusses food eaten within the walls of a pagan temple, while in chapter 10 the setting is a private home. Chapter 8 focuses on believers’ relationships with other believers, and chapter 10 on our relationship with unbelievers. His instructions differ according to the context in which they were given, but the underlying principle remains the same: our “rights” are never to become a stumbling block to others. 

Paul’s concern is that the Corinthians act toward others in a way that points them toward, rather than away from, Christ. Thus while it may be “lawful” for believers to eat meat sacrificed to idols, it may not be “helpful” (1 Cor. 10:23). Christians are held to a higher standard than outward obedience. Paul asks them to love others in the way they were loved by Christ. “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor” (v. 24). 

The Corinthians are to respond based on the circumstances under which the food is offered to them. Paul says that they are not to question their host concerning whether or not the food has been sacrificed to idols; rather, they are to simply eat (v. 27). However, if someone does inform them that the food has been sacrificed, they must not partake. Why? “For the sake of the one who informed you” (v. 28). Paul stresses that the important thing is to protect the conscience of that individual. It is not a matter of whether or not the food is clean or unclean; it is a matter of loving others more than loving the liberty to eat whatever we want. 

We should take note that, in this passage, the believer is sharing a meal with an unbeliever. Don’t miss the importance of this: the early Christians were around unbelievers enough to be sharing meals with them. Likewise, it is important for us to form relationships with unbelievers, taking the time to really know and understand them so that we can live in a way that will “give no offense” (v. 32). Our aim as believers is to always advance the gospel, whether we eat or don’t eat, drink or don’t drink (v. 31). For this is the aspiration of all interaction we have with unbelievers. We long “that they may be saved” (v. 33). —Jessica Thompson