Bible Reflections From Scripture Union Volume OneSample

The Glory of God
Read 1 Corinthians 10:1–11:1

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Paul returns to the matter of attending cultic meals in the pagan temples.

Participation in cultic meals in the pagan temples is prohibited for two reasons:

i. the sacred meal is an act of ‘fellowship’ with the deity being worshipped

ii idols are not 'gods' themselves, but demons are the objects of idol worship

This passage is relevant to us in Asia. As one commentator noted, “What Paul is finally forbidding is any kind of relationship with the demonic.”

While eating food offered at the temple meals is absolutely forbidden because it involves the worship of idol-demons, eating offered food out in the public market was a different matter (v 25).

When the children of Israel ate of the sacrifice, they participated in the worship of God. When the pagans sacrificed, they did so to demons. The Corinthian Christians were participating at the Lord’s Table. How then could they also have a part at the table of demons? Participation in one meal (the Lord's) is absolutely incompatible with participation in the other (at the temple of idols)

Let us renew our commitment to the Lord. Let us partake of the Lord’s table with devotion and gratitude.

Pray for believers who live with family members who are not yet believers. Pray that they will be like the sweet fragrance of Jesus in their homes.