Lessons from Israel’s history
10
📚And 📖, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud 📖, and all passed through the sea 📖, 2 📚and all were baptized 📖 into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 📚and all ate the same spiritual food, 10:3 This food was manna. See Ex 16:14-15.⚜
4 📚and all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
10:4 See Ex 17:5-6. The manna and water are called “spiritual” because they were given miraculously by God’s Spirit. The rock from which the water came was a type or picture of Christ Who gives the “living water” (John 4:10, 14; 7:38-39; 19:34). The Old Testament nowhere says that the literal rock went rolling through the desert with the Israelites as they journeyed (though it should not be thought impossible that water from the rock made a channel and followed them – Ps 105:41). But Christ Himself went with them and provided all they needed. Paul says the rock which accompanied them and provided for them was Christ.
5 📚But with most of them God was not pleased; their bodies were scattered in the desert.
10:5 In spite of all they experienced of God’s grace, in spite of all their great privileges as the people of God, the vast majority of them never reached Canaan. They were “not approved for the prize” (1 Cor 9:27). God’s punishment came upon them and they wandered aimlessly in the desert until they died.⚜
6 📚Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things, as they craved them.
10:6 Setting the heart on evil things instead of on the Lord alone is a root cause of all other sin. Paul elsewhere tells believers to put all evil desires to death (Col 3:5). If we permit them to remain in our hearts we will find that eventually they will bite like poisonous snakes.⚜
7 📚And do not become idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 📚And let us not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell dead.
10:8 Num 25:1-9. Numbers tells us that 24,000 died in the plague God sent. Paul says 23,000 died “in one day”. Evidently the other 1,000 died later. God detests adultery and forbids it in the clearest terms (Ex 20:14).⚜
9 📚And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents.
10:9 Num 21:4-9. This is another very serious sin which is all too common among Christians.⚜
10 📚And do not complain, as some of them complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
10:6-10 Here are the reasons why they failed and fell in the desert. Paul speaks of five sins of which they were guilty – setting their hearts on evil things, idolatry, immorality, testing God, and grumbling. These are all examples of common sins which all Christians must avoid. If we do not avoid them, have we any right to expect that our end will be better than theirs?⚜
10:10 Num 14:1-4, 37; 16:41-49. The destroying angel brought the plague which killed them. Grumbling about one’s lot may be the most common of all sins among Christians. God views it very seriously.⚜
11 📚Now all these things happened to them as examples 📖. And they are written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages 📖 have come.
Escape from temptation
12 📚Therefore let him who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall.
10:12 In other words, self-confidence can be disastrous. No matter how great our privileges and how favorable our circumstances, no matter how much we know and have experienced, we may still fall into terrible sin. We must always recognize our weakness and find our strength in the Lord. And we must follow Paul’s example in 1 Cor 9:27.⚜
13 📚No temptation has taken hold of you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, so that you may be able to bear it.
10:13 Temptations will “take hold of” believers as they do everyone else. But believers have a promise that others do not have, and a very great promise it is. God will never let any temptation be so powerful, so attractive that a believer cannot resist it. He will always provide a way out of it. He is absolutely faithful. Of course, we must want that way and look for it. Otherwise we may not see it. If we want to be overcome because the sin we are tempted to do is pleasing to us, then we are in grave danger of falling. If we fall into sin we should never try to accuse God of allowing a temptation we could not resist. See also Matt 6:13.⚜
The table of demons and the Lord’s table
14 📚Therefore, my dearly loved ones, flee from idolatry.
10:14 Verse 7; 1 John 5:21. From some things believers should simply run and keep as far away as possible. Compare 1 Cor 6:18.⚜
15 📚I speak as to wise men. Judge for yourselves what I say. 16 📚The cup of blessing for which we give thanks, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
10:16 We must interpret this verse in the light of Matt 26:26-28. Compare also John 6:53-58, 63. “Communion” does not mean a literal eating of the body and blood of Christ. It means spiritual participation, a partaking together. We take the literal bread and wine but partake in the Spirit with Christ. The bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper are symbols of the relationship believers have with the Lord (compare v 18). They are reminders of His death for them which they participate in by faith. The Lord’s Supper is a ceremony of fellowship with Christ who died for us, a thanksgiving service to Him because He has redeemed us.⚜
17 📚For though we are many we are one bread, one body, for we all partake of that one bread.
10:17 One loaf of bread was used in the usual observance of the Lord’s Supper. When believers partake of the bread they show they are united as one body (1 Cor 12:12-13).⚜
18 📚Look at Israel according to the flesh. Do not those who eat of the sacrifices partake of the altar?
10:18 Lev 7:15; 8:31; Deut 12:18. To eat of the sacrifices is to “partake of the altar”. These words give light on what is meant to partake in the blood and body of Christ (v 16). Partaking of the altar obviously did not mean a literal eating of the altar. It signified a close relationship with the altar and its sacrifices. It signified a fellowship with all others who partook of it and all for which the altar stood.⚜
19 📚What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything? 20 📚No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.
10:20 Idols themselves are nothing. But behind the idols are demons (they are the “gods” and “lords” of 1 Cor 8:5). They who worship them may (or may not) think they are giving offerings to God, but they are not actually doing so. This is a very important statement concerning the worship of many people in the world. See also Deut 32:17. To share food offered to idols is like participating with the demons behind them. It is to show a measure of agreement with the worship offered them.⚜
21 📚You cannot drink both the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the Lord’s table 📖, and in the table of demons.
10:19-21 Paul was aiming at this point when he gave the two illustrations in vs 16-18. Participating in Christ signifies fellowship with all others who do so, and acceptance of all that the sacrifice of Christ means. In the same way, participating in a feast before an idol or in an idol temple is to become a part of that whole system of false worship. It is to take part with demons.⚜
22 📚Are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
10:14-22 Paul speaks of the Lord’s Supper and also a feast before idols. Those who take part in the first must keep themselves far from the second. To attend a feast before an idol or in an idol temple is an act of idolatry; it is to get involved with demons.⚜
10:22 See Ex 20:5; Deut 32:21; Ps 78:58. Dare we think we are strong to do what He forbids or stand when His anger is aroused?⚜
Freedom and principles believers should follow
23 📚All things are lawful for me, but not all things are beneficial. All things are lawful for me, but not all things build up. 24 📚No one should seek his own benefit, but each one the benefit of others.
25 📚Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions, for conscience sake.
10:25 Much of the meat sold in the market had previously been offered to idols. But being in the market it may be bought and eaten at home.⚜
26 📚“For the earth and its fullness belongs to the Lord”.
10:26 Ps 24:1. Meat in the market even though offered to an idol, by creation actually belongs to God, and His people may eat it.⚜
27 📚If any of those who are unbelievers ask you to a feast, and you have a mind to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question, for conscience’ sake.
10:27 This refers to a meal in a house, not a feast in a temple. Paul has already said Christ’s believers must not partake of a feast in a temple (vs 20,21).⚜
28 📚But if anyone says to you, “This was offered in sacrifice to idols”, do not eat it, for the sake of the one who pointed this out, and for conscience’ sake; for the earth and its fullness belongs to the Lord.
10:28 In such a case as this the believer who eats may give the impression that idolatry is unimportant, and this he should never do. And he is troubling the conscience of any other believer present who thinks that it is wrong to eat any meat anywhere that has been offered to an idol (1 Cor 8:7).⚜
29 📚“Conscience”, I say, not meaning your own, but that of the other person. For why should my liberty be judged by another man’s conscience? 30 📚For if I partake with thanksgiving, why am I slanderously accused for something for which I give thanks?
10:29-30 The believer who thinks it is wrong in any circumstance or in any place to eat meat offered to an idol may condemn the believer who is sure he has the freedom to eat it. Paul says it is better not to use this freedom if this is going to be the result.⚜
31 📚Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God.
10:31 Now Paul gives a great principle that should govern every act of a believer. Here is the highest motive possible to anyone. If all believers live according to this there will be no divisions and factions in the church and no immorality, no condemning of other believers, no actions which thoughtlessly offend others. If every action in our daily lives must pass under the scrutiny of this verse many things thought harmless or indifferent will have to go.⚜
32 📚Give offense to no one, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church 📖 of God,
33 📚just as I please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, that they may be saved.
10:33 See 1 Cor 9:19-23; 2 Tim 2:10. He did not set before them a way of life that he himself was not willing to follow. Selfish and self-centered people think such a way totally undesirable. But it is the highest kind of life and leads to peace of heart and joy in God and eternal reward.⚜