1 Corinthians 10: Warnings and Glory
Israel's failures warn the overconfident; Paul calls the church to flee idolatry, value the Lord's table, and do everything for God's glory.
1 Corinthians 10 (WEB)
1 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 and all ate the same spiritual food;
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.
5 However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”
8 Neither let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell.
9 Neither let us test the Lord, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents.
10 Neither grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.
13 No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say.
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ?
17 Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread.
18 Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?
19 What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
20 But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don’t desire that you would have fellowship with demons.
21 You can’t both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can’t both partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons.
22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
23 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up.
24 Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good.
25 Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience,
26 for “the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.”
27 But if one of those who don’t believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience.
28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”
29 Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other’s conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience?
30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no occasions for stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the assembly of God;
33 even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 10 (KJV)
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, 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?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
27 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.
28 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:
29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 10 (ASV)
1 For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 and did all eat the same spiritual food;
4 and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.
5 Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.
11 Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.
14 Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?
17 seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we all partake of the one bread.
18 Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar?
19 What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons.
22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23 All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify.
24 Let no man seek his own, but each his neighbor’s good.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake;
26 for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
27 If one of them that believe not biddeth you to a feast, and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake.
28 But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience’ sake:
29 conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other’s; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience?
30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no occasion of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God:
33 even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.
Summary
Paul looks back to Israel in the wilderness as a warning. Their ancestors were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all ate the same spiritual food and drank from the spiritual Rock, which was Christ—yet God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the desert. These things are examples written for our instruction, that we not crave evil, fall into idolatry, commit sexual immorality, test the Lord, or grumble as they did. So the one who thinks he stands should take care lest he fall. Paul then gives a great comfort: no temptation has overtaken us that is not common to humanity, and God is faithful—he will not let us be tempted beyond our strength but will provide the way of escape. Therefore Paul urges them to flee idolatry. The cup of blessing and the bread they share are a participation in the blood and body of Christ, and because there is one loaf, the many are one body. They cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons, or partake of the Lord's table and the table of demons. Returning to the question of idol food, Paul says they may eat what is sold in the market or set before them at a meal without raising questions of conscience, since the earth is the Lord's; but if someone points out that it was offered to an idol, they should abstain for that person's sake. The governing rule is freedom guided by love: whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we are to do all to the glory of God, giving no offense and seeking the salvation of many.
Main Characters
- Paul — The apostle who teaches from Israel's history, warning against presumption and idolatry and summing up freedom under the goal of God's glory.
- Israel in the wilderness — The redeemed people whose unbelief and idolatry, despite great privileges, stand as a sober example for the church.
- Christ the spiritual Rock — Jesus, present with Israel in the wilderness and shared with the church at his table in the bread and the cup.
- The faithful God — The Lord who limits every temptation, always provides a way of escape, and is provoked to jealousy by divided worship.
Key Verse
1 Corinthians 10:13 (WEB)
No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Lessons Learned
- Great spiritual privileges do not guarantee that we will not fall.
- God is faithful and always provides a way of escape from temptation.
- We cannot share the Lord's table and the table of demons at the same time.
- Freedom is to be exercised in love and aimed at the glory of God.
- The confident must beware. “Let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12, WEB). Presumption is a path to ruin; humility keeps us watchful.
- God always provides an escape. God “will with the temptation also make the way of escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13, WEB). No temptation is beyond his faithful provision of a way out.
- Worship cannot be divided. “You can’t both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21, WEB). Loyalty to Christ is exclusive.
- Do all to God's glory. “Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, WEB). Even ordinary acts can be worship.
- Why does Paul use Israel's wilderness experience as a warning to the church?
- How does the promise that God provides a way of escape encourage you in temptation?
- What does sharing the bread and cup say about our unity and our exclusive loyalty to Christ?
- How does Paul balance Christian freedom with concern for others' consciences?
- What would it look like to do an ordinary part of your day—eating, working, resting—truly to the glory of God?
- Israel enjoyed deliverance, the cloud, and spiritual food, yet most fell through idolatry and unbelief (10:1-5). Paul holds them up so the Corinthians will not presume on their own privileges but watch their hearts with humility.
- God is faithful and limits every temptation to what we can bear, always providing a way out (10:13). This frees us from despair, since no trial is hopeless, and calls us to look for and take the escape he gives rather than excusing sin.
- The shared loaf and cup are a real participation in Christ and bind believers into one body (10:16-17). They also demand undivided loyalty, for one cannot commune with Christ and with demons; worship belongs wholly to the Lord.
- Believers are free to eat without anxious questions, since the earth is the Lord's, yet they gladly abstain when it would harm another's conscience (10:25-29). Love, not mere permission, is the guide for how freedom is used.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to choose one routine activity and consider how doing it consciously for God's glory might change their attitude and conduct. As leader, lift the focus from rules to the joy of glorifying God in everything.