We will still have Bible Study this evening at 6 PM. Please join us in the midst of your Fourth of July activities! See you this evening. Flee from Idolatry 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. In this verse the cup of the Lord is a figurative expression to describe the benefits which come to us through Christ. It is a figure of speech known as metonymy, where the container is used to denote the thing contained. The expression the Lord’s table is likewise a figurative expression. It is not the same as the Lord’s Supper, although it might include the latter. A table is an article of furniture where food is set out and where fellowship is enjoyed. Here the table of the Lord means the sum total of the blessings which we enjoy in Christ. When Paul says that you cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons, that you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons, he does not mean that it is a physical impossibility. It would be a physical possibility, for instance, for a believer to go to an idol temple and to participate in a feast there. But what Paul means here is that it would be morally inconsistent. It would be an act of treachery and disloyalty to the Lord Jesus to profess adherence or allegiance to Him, on the one hand, and then to go and have fellowship with those who sacrifice to idols. It would be morally improper and utterly wrong. 1 Corinthians 10:22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? Not only that, it would not be possible to do this without provoking the Lord to jealousy. As William Kelly said, “Love cannot but be jealous of wandering affections, it would not be love if it did not resent unfaithfulness.” The Christian should fear to thus displease the Lord, or to provoke His righteous indignation. Do we think that we are stronger than He? That is, do we dare to grieve Him and risk an exhibition of His disciplinary judgment upon us? (Similar scriptures from the Book of Romans) Romans 14:1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. :2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. :3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Romans 14:4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. :5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. Romans 14:6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. Romans 14:7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. :8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. All to the Glory of God 1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. The apostle turns from the subject of participation in idol feasts and takes up some general principles that should govern Christians in their daily life. When he says all things are lawful, he does not mean all things in an absolute sense. For instance, he is not implying for a moment that it would be lawful for him to commit murder or to get drunk! Here again we must understand the expression as referring only to matters of moral indifference. There is a great area in Christian life where things are perfectly legitimate in themselves and yet where for other reasons it would not be wise for a Christian to participate. Thus Paul says: “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful.” For instance, a thing might be quite lawful for a believer and yet might be equally unwise in view of the national customs of the people where he dwells. Also, things that are lawful in themselves might not be edifying. That is, a thing might not result in building up a brother in his most holy faith. Should I then be high-handed in demanding my own rights or should I consider what would help my brother in Christ? 1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being. In all the decisions we make, we should not be selfishly thinking of what will benefit ourselves, but we should rather think of what would be for our neighbor’s well-being. The principles we we are studying can be applied to matters of dress, food and drink, standards of living, and the entertainments in which we participate. 1 Corinthians 10:25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; If a believer went to the meat market to buy some meat, he was not required to ask the merchant whether that meat had been previously offered to idols. The meat itself would not be affected in one way or another, and there would be no question of loyalty to Christ involved. 1 Corinthians 10:26 for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” In explanation of this advice, Paul quotes from Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” The thought here is that the food that we eat has been graciously provided by the Lord for us and is specifically intended for our use. –Jewish Scholar Heinrici tells us that these words from Psalm 24 are commonly used among the Jews as a thanksgiving at the table. 1 Corinthians 10:27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake.