Chapter 10
A Warning Against Idolatry
10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
When Paul is referring to “our fathers” he is speaking of their Hebrew lineage, or more specifically to the time when Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt. God guided them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night (see Exodus 13:21; 40:38; Deuteronomy 1:33). After being released by Pharaoh the Israelites came to a large body of water known as the Red Sea and the entire Israelite population passed through the sea safely on dry ground, no one got wet or was harmed (see Exodus 14:21-22). The next verse is often misunderstood, primarily due to use of the Greek word ‘ebaptisanto’ (the root word is ‘baptizō’) which instead of being translated by nearly every Bible translator/publisher, it is transliterated. And as a result some believe Paul is connecting this event to the sacrament known today as baptism, it is not in any way related except by name. Paul used that term so that they would recognize that their heritage is identified with Moses, but now he has been replaced by Jesus.
Now baptizo means to “identify.” In fact, water baptism has that meaning, as it speaks of our identification with Christ. We are buried with Him by baptism—by the baptism of the Holy Spirit—that is what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is. He identifies us with the body of Christ—He puts us into the body as a member. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13). Paul will deal with this in chapter 12.
But here we have the statement that they were “baptized unto Moses.” How were they baptized unto Moses? Don’t try to tell me that Moses had a baptismal service at the Red Sea and baptized them because, actually, they did not get wet at all! The record in Exodus tells us that they went through the sea on dry ground. When God dried up the Red Sea for them, He dried it up—they didn’t get wet at all. They went over on dry land. The folk who really got wet were the Egyptians. They were soaked through and through. So obviously when it says they were baptized unto Moses, he is not talking about water. Neither is it the baptism of the Holy Spirit because it says they were baptized unto Moses. Well, it simply means that they were identified with Moses.[1]
10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
On their way to the Promised Land the majority of this ‘nation’ did not believe God that they would be victorious in conquering the land when they heard back from the spies that there were giants there. God was not pleased with most of them (only three people believed) so that generation died (overthrown) in the wilderness. Meanwhile they all ate the same spiritual food (bread from heaven, known by the Israelites as manna) and drank from the same spiritual drink, in other words they were supernaturally provided for. Paul says they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them. He identifies the source, they were sustained all those years by Jesus, He provided everything they needed. Even though the majority of these people God was not pleased with, He took care of them.
10:6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
Paul offers insight as to why we are told in the Bible about the Israelite’s disbelief and lust for the past during this time, they are to serve as examples to us, that we might not crave evil things. As believers we are to draw near to Him (see James 4:8) and avoid the things of the world.
10:7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
Paul is referring to the complete prohibition of idolatry, as discussed in the commentary for chapter eight verse seven (above), that many just added Jesus to their ‘list’ of deities. Paul, by quoting Exodus 32:6, is reminding them that much of the grief the Israelites experienced in the past was due to idolatry. He essentially is saying that some just ate, drink, and played all day!
10:8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
Since the prophet Balaam (an unusual prophet, more like a prophet for profit) was unable to curse the people of Israel, he suggested to his ‘employer’ Balak, the king of Moab, to have women of Moab seduce the men of Israel while enroute to the Promised Land, which they did and the men bowed down to their gods and began to worship Baal of Peor. God’s anger led to a plaque that killed several thousand that day (see Numbers 25:1-9; 31:16). Using this episode as an example, Paul sternly warns that sexual immorality must be avoided.
10:9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,
At one time after leaving Mount Hor the Israelites got impatient and spoke against God and Moses (see Numbers 21:4-9). In response, God sent “fiery snakes” among the people and many died. Moses was instructed to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. If people were bitten they were to simply look at the bronze serpent and they would be healed.
10:10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
Grumbling was a big problem, it was possibly on the top of the list of things that Moses disliked the most (sorry, no such list). As a result many died at the hands of “the Destroyer.” Most believe that is a reference to an angel, while some believe it is a reference to Satan. Having no further information it is difficult to match this verse to a specific incident while the Israelites were in the wilderness. Many believe Paul was referring to the plague after Korah’s rebellion (see Numbers 16:1-50).
10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Again, Paul mentions that these events from the past were recorded to be used as examples to instruct us today. He uses the phrase “on whom the end of the ages has come,” which means that the ‘age’ we live in is the last age before the end. You might be asking the end of what age? The age where we can still choose Jesus (if you haven’t already) to be your Lord and Savior! After this age is over your decisions are final. This is why Paul next writes the word ’therefore’! If anyone thinks they can stand on their own they will fall. The problem of people falling due to temptation is nothing new (just read Genesis chapter three). Paul says the temptations you struggle with are not unique, we are all tempted to sin against God. The sources may vary (Satan, the world, or our own lusts) but the temptations are real. Thank God He is faithful, as He will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to escape the temptation and stay away from it!
In review of the Israelite’s past trek from Egypt to the Promised Land, Paul noted that even though God had provided for them they still desired evil, worshiped idols, committed sexual immorality, got impatient and spoke against God, as well as grumbled against Moses and God. Those people did not enter the Promised Land, their disobedience prevented entry. The model that was set up from the first Passover to their entry into the Promised Land points to Jesus as the Lamb of God allowing some, those who chose Jesus as Savior, to live and enter heaven. But due to unforgiven sin many more will not be able to enter.
10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
Paul is pleading for them to flee from idolatry, to seek and give credit to something or someone for something God did or made, has serious consequences.
10:15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
He tells them that he knows they are wise and are indeed tracking what he is saying. That there are consequences to sinning against God. You cannot have it both ways, compromise is unacceptable.
10:16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
Paul asks that when they partake in the Lord’s Supper (known by several names, communion, eucharist, etc.) together, “Are they not sharing in Jesus’ blood and body?” He continues by asking the question, “Didn’t the people of Israel who ate the sacrifices were also those who worked at the altar?” Paul, possibly checking to see if they are following his logic, asks, “What am I implying?” He answers, neither the food offered to idols is anything, nor is the idol anything. He says he is implying is that when pagans offer sacrifices, they are in reality sacrificing to demons, not to God. And that he doesn’t want them to participate in worshiping demons. Paul notes that you cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons or partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons, its one or the other, it’s not possible to do both. To attempt to do that would provoke God’s jealousy and we’re not able to counter any of His punishments.
Considerations
Jesus is the Rock
Throughout the Bible Jesus is referred to as the Rock. Here are a few examples: The Rock of my Salvation (see 2 Samuel 22:47; Psalm 89:26); My Rock and my redeemer (see Psalm 19:14); My Rock and my fortress (see Psalm 62:2-6); Rock of my refuge (see Psalm 94:22, see also Isaiah 17:10); Everlasting Rock (see Isaiah 26:4); Rock of Israel (see 2 Samuel 23:3; Isaiah 30:29); House on the Rock (see Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49); Stone not cut by human hands (see Daniel 2:45); Stone of offense and a Rock of stumbling (see Isaiah 8:14); and The Stone that the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone (see Psalm 118:22, cited in Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:4-7). Jesus was with the Israelites on their way to the Promised Land just as we are in the wilderness on our way to the promised heaven, and He remains our Rock!
Demonic Idols
To some this may sound absurd, but we live in a dual reality, the physical and the spiritual. Without going through the exercise of trying to determine what a demon is (Click here for more information regarding demons), let us look briefly into what is going on in the spiritual world. Paul wrote in his epistle to the church in Ephesus, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12, ESV) God’s enemies, which makes them also our enemies, are powerful and invisible. They assume the names of false gods and goddesses, and penetrate our lives wherever and whenever they can. Including false prophets, fortune tellers, and much more.
Do All to the Glory of God
10:23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
Paul now applies the same logic he used in chapter six for himself (see 1 Corinthians 6:12) to everyone else. Believers are free from the Old Testament law but not all things are advantageous nor can everything be encouraging and beneficial. Paul notes that these attributes are not for oneself but for others. This aligns with the Great Commission, our primary goal is to serve God by witnessing to and serving others. Remember the words of Jesus, “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45, see also Matthew 20:28; John 13:1-17), he set the example.
10:25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”
Paul instructs them that they can eat any meat from the meat market without concern whether the meat was previously offered to idol or not. He then quotes Psalm 24:1, a common before-meal prayer of thanksgiving among the Jews, here used by Paul to express that whatever belongs to God (the earth) should be enjoyed.
10:27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
Paul further instructs them how to respond in two circumstances involving the eating of meat. The first being invited to dinner and offered meat to eat, then eat it. But in the second scenario if you are told that the meat had been offered as a sacrifice then the meat is not to be eaten, not for your sake but for the sake of their conscience, they may believe that eating the meat is a sin. Paul asks the questions that were undoubtedly on their minds, “Why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s idea of what is right and what is wrong? After all, I gave thanks to God for His blessing of this food, why should I be condemned for something I gave thanks for?” Paul answers in the following verses.
10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
Like most things in a believer’s life, our behavior in life is not about us or things that we benefit from, it’s about bringing glory to God. We are not to do something that would repulse, insult, or otherwise deeply offend someone that would cause them to reject you (or your message) or have them leave immediately. We are not to stand in the way of their salvation. Paul is saying that as believers, life is about Jesus, not about our own gain or advantage. The following verse probably would be more appropriately placed this chapter, as Paul desires them to be more like him, just as he desires to be like Jesus.
⇐Previous (Table of Contents) Next⇒
[1] McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (1 Corinthians) (electronic ed., Vol. 44, pp. 107–108). Thomas Nelson.