This paragraph brings a close to chapter 8 and Paul's concern about our liberty in Christ, as Christ ones, as an introduction to chapter 9 where he continues this thought. Lets see what he has to reveal to us now and do not forget that Paul is talking about our humanity as our common ground, just as Jesus also did as a mystery in the veiled language of Scripture. But this veiled language was broken wide open, like the veil of the now empty temple in Jerusalem, upon the death of the Son of all Righteousness.
1Corinthians 8:7-13 "Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge:(Paul referring to the last verse verse 6 where he says: But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.) for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend." (KJV)
1Corinthians 8:7-13 "However, not all possess this knowledge (Paul referring to the last verse verse 6 where he says: yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.). But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble." (ESV)
1Corinthians 8:7-13 "However not everyone realizes this; {Paul referring to the last verse verse 6 where he says: This does not make them competition to GOD; we know that for us there is only one GOD who is the source and resource of all things; there is only one authority, the Lord Jesus Christ. All things exist because of him; we owe our very being to him. He alone gives context and reference to our lives.} there are some believers who are convinced that idols are real, so for them to hear that we say that it's okay to eat food offered to an idol presents a massive problem to their conscience. {For they alone hang their belief on the wrong tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and not the tree of life, our cross, which we bear daily.} Your diet preference certainly does not improve your standing before GOD {or does it take away from it}; whether you eat meat or not. The point is not about how justified you feel in your freedom to eat what you like, but how considerate you are, for you are not to be a stumbling block to someone else. If someone who looks up to you as an example sees you eat at a banquet in a temple where the meat has obviously been sacrificed to idols, your liberty might give occasion for this person to be snared into idol worship. So your "superior knowledge" is actually causing the ruin of someone for whom Christ died. (You are influencing someone to exchange his new found belief in the sacrifice of Christ to become involved again in pagan worship and the sacrifice of animals.) You might think you have a valid argument to justify your position, but in the process you are beating your brother's conscience black-and-blue without realizing that you are injuring the cause of Christ. I will much rather abstain from eating meat all together than run the risk of offending my brother." (The Mirror)
Now i have edited this section and my notes are within the { } sign. Now until we begin our look at chapter 9's continuation of the liberty we have in Christ as Christ-ones. May our LORD bless and keep you and yours safe.
No comments:
Post a Comment