1 Corinthians 10:14-22

Paul is moving towards his conclusions with respect to the specific issue of “eating meat sacrificed to idols” as well as the more general issue of how Christians are to live with respect to “debatable issues” of holiness.  On the specific issue there were two situations that needed to be addressed.  First, at the pagan temples, when animals were sacrificed, the participants had a meal together where the meat of the sacrifice was eaten.  This was an act of worship.  Then the leftover meat was sold at the meat market, generally at a reduced rate.    There are two major principles we are given to live by:

Ø Flee from idolatry, v14.

Ø Seek the well-being of others, v23-24.

To flee idolatry is clear teaching in the Scriptures (1 Cor. 10:7; 1 John 5:21; Exodus 20:3-6).  To engage in idolatry is to give God’s worship, praise and glory to another.  This is the very sin which had resulted both in the removal of the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians and the Southern Kingdom of Judah by the Babylonians.  Who can forget God’s indictment through Jeremiah: My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns – broken cisterns that can hold no water (Jer. 2:13).  Jesus pointed out the obvious inconsistency when He taught concerning our money that no man can serve two masters … you cannot serve God and money (Matt. 6:24).  

The picture painted by Paul in our passage relates to his discussion in the next chapter concerning the Lord’s Table.  1 Cor. 11 will address ways we dishonor the Lord at the table of communion.  But in 1 Cor. 10:15-22 the issue is that we cannot eat at both tables.  To eat the meat at the meal in the pagan temple is to worship the pagan gods.  We know the gods of these temples are not real.  But the problem is that the force behind the pagan worship is Satanic/demonic.  This is all about Satan’s rebellion against the One and Only True God and Satan’s attempt to dishonor God by derailing the exaltation of Christ.  Thus we must not just avoid idolatry; we must flee idolatry!  Failure to do so is to …

·        Fail to learn from the failures of Old Testament Israel, v18.

·        Commit spiritual harlotry, v16-17,21.

·        Provoke the Lord to jealousy, thus inviting His judgment, v22.

To further appreciate this issue read 2 Kings 16:10-16 when King Ahaz tried to worship at two altars.  It is an amazing story of foolishness that brought judgment from God.  Let us understand we are no less foolish when we trust in our money, our friends, the government or our own attempts to satisfy our souls by the pursuits of pleasure.  When your life is full of worry or fear this is God’s method of calling attention to the presence of idolatry in your life.  Repent of such dependence on that which cannot satisfy; flee idolatry and pursue Christ.