Paul brings his teaching on meat sacrificed to idols to a close in this passage. He concludes the whole thing with 3 important commands.  Also, listen for the 7 bonus questions at the end of the message which will really help when you are trying to decide whether you should engage in a particular activity or not!

Teaching Notes:

Seeking The Good Of Others and the Glory of God

1 Corinthians 10:23 – 11:1

Intro: This text concludes the section which began in 8:1 dealing with how the Corinthians should deal with eating food sacrificed to idols.

1.   2 General Principles Set Forth: 23-24.

A.   “All Things Are Lawful”: this was likely a slogan of the strong Corinthians who wanted to exercise their liberty. Paul agrees in nonessential areas all things are lawful.

B.   “Seek the good of your neighbor”: although we have the liberty in Christ to exercise liberty in nonessential areas, our love for others will cause us to deny our lawful liberties. This love will seek the spiritual “good”, “profit” and “edification” of our brother, instead of insisting on what we feel is good for ourselves. We must not throw any obstacle in the way of a brother’s walk with Christ. “Edify” – throwback to 8:1.

2.   Principle of “All Things Are Lawful” Illustrated: 25-27

A.   Eating Meat From The Marketplace: Vs.25-26. Paul has already dealt with situation of eating at idol’s temples – that is forbidden because it causes believer to engage in idolatry. The believer is totally free to eat meat from the marketplace. Just don’t ask where it came from. Why is he free? Because everything in the earth is the Lord’s (Ps.24:1), and he is free to enjoy the Lord’s provision.

B.   Eating Meat at an Unbeliever’s Home: Vs.27. Situation is the same when unbeliever invites you to eat with him at his home. Enjoy his food, without asking questions where the meat came from.

3.  Principle of “Seek the Good of Your Neighbor” Illustrated: 28-30

A.   Refrain From Eating For the Sake of His Conscience: Vs.28-29a. Who is the anyone of vs.28 referring to? Most likely it refers to a fellow believer who has gone along with you. It is probably not the host, for anyone is too indefinite, and a pagan would not have conscience issues with eating this meat. So for the good, profit, and edification of weaker believer, give up your rights in that situation.

B.   Refrain From Eating So That Your Liberties Will Not Be Judged: Vs.29b-30. These are the most difficult verses to interpret in this passage. It seems like Paul says to limit our liberty out of love, and then turns right around and says we shouldn’t have to limit our liberty. I think the best answer is that he is saying something like “limit your liberty so that you don’t allow it to be judged/slandered by the weaker brother’s conscience. If this is correct, Paul is saying the same thing he said in Rom.14:16 (a parallel passage).

4.   Concluding Implications: 10:31 – 11:1 Lit. = “whether therefore”. Paul concludes the section with 3 imperatives:

A.   Do All To The Glory Of God: Vs.31. If you partake, do it in thankfulness to God (30) which brings glory to God. If you refrain, do so for good of others which brings glory to God. “Whatever you do” teaches us that this principle should be applied to all things, even the most mundane and ordinary in life. We ought do nothing unless we can do it for God’s glory!

B.   Give No Offense: Vs.32-33. These verses are a throwback to 9:19-23. Notice same 3 groups are mentioned: Jew, Greeks (those who are without law), and Church of God (the weak).  The purpose is the salvation of the unbelieving Jews and Greeks, and the spiritual profit (23,33) and edification of the weaker brother. We are to remove any obstacle that would hinder someone coming to Christ or growing in their relationship with the Lord.

C.   Imitate Me as I Imitate Christ: 11:1.  This is about the worst chapter break in the NT! Paul begins new section with Now of 11:2. We are to imitate Paul in this. Paul’s passion was the salvation of the lost. It should be ours as well. Paul was only imitating Christ in this (Phil.2:6-8). Jesus gave up the glory He was due to save sinners. Imitate Him!

Spiritual Lessons: this section gives us help when we don’t know whether we should engage in an activity or not. Before doing so, ask these questions:

1.  Will I be able to profit others in it?  10:23-24

2.  Will I be able to edify others in it?  10:23-24

3.  Will I be able to avoid injuring another’s conscience in it?  10:28-29,32

4.  Will I be able to give thanks to God in it? 10:30,25-26

5.  Will I be able to glorify God in it?  10:31

6.  Will I be able to promote the salvation of the lost in it?  10:33

7.  Will I be able to look like Jesus in it?  11:1

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