1 Corinthians 10:32
In our Sunday morning Bible study, at one point we went to this verse. As the pastor commented on it I thought, and asked, “How is this to work? Just by being Christians we give offence.” I decided to look into this.
When I read it Sunday, I was carried away by the contemporary idea of offence, hurting someone's feelings, and as such the command is impossible! Especially in America where people are “offended” by everything. I did a search and found the word only occurred three times in the New Testament (the pastor had pointed this out). I was immediately reminded that “offend” in the Bible has nothing to do with hurting someone’s feeling, rather the idea here is not leading others into sin by one's mode of life. I decided to go through 1 Corinthians 8-10 and see if I could gain an understanding from the context. It worked!
1 Corinthians 8 begins, Now as touching things offered unto idols. It would seem that the Corinthians had written Paul and asked about eating meat that had been offered to idols. In chapter 8 he gives truth and principles concerning this matter. In chapter 9 he offers an illustration from his ministry. In the first half of chapter 10 he deals with a very real aspect of idolatry, then returns to their question. And my question.
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
First, A principle: 23 all things are lawful for me, but not everything is expedient and not everything edifies. The general application of this truth: 24 let no one seek his own -- but each another's. In other words, Love your neighbor as yourself.
Second, 25-28 Specific Application:
-Whatever is sold at the market, eat, asking no questions.
-If someone makes an issue of it, don’t eat.
All this for conscience sake. First, your conscience. Second, the other man’s conscience.
Third, Why should my liberty be judged by another man’s conscience? If I partake by grace and give thanks, why should it matter to you?
This is the interesting Christian twist. I am free to do these things, who cares what you think? Ah but that’s it, I care. This is love. I am free in these matters to do what I want, but more importantly, I don’t want to do anything to cause my brother to stumble. And by stumble he means sin, fall back into sin with possibly deadly results.
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
This is the final application and this is where the verse under question comes:
Do all to the glory of God. This is what he has explained in ch 8-10. It doesn’t bring glory to God if by acting on my freedom I cause a brother to fall into sin and perish.
Give none offence. Again, this is what he has explained in ch 8-10. In this matter of eating meat offered to idols, I do not believe that eating it is sinning against God, but my brother does - I do not want to do anything to encourage him to sin. I don’t want to be the example that encourages someone to continue in or fall back into sin. This is love – I am willing to give up what I believe I am free to do so I don’t encourage you to do what you believe to be sin.
Conclusion? As I said earlier, when I read it Sunday I was carried away by the English idea of offence, hurting someone's feelings, and it has nothing at all to do with this. Give none offence is, in context, referring to matters of Christian liberty, where some brothers think a certain behavior is sin while I don't. I am free to do it, but I don't want to cause them to stumble and fall back into sin.
I'm excited! It was a good study and it's neat when the Word clears up your misunderstandings. Now to work on give none offence.
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