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TEXT: I CORINTHIANS 10:14-22
SUBJECT: AN EXEGESIS OF I CORINTHIANS 10:14-22
INTRODUCTION
The paragraph begins with v.14: "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry". The idolatry in view is not bowing to images or visiting pagan temples, but "eating meat sacrificed to idols", cf. 8:4. The food itself was not evil because:
1.An idol cannot defile food, cf. 8:4-5
2.The food comes from God, and is therefore, good, cf. 10:26 with I Timothy 4:4, Genesis 1:31.
The problem of "eating meat sacrificed to idols" therefore was all in their heads But that does not mean it was unreal. It was a serious problem. Why? Because the pagans (and some Christians) linked "eating meat sacrificed to idols" with having fellowship with the idol, cf. 10:27-29 with 8:7.
The question to be answered, therefore, is this: Should Christians have (or even appear to have) any fellowship with idols?
CHALLENGE
V.15: "I speak to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say".
The Corinthians fancied themselves wise. Paul now gives them a chance to prove it. If they agree with him, they are wise; if not, they're ignorant or foolish.
ILLUSTRATION #1: THE LORD'S SUPPER
V.16: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1.The term "Lord's Supper" does not appear in the verse, but the idea surely does.
2.It is "a cup of blessing which we bless". By "bless", he means "We pray over the cup and ask God's blessing". What is "the cup"? It is "the communion of the blood of Christ". In drinking from the cup, we have "communion" (or fellowship) with Christ.
3."The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" This is a rhetorical question that requires an answer of "yes".
4.The Lord's Supper, therefore, assumes our fellowship with Jesus Christ.
V.17: "For we, being many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread".
1.This is the most difficult of our verses. It has been interpreted in two ways:
a.Some have said, in effect: "Because we all eat the same bread, we are one with each other, that is, united".
b.Others have understood it thusly: "Because we all eat the same bread, we are all one with Christ".
2.Which is correct? The language can be understood either way. And both are doctrinally sound. But what does Paul mean here? I think he means the latter. What he's saying is this: by taking the Lord's Supper, the church is expressing its fellowship with Christ".
a.Here's why: It fits the context. Paul is not telling us to "flee idolaters", but to "flee idolatry", cf. 10:27 with 10:14. Why? Because to eat food devoted to idols is to have fellowship with false gods. Hence, to take the Lord's Supper is to have fellowship with Him!
ILLUSTRATION #2: THE RITUAL MEALS OF ISRAEL
V.18: "Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
1.The reference is to Deuteronomy 14:22-27.
2.The devout Jew would bring his food to "the place where (The LORD) places His Name". Some of the food would be burned on the altar; the rest would be eaten. By these acts, the Hebrew would "eat with the LORD" and thereby, express their fellowship.
APPLICATION
Vv.20-22: "But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?"
1.By eating food sacrificed to idols, the Corinthians were expressing their fellowship with demons.
2.By eating the Lord's Supper, they were expressing their fellowship with Christ.
3.The two are incompatible. One must be chosen. Which one? "The Lord's Supper", of course. Why? Because for Christians to fellowship with demons is to "provoke the Lord to jealousy" and to presume we are "stronger than He".
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE LORD'S SUPPER
1.In the Lord's Supper, we have fellowship with Jesus Christ.
2.Because the Lord "is a jealous God", we must have fellowship with Him only. Therefore, idols must be forsaken.
QUESTION
If the Lord's Supper is "communion with the blood and body of Christ": (1) Who should not partake of it? and (2) Who should partake of it?
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