WEEKLY SUNDAY
SCHOOL LESSON
An international
Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday July 20, 2014
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OVERCOMING
TEMPTATION
(Warnings
against idolatry)
1 Corinthians 10
In 1 Corinthians 10, verses 1-12,
the Apostle Paul takes his readers back down memory lane to an unforgettable
place in Jewish history, some 1500 years earlier. Here, he reminds them that,
it was activities surrounding idolatry that led ancient Israel to sin. While
still on the desert, immediately following their release from captivity in
Egypt, their forefathers had already began again to sin against the GOD WHO
rescued them.
He reminded the people
of Corinth how Israel failed to remember how GOD had guided them with the
miraculous “pillar of cloud” by day and “pillar of fire” by night. They were
also prompted to recall the parting of the waters of the Red Sea, that allowed
them to escape the Egyptians on dry land, and then, how GOD drowned their
pursuers with the same waters, when they tried to follow them across (Exodus
13:21-14:31).
Paul then cautions them
that the ensuing disciplinary actions upon the Israelites in the wilderness by
GOD, that turned a thirty-day trip into a forty-year journey, can be viewed as
a warning to them, and to all future generations, so that we won’t repeat the
same old evil practices of that era.
In those days, on
another occasion, Paul says, the peoples’ fling with sexual immorality and
other sins led to the deaths of 23,000 people in one day, a direct result of
the wrath of the Almighty GOD (Numbers 25:3-9). Paul further tells the
Corinthian Church that they also would not want to end up, quite literally,
“snake bitten” as those were, who chose to put CHRIST to the test, by grumbling
against, both, GOD and Moses, on yet another occasion, near Mount Hor, just
outside the borders of Edom (Numbers 21:4-9).
Paul insists that all
these things happened as a warning to future generations, and, they are
recorded in the annals of biblical history so that we can share these
admonishments, or “distinctive acts of GOD”, with others, as a determent from
sin, for all time. And if you think you are OK, don’t get too smug, because
every human being is always just a breath away from falling into sin (v.12). In
fact, satan often attacks a person at a point where they are most sure of
themselves, because he knows it is there, where they are most likely to be
unprepared.
The good news, however,
is that GOD is always faithful, and whenever temptation presents itself in our
lives, GOD, through the aid of HIS HOLY SPIRIT, will not only help us to
withstand them, HE will also present us with a way out (v.13). This, the fact
that GOD is faithful, is the continuing source of our security.
As Christians, and as
reasonable people, Paul says that we must decide for ourselves, whether or not
we are going to believe the whole Word of GOD. For instance, when we bless the
cup at the LORD’s table during communion services, we are sharing in the benefits
of the blood of CHRIST. And when we break the bread we are sharing in the
benefits of the body of CHRIST. In effect, we are all eating from one loaf,
showing that we are one body. All who eat the sacrifice are symbolically and
spiritually united by the process with CHRIST, and the whole GODHEAD (Vs.14-18).
After laying the
foundation for his argument, Paul now returns to the discussion started in
chapter 8, regarding the eating of food that has been sacrificed to idols. In
the first century, dinner parties, or feasts, were the most common way that
people would socialize with each other. It was very typical for pagan dinners
and feasts to be dedicated to pagan gods and goddesses.
The Christians often
debated whether or not it was right for them to attend these kinds of events.
The trouble with attending such events, in their minds, was likened to eating
dinner at the table of a pagan deity, which symbolically implied that, the people
who dined were under that deity’s protection. In that case, as Christians, they
would be disrespecting the power of the protection of GOD the CREATOR, whom
they say they are committed to.
The demonic power that
is ascribed to idols cannot ever be condoned by Christians. We cannot eat at
the LORD’s table, and, at the table of demons too. The blood of CHRIST
symbolizes HIS saving work, in which Christians participate in, through faith.
A Christian cannot participate in both, the idolatry of a pagan feast, and the
community of CHRIST. We cannot drink
from the cup of the LORD, and then, turn around and drink from the cup of demon
too, lest we rouse the jealousy of the Almighty GOD (Vs.19-22).
In verses 23-30, Paul
gives his summation in this warning against indulging in idolatry in any way,
form, or fashion. Here he leaves us with three important points:
·
Do not take part in social events
that are dedicated to demons, or, pagan gods and goddesses (i.e. in today’s
society, rock concerts, secular parties and get-togethers with motifs that are
specifically not of GOD, etc.)
·
Feel free to eat meat that is sold
in the marketplace.
·
Feel free to eat at an unsaved
person’s home, and don’t ask where he got the meat, unless he makes it an
issue. (see explanation below)
Even though GOD blessed
us with wills that are free, everything we choose to do may not be good, or
beneficial to us, or someone else. As Christians, we also have the
responsibility to consider what is good for other Christians as well
(Vs.23-24).
Paul says, we are free
to eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace, and since idol gods are not
real gods, we don’t need to ask whether or not it has been sacrificed to idols,
and our conscience should be clear. The whole earth belongs to the LORD, and
also everything that is in it (Vs.25-26).
If a non-Christian
invites you to dinner, then, accept the invitation, because with that
invitation, comes an opportunity to witness of CHRIST JESUS, and the Gospel. However,
if someone warns you that meat is being served, that has been offered to idols,
don’t eat it, just out of having consideration for the person who warned you. While
it may not be a matter of conscience for you, it is a concern for the other
person who warned you, that may also be a believer, and it is important that
you do not “stumble” them. Then too, the
“unsaved person” may also be testing you to see how committed you are to CHRIST
(Vs.27-29).
Whether we like it or
not, as Christians, our freedom has to be “respectfully limited” by our concern
for others, just as CHRIST JESUS’ freedom was limited because of HIS concern
for us. We must always consider what is best for others so that they too may be
“saved” because of our sacrifice of “giving up certain liberties”. We can overcome
any tempting offer from satan, simply by being “unselfishly” obedient to GOD.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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