CHRISTIAN LIBERTY: MEAT OFFERED TO IDOLS - CAN WE SIT AT THE TABLE

OF DEVILS?
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MEAT OFFERED TO IDOLS

- Read all of I Corinthians 8:1-13 and then break it down

"[1] Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge
puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

"Now as touching things offered unto idols,.... This was another of the things the Corinthians
wrote to the apostle about, desiring to have his judgment in; it was a controversy that had been
before moved, whether it was lawful to eat things that had been sacrificed to idols. This was
considered in the council at Jerusalem, Acts 15:28 and it was agreed to, for the peace of the
churches, that the Gentiles, among other things, be advised to abstain from them; which, it
seems, the church at Corinth knew nothing of, for the controversy was now moved among them:
some that were weak in the faith, and had not, at least, clear notions of Gospel liberty, thought it
very criminal and sinful to eat them; others that had, or boasted they had, more knowledge,
would not only eat them privately at home, having bought them of the Heathen priests, or in the
common meat markets, where they were exposed to sale, and at public feasts, to which they
were invited by their friends; but would even go into an idol's temple, and sit and eat them
there, to the great grief and prejudice of weak Christians; and what they had to plead in their
own defence was their knowledge, to which the apostle here replies: " - John Gill

"[19] Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are
turned to God:

[20] But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from
fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood." - Acts 15:19,20

"[25] As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe
no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from
blood, and from strangled, and from fornication." - Acts 21:25

and then look what it says in Revelation:

unto the church at Pergamos

"[14] But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine
of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things
sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication." - Revelation 2:14

unto the church at Thytira

"[20] Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman
Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit
fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols." - Revelation 2:20
[2] And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to
know.

[3] But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

[4] As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols,
we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

[5] For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods
many, and lords many,)

[6] But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

[7] Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto
this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

"Howbeit, there is not in every man that knowledge,.... The apostle is not speaking of
Heathens, in whom there was no knowledge of the one true God, the author of all things, and of
the one Lord Jesus, the only saviour and Redeemer; but of Christians, in whom there was the
knowledge of these things, but not in all of them; the knowledge of this, that an idol was
nothing; for though they knew that an idol was not God, and had no true deity in it, nor was it
any true representation of God, yet fancied that it had an influence upon food that was offered
to it, to defile it, and render it unclean, so that it ought not to be eaten; and since there were
such persons that were so ignorant and weak, it became those who had more knowledge to be
careful how they laid stumblingblocks in the way of such, to the prejudice of their consciences:
that there were such, the apostle affirms,

for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour, eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; that
is, there were some persons even at that very time, though they had been so long converted
from Heathenism to Christianity, yet had such an opinion of an idol, that they really thought in
their own consciences, that there were something in an idol, they could not well tell what, that
defiled meats offered to it, and made them unlawful to be eaten; and yet, through the influence
of the example of others, were prevailed upon to eat of them, having at the same time a notion
of such food, as if it was not common food, but had received some virtue from the idol; and not
without some regret, and uneasiness of mind, as being polluted with it. " - John Gill

[8] But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we
eat not, are we the worse.

[9] But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that
are weak.

[10] For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the
conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

"Sit at meat in the idol's temple - Is it not strange that any professing the knowledge of the true
God should even enter one of those temples? And is it not more surprising that any Christian
should be found to feast there? But by all this we may see that the boasted knowledge of the
Corinthians had very little depth in things purely spiritual." - Adam Clarke

Be emboldened to eat...be confirmed and established in that opinion which before he

doubtingly held, that on seeing You eat he may be led to think there is no harm in feasting in an
idol temple, nor in eating things offered to idols." - Adam Clarke

"Sit at meat in the idol's temple...Here the apostle showeth how they sinned in eating meat in
the idol’s temple, which had been before offered to the idol, admitting the thing in itself lawful,
(which indeed it was not), viz. accidentally, by laying a stumblingblock before their brethren, who
either were really weak in their knowledge, or, at least, they were looked upon as such. For
(saith he) if any see thee, who, they think, hast knowledge, or who boastest of thy knowledge, sit
at meat in the idol’s temple, will not he by it be encouraged to do the same, though possibly he
judgeth it is not lawful? This the apostle determines sinful; which lets us know the obligation
that lieth upon every good Christian, not to use his liberty to the prejudice of others’ souls, by
doing any actions which we may do or let alone, which done by us may probably become a snare
to them. " - Matthew Poole

[11] And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

[12] But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against
Christ.

[13] Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth,
lest I make my brother to offend." - I Corinthians 8:1-13

- Read I Corinthians 10:19-33 then break it down

"[19] What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is
any thing?

[20] But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to
God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

"that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice unto devils, and not to God;
reference is had to Deuteronomy 32:17 for what the Gentiles sacrificed, though they did not
sacrifice intentionally to the idols of gold, silver, wood, and stone, but to God in them, as they
pretended; yet inasmuch as in such worship and sacrifices they were directed, instigated,
influenced, and assisted by devils, who took up their residence in these idols, and gave forth
their oracles from them, they sacrificed to them; and which some have done, as in India and
China, professedly and openly, and all other idolaters, eventually, virtually, and covertly" - John
Gill

"[16] They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to
anger.

[17] They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that
came newly up, whom your fathers feared not." - Deuteronomy 32:16,17
"and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils; as all wicked men have, in the
commission of any lust, sin, or immorality; and as all idolaters have in their superstitious
practices, and idolatrous worship; and if grace prevent not, will have to all eternity in everlasting
fire, prepared for the devil and his angels; wherefore the apostle would have the Corinthians
flee from idolatry, and all appearance of it, and abstain from eating things offered to idols, of
which they could not eat without having fellowship with devils; this he says, to deter them
from such practices, which must be very horrible and shocking, and bespeaks in him great care
of them, and affection for them. " - John Gill

[21] Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the
Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

"ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils; no man can spiritually,
however he may externally partake of the entertainment provided, on the table of the Lord, at
his supper instituted and kept in commemoration of him; and also with gust and pleasure, and
without any concern for the peace of weak minds, and the honour of God, eat things set upon a
table in an idol's temple, and before the idol, and as sacrificed unto it. " - John Gill

"[14] Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

[15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an
infidel?

[16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living
God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they
shall be my people.

[17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not
the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

[18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord
Almighty." - II Corinthians 6:14-18

"And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the
LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a
word." - I Corinthians 18:21

[22] Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

"Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?.... As they do who are guilty of idolatry in any shape:
nothing is more highly resented by God, or stirs him up more to wrath and fury, and to inflict
punishment; he cannot bear, nor will he admit of a rival in religious worship; he is a God jealous
of his own honour; nor will he give, or suffer to be given by others, his praise and glory to graven
images: " - John Gill
[23] All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me,
but all things edify not.

This is referring to things not specifically condemned in scripture. It is not saying all things
including sinful and wordly pleasures are lawful, for this would contradict the whole teaching of
the rest of the Bible. Some issues are not specifically condemned, but we are to use wisdom to
see what is expedient and what will edify or destroy a brother.

[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:

If you buy somethign at the grocery store and there is nothing on the label that says offered to
idols, you are free to eat it and not worry whether it was sacrificed to idols or not.

[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:

This is very straight forward. If you have no idea that meat you eat has been sacrificed to an idol,
then you are free to eat it and there is nothing in the meat that will defile you. If someone
clearly tells you that the meat is sacrificed to idols, you are commanded NOT TO EAT IT.

If something is clearly labeled Halal meat, why would you eat this? What if a muslim sees you
buying meat sacrificed to his god? or a Christian who used to be a muslim?

[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?

[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." - I Corinthians 10:19-33

LIBERTY IS NOT AN EXCUSE TO SIN

"[13] For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the
flesh, but by love serve one another." - Galatians 5:13

"[15] For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men:

[16] As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God."
- I Peter 2:15,16

"[17] These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of
darkness is reserved for ever.

[18] For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the
flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

[19] While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of
whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." - II Peter 2:17-19

PROVE ALL THINGS

"[21] Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." - I Thessalonians 5:21

We are to prove, test, try, and judge all things to see if they are true or righteous. If it is a
false doctrine, we are to reject it and not believe it. If it is a sinful or worldly practice, we
are to flee from it and not partake of it. We do not have "Christian liberty" to just believe
and practice all kinds of things as long as we agree on 5 fundamental doctrines. That
philosophy is not found anywhere in the Bible.

Saying something is just "meat offered to idols" is just the excuse for the worldly
compromiser to do whatever their heart desires. They do not love God and care to search
the scriptures to see if the practice they are partaking in offends God. On top of that, they
do not care if the practice they partake in offends their brother. This is a completely
proud and selfish attitude devoid of charity.

"[10] And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who
coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

[11] These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word
with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things
were so." - Acts 17:10,11

"[11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?
even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

[12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of
God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

[13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but
which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

[14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

[15] But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

[16] For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have
the mind of Christ." - I Corinthians 2:11-16