27 “If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 28But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” 29 “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? 30But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?”
It is not necessary for the believer to alter his behavior to adjust to the unbeliever or immature believer, except that he makes a religious issue out of eating meat sacrificed to idols.
10:27
If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake.
The question in this verse concerned a believer receiving an invitation to dinner from a pagan who made a religious issue over meat offered to idols: What was to be the norm for accepting this invitation? Paul instructed the believer not to ask questions about whether the meat was offered to idols. To do so would make a religious issue about the dinner invitation. The point was not about whether it was wrong for the believer but how the non-believer perceived it.
10:28
But if anyone [believer or unbeliever] says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake;
However, if the weaker believer or an unbeliever makes an issue out of the meat offered to idols, the mature believer should not eat the meat because it would be a religious matter. The phrase “for conscience’ sake” refers to the weaker Christian’s or non-Christian’s conscience. The mature Christian was not to violate their conscience in eating the meat.
for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”
Paul again quotes Psalm 24:1 to establish that this is not an issue of intrinsic morality, but rather one of practical significance. This phrase is not in some manuscripts. A scribe may have copied it from the previous verse.
10:29
“Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other.
The focus is on the conscience of the weaker Christian. The “conscience” refers to a person’s internal norms or standards for living.
For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?
Why should a weaker Christian’s conscience determine the mature believer’s freedom or liberty? Because the weaker Christian’s conscience is more important than the mature believer’s liberty. The mature believer’s freedom to eat any meat is inherently good because all meat comes from God (Ps. 24:1).
10:30
But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?
Weaker Christians often criticize believers who exercise their liberty. Although we do not alter convictions even though people speak evil of us, we are willing to change our behavior for the sake of weaker Christians. It is always better to sacrifice liberty than to injure someone spiritually.
PRINCIPLE:
There are exceptions to exercising the principle of our liberty in Christ.
APPLICATION:
When we modify our behavior for the good of others, we operate on a higher principle than our personal freedom in Christ. If a weak Christian makes an issue over something that deals with their conscience, then the mature believer should be willing to sacrifice liberty for the sake of their conscience. We do not do it for our sake but for theirs.
Dear Dr Richison
I think the host was an unbeliever, not a fellow believer. I would be grateful if you would clarify.
Mny thanks for your WONDERFUL website
Mary
Mary, I am sorry for the previous post. Since the argument from chapters 8-10 deal with the believer’s scrupulous standards, the challenge here is not to offend a believer who is legalistic. In other words, the argument must be taken in context of the entire book and the section from chapter 8-10.
Mary, to clarify further, the “one who does not believe” may be a situation where an unbeliever invites a believer to a dinner where the meat was offered to an idol but a weak believer observed the action of the mature believer and asked the mature believer about the legitimacy of eating that food. The question of the weak believe would then be “Are you worshipping an idol by eating meat offered to that idol.” The issue is how all this affects the weaker believer.
i believe in our god and i believe my god is greater of all.. and I don’t believe eating any kind of meat is a sin…. for i do not worship any kind of idol or any other god i worship my god my jesus… and and iam not afraid to eat any kind of meat or food.. sometimes people tell me why are you eating that kind of meat( meat which are used in worshipping idol or spirit) and i feel why shouldn’t I? for iam not afraid of them ..for i dont believe in them… i feel that if dont eat that kind of meat i am a coward …that iam afraid of other god…. for i believe that they dont exist… n i believe my god exist ….. thank you
if iam wrong please guide me…
nguri, you are right.
just read 1cor 8:9-12 stumbling block
Brethren eaten food or meat sacrificed to idols is not proper.. in delivrance we have discovered some demons entered a person through food sacrificed to the gods am talking about here in African. When a man is sick the gods can tell them to do sacrifice like inviting people and serve then coke and biscuits.. or they will use the person sick head to touch the head of the life chicken… Sincerely speaking have seen several people affected by the same sick and the person who sacrificed it was heal and the other sick and die.. anything given to idol christians must not eat them
Pastor Young, verse 27ff says eat food sacrificed to idols unless a makes an issue of it. In your culture, that may not apply, however, if we follow the biblical principle both in 1 Co 8-10 and Romans 14 it is valid to eat food offered to idols. It is important when in interpreting Scripture to allow it to say what it says.