Things offered unto idols

We might summarize the teaching of this chapter as: liberty exercised with responsibility. In considering things offered unto idols, Paul is dealing with a matter that was of little interest to some believers and yet of profound importance to others. The concern of the apostle was that the liberty of one group should not become an occasion of stumbling to other.

To those who ‘had knowledge’ Paul says, ‘We know that an idol is nothing in the world’, v. 4. The images and icons created by man’s devices were empty. The suggested structures and ranks within the realms of pagan deities were also unfounded. In reality, Paul says, ‘To us there is but one God, the Father’, v. 6. And what a God He is! Wholly unique, He is the Creator of the universe, the One who created man for His purpose and pleasure. But, remarkably, He is the One who can be known as ‘Father’! What a privilege!

However, the liberty that might be enjoyed by those with knowledge might not be shared by everyone. Such believers were aware that meat presented before them had been offered first as a sacrifice to an idol. This they felt to be wrong - the conscience was troubled. But, because of the example of others, they ate of the meat and their conscience was defiled.

The importance of this matter is given at the close of the chapter: ‘the weak brother shall perish’, v. 11. Although he may be weak, the apostle emphasizes that he is a ‘brother’. He is one ‘for whom Christ died’! As a fellow believer, he deserves our thought and consideration. But what does it mean when the apostle says ‘shall perish’? This relates to the spiritual usefulness of the brother. The spiritual prosperity of younger saints may be in our hands. How do we respond to the responsibility?

As this chapter closes we might apply the principle to our own lives. In many cases, younger believers will be noting our lives as carefully as they listen to our words. It may not be a matter of meat, but are we prepared to put aside our own liberty for the sake of the spiritual development of others? The apostle stresses that to sin against one brother is to sin against all. Worse still, it is to ‘sin against Christ’, v. 12!