Idol Sacrifices

Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, in chapter eight, concerns idol sacrifices.  One of the first things he says is this in verse one, “Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.”

Is this verse saying that everyone seeking knowledge gets puffed up?  No, I don’t see that here.  This is talking about sacrificing food to idols and how the people that had knowledge acted towards those that didn’t have the knowledge that they needed about idols and the food sacrificed to them.  If you are a pastor or teacher and you use this verse to discourage others from studying and seeking out truth, I don’t think that it is a good thing.  

I agree that knowledge can make a person proud and even arrogant, but this is talking about something that would cause a person to stumble because of the lack of love that they have for a weaker brother or sister.  God’s Word encourages us to seek wisdom and knowledge.  In the book of Psalms 111:10 it says this, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.”

Now read Proverbs 9:9-10, “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Getting back to chapter 8, this is talking about a person that has knowledge and knows that an idol is nothing, so he goes ahead and eats the food offered to the idol, compared to the person that has that same knowledge but restrains himself from eating because he may cause a brother or sister to stumble who doesn’t have that kind of knowledge.  The one that does have the knowledge, knowing that an idol is nothing and is free to partake doesn’t because he loves his brother and sister and doesn’t want to hinder or cause them to stumble in their walk with the Lord. His love for his brothers and sisters forbids him to eat.

Now please read 1 Corinthians 8:5-13, “For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”

Many times, scripture is taken out of context and I think this is no exception.  I hope this has been an encouragement and help to you!!  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you all have a super, super day!!