This paragraph is a continuation of instructions from the previous subject - you cannot worship the gods of idols and the God of the universe at the same time, or waffling back and forth. Paul takes the idea of worship of gods a little bit farther - don’t give people the opportunity to think you may have reverence for a god (that is, any spiritual being who is not Yahweh.)
V. 23 - “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.” - It should be intuitively obvious, even to the most casual observer, Paul is not condoning sinful activity. That is NOT what is meant by “all things are lawful”. The activities prohibited by the Ten Commandments still hold. This section of the letter is not about worshipping idols, or participating in idol worship, or worshipping gods represented by the idols.
This is about being aware that what you do is being watched by people around you. And a fallout of this is that a seemingly innocent action or behavior might be misinterpreted by the watchers. For whatever reason the response of those watching you is, “Did you see what he did?!” I know this doesn’t seem fair (and probably isn’t fair).
People may have a preconceived notion of how you, a Christian, should behave. For example: a Christian does not worship at an idol, or worship a god represented by an idol - not an unreasonable expectation. We must be aware that what we do may be misinterpreted by others. So we must seek to live and behave in such a way that no questions are raised, no accusations can be leveled. This may seem to be a heavy burden to carry for the sake of the Gospel. It should not be.
V. 24 - “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.” - Our lives should be lived in such a manner that non-believers will want to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Mat 5:16) Paul wrote elsewhere, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,” (Col 3:23)
V. 25 - “Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake.” - This is not about vegetarians, or whether is right to eat meat. This part of the letter is making you aware that everything you do is the Lord’s “business”. Food purchased in a grocery store is not designated for an offering to a god. It is food to eat. You may purchase and eat without worry that you are participating in worship of Safeway, or Kroger, etc. You do not need to ask the question, “Is this meat ‘legal’ to eat?”
Part of this comes from the laws handed down to the Israelites concerning offerings and sacrifices (See the rules in Leviticus 6, 7, etc.). Some of the animals brought to the altar had to be totally burned up. Some sacrifices involved on parts of the animal, and the rest could be consumed by the priests and Levites. In some cases, this is how the Levites got their food since they did not have secular jobs whereby they could buy meat and grains. Non-Levite Jews could not eat the meats or grains that had been offered, but was solely for the Levites and priests. (Note: Priests were also Levites, anyone who was not a Levite could not be a priest. As Israel became more apostate, especially after Solomon’s death, there may have been non-Levite priests, but they were not so legally. Levites were ‘special’ in that this was the only tribe that was not granted a portion, or a territory, of the promised land to claim as their own. They were given cities and agricultural land within the twelve tribal areas.)
Meat offered at the altar is an indication the person offering believes in the God (or god) represented by the altar. When we take communion - bread and cup - it is an outward and visible confession we believe that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, and is now advocating for us with God the Father.
V. 26 - “FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS.” - Quoted from Psa 24:1, 50:12. Does this mean the dietary restrictions we see in the Pentateuch no longer apply? Perhaps it does. There is an incident in Acts where Peter is presented with food in a vision. He refuses to eat because some of the animals are ‘unclean’ or ‘holy’ (in the Levitical sense). Peter is informed that basically those rules no longer apply. (See Acts 10:9-16). The old rules no longer apply for those who have been enlightened by the Holy Spirit.
V. 27 - “If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go” - Paul follows up with an another, or second scenario (the 1st example - you go buy meat for your meals at the grocery store) - a unbeliever invites you to dinner. Go! Enjoy your time with them.
This may be a big change for any of the Jewish believers. The impression we have of the Jews is that they did business with Gentiles, but did not socialize with them. That is, a Jew would not go to a Gentile’s home for a meal - how would you know if the food was prepared ‘kosher? How much bigger span of believer vs unbeliever can you get? Jew and Gentile. Perhaps this comes from a stereotypical view of Pharisees and Sadducees - who were extremely strict and rigid. Jews being a minority of the population in almost every country where they reside would have to interact with Gentiles. But it is highly possible that Jews did not socialize with Gentiles by going to dinner in Gentile homes.
V. 28 - “But if anyone says to you, ‘This is meat sacrificed to idols’, do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake” - You do not know where the food being served at the unbeliever’s table came from. You do not ask this kind of question when invited to another’s house. Eat and enjoy your time with them.
However, if you are told that meat was taken from an altar, even an altar for a pagan god, stop and do not eat. You should already know that it is no big deal. Paul said that very thing earlier. “What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.” (1 Cor 10:19-20) Idols are nothing, because the gods the idols represent are nothing. Therefore, food taken from the idol means nothing to you, because the idol/god is inconsequential to you and your well-being.
But that’s not the point of this section of the letter. The point made here is that the person making the comment is bothered by you eating the meat offered to the idol. The question in their mind is, “Does this Christian believe in the idol and god? They must, or they would not be eating this sacrifice!” The person making the comment is still held captive by the power of the god.
V. 29 - “I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s” - You have no moral problem eating the food, even if it has been offered to an idol. Your conscience is clear for this issue. The other person is conflicted. Your witness for Jesus Christ is compromised, the chance to win another person to Him has been blunted.
V. 30 - “If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?” - You don’t have a problem with this issue (eating meat offered to idols) because the idol means nothing to you. The other person does have a problem, and now you are part of it! The ill will or bad impression caused by you eating ‘sacred’ food, even if it is a worthless idol, means that the value of Christ has been diminished in that person’s opinion.
Paul is saying, “I don’t have a problem here. Why does that person have a problem here?” But, he also says, “It doesn’t matter in this case that you are okay with it. The other person thinks less of you.” (That is the ‘slander’, your reputation has taken a hit.) Therefore Christ has also taken a hit. People generally do not see Christ, except as they see Christ living in and through you. Paul is also making the point that why should you be slandered when you don’t need to be? You can bypass the idol’s food without harming yourself, and thereby without harming your witness for Christ.
V. 31 - “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” - This concept has now been extended to your lifestyle! It is no longer just a matter of whether you eat food offered to an idol.
Whatever you do….
Outbursts of anger on the golf course. Not a good witness...
Foul language. Not a good witness for Christ…
Drinking or living in excess. Christ is slandered…
Living immorally, such as adultery, or pornography. Your witness is damaged, as is Christ’s.
Lying. You can no longer be trusted.
Neither can Christ.
V. 32 - “Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God” - This is not a command to be milquetoast, namby-pamby, weak and without opinion. Paul said. “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Eph 4:32). He also said, “Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.” (1 Cor 6:18) Live your life under the control of the Holy Spirit, not on auto-pilot.
V. 33 - “just as I also please all men in all things” - Paul is paraphrasing Jesus. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 5:16)
“not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many” - Paul said the same thing in verse 24, above.
“so that they may be saved.” - God put us here on earth, leaves us here after we become His children, to lead others to Him.
