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Priscilla: I Corinthians 10:14-22
The People of God Avoid Idol Worship

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I offer You my praise and gratitude for the Eternal Word of Life that You bestow upon me every day, so that I may be nourished in my spiritual journey and live a life resembling Christ. I pray that the Holy Spirit grants me wisdom as I meditate on Your Word.

Father, today I would like to reflect on my thoughts regarding I Corinthians 10:14-22, concerning the people of God avoiding idolatry, as follows:

14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

Verses 14 and 15: The Apostle Paul earnestly calls upon the people of God in Corinth, whom he loves, to stay away from idolatry. He considers them to be believers who have a reverent fear of God and possess spiritual understanding granted by God to discern and comprehend the things he teaches. I understand that Paul’s advice to the people of God in Corinth to avoid idolatry is also a general admonition for God’s people everywhere. The Word of God instructs, “That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well” (Acts 15:29).

16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

Verse 16: The Apostle Paul implies that the cup of grape juice shared by the people of God in the Lord’s Supper symbolizes the blood of Christ, which was shed when He sacrificed His life to die in humanity’s place and redeem them from sin. Therefore, the cup of grape juice in the Lord’s Supper is in communion with the precious blood of Christ. The unleavened bread that the people of God break and eat together in the Lord’s Supper represents the sinless body of Christ, which was broken when He suffered death to bear the punishment for the sins of humanity. Hence, the unleavened bread in the Lord’s Supper is in communion with the holy body of Christ. I understand that anyone who sincerely repents of their sins and acknowledges the atoning death of Christ is saved. Therefore, whenever the people of God partake in the Lord’s Supper, eating the bread and drinking the cup of the Lord, they must live a holy life like Christ. Only in this way can they be in communion with Christ and receive His life and holiness within them.

17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Verse 17: Every member of the Church, the people of God, is a part of the body of Christ. Christ is the head of the Church, and the Church is the body of Christ. When the people of God participate in the Lord’s Supper, accepting the unleavened bread into their own bodies, they should remember that they receive new life from Christ and become united with Him. The unleavened bread symbolizes the holy physical body of Christ, and it also symbolizes the pure and sinless physical bodies of the people of God. Therefore, each member of the Church is united as one with Christ in the body of the Church.

18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

Verse 18: The Apostle Paul speaks about the Israelites, the descendants of Abraham. When they partook of the offerings presented on the holy altar of God, they also shared in the sanctification of the altar. I understand that today, the people of God in the Church are the spiritual Israel, born out of Christ. When the people of God participate in the Lord’s Supper, eating the unleavened bread and drinking the cup of the Lord, it signifies that they have partaken with Christ in His sufferings and have received His holiness into their own bodies.

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.

Verses 19 and 20: The Apostle Paul teaches that idols are nothing, and the sacrifices offered to idols are meaningless. However, when pagans offer sacrifices to idols, they are actually sacrificing to demons who masquerade as gods. Therefore, he advises the people of God not to worship or offer sacrifices to idols. By abstaining from eating food sacrificed to idols, they avoid defiling their own bodies and prevent the Temple of God from being associated with the worship of demons. Those who partake in idolatrous sacrifices become participants with demons, and as a result, some may be possessed by demons, leading them to become irrational or afflicted with peculiar and painful illnesses in their bodies.

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.

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

Verses 21 and 22 of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the people of God in Corinth emphasize that it is impossible to partake in the Lord’s Supper and at the same time participate in the feasts and festivities of idol worship, communing with demons. Such actions would be sinful and would provoke the Lord’s anger. I understand that partaking in the Lord’s Supper is an expression of gratitude and remembrance for the sacrifice of Christ, who died in their place. It is also a manifestation of their participation in His death and resurrection, and in His holiness, as they are made new in Him. They cannot partake in the food and drink offered to idols and thus participate in the worship of idols among the pagans, communing with demons. If anyone knowingly disobeys the clear command of God prohibiting the worship of idols and the consumption of food offered to idols, and yet boldly partakes in the Lord’s Supper, they provoke the Lord’s anger. It is as if they believe that they are stronger than God, thinking that He cannot do anything to them. The consequence for those who engage in idol worship, communicate with demons, and despise the redemptive grace bestowed by Christ upon them is severe punishment from the Lord. I recall the warning of the Word of God:

I Corinthians 11:27-32

27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Dear Father, I thank You for helping me to stay away from places of idol worship and detestable things that You abhor. Therefore, I do not want to use the money you have given me to enter places with images or altars of false gods to shop, eat, engage in worldly pleasures, or participate in the dark works of demons, for it defiles my body, which is the temple of God, where the Holy Spirit dwells. I pray that you continue to preserve the spirit, soul, and physical body of mine and every one of your people, making us holy and blameless, ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Priscilla Christian Huynh
05/15/2023