1 Corinthians 10

     Paul continues his warnings to them to beware of a false security.  Our freedom in Christ should not delude us into flirtations with old sinful weaknesses, nor permit us to tempt a weaker brother.

     10:1-13.  The example of those who fell into sin after being redeemed out of Egypt.

     10:2.  Baptized into Moses; cf. baptized into Christ, Gal. 3:27.  See notes at Jude 9, “the body of Moses”.

     10:3-4.  Spiritual food; spiritual drink; see margin references.  The rock was Christ; see Ex.33:21-22; Deut.32:4-5; Ps.18:2.

     10:8.  As always, the Greek word used here is specific.  The “immorality” was fornication.  This sin, and the sin of idolatry that it accompanied, were the great temptations associated with the meat in most Gentile markets, as it came from the idol temple sacrifices.

     10:11.  The ends of the ages; i.e., the culmination of the hope of the ages in the coming of Christ, who in these last days rules at the Father’s right hand, there to reign until the consummation of all things (cf. Luke 11:20; Heb.1:2; 1 Peter 1:20, 4:7; 2 Peter 3:3-7, 1 John 2:18).

     10:13.  A great and faithful promise.  May we always seek the provided way of escape.

     10:14-22.  Those in Corinth who ate both at the table of the Lord and the table of the idol temples were not fooling anyone.  Meat might be only meat, and an idol may be nothing, but there was spiritual evil involved here.  They were playing in the devil’s playground (20).  Are we tempted to think we are stronger than the evil one?  It is God who has told us to flee idolatry.  Or are we stronger than the Lord, too (22)?  (Cf. Rev. 2:14).

     See the connecting word therefore between v.13 and v.14.  Seek the way of escape from your temptations which the Lord has provided, flee to the safety of Christ, and let us partake of him only (16).

     10:23.  Cf. Titus 1:15-16.

     10:23-33.  Practical application of the principles set forth (24, 26, 31-32 are key verses).