Thanksgiving for Restoration

1261 A Song of the Ascents. In Jehovah's turning back 'to' the captivity of Zion, We have been as dreamers. 2 Then filled 'with' laughter is our mouth, And our tongue 'with' singing, Then do they say among nations, 'Jehovah did great things with these.' 3 Jehovah did great things with us, We have been joyful.

4 Turn again, O Jehovah, 'to' our captivity, As streams in the south. 5 Those sowing in tears, with singing do reap, 6 Whoso goeth on and weepeth, Bearing the basket of seed, Surely cometh in with singing, bearing his sheaves!

Prosperity Comes from the LORD

1271 A Song of the Ascents, by Solomon. If Jehovah doth not build the house, In vain have its builders laboured at it, If Jehovah doth not watch a city, In vain hath a watchman waked. 2 Vain for you who are rising early, Who delay sitting, eating the bread of griefs, So He giveth to His beloved one sleep. 3 Lo, an inheritance of Jehovah 'are' sons, A reward 'is' the fruit of the womb. 4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty one, So 'are' the sons of the young men. 5 O the happiness of the man Who hath filled his quiver with them, They are not ashamed, For they speak with enemies in the gate!

The Blessedness of Him Who Fears the LORD

1281 A Song of the Ascents. O the happiness of every one fearing Jehovah, Who is walking in His ways. 2 The labour of thy hands thou surely eatest, Happy 'art' thou, and good 'is' to thee. 3 Thy wife 'is' as a fruitful vine in the sides of thy house, Thy sons as olive plants around thy table. 4 Lo, surely thus is the man blessed who is fearing Jehovah. 5 Jehovah doth bless thee out of Zion, Look, then, on the good of Jerusalem, All the days of thy life, 6 And see the sons of thy sons! Peace on Israel!

19 what then do I say? that an idol is anything? or that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything?— 20 'no,' but that the things that the nations sacrifice—they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not wish you to come into the fellowship of the demons. 21 Ye are not able the cup of the Lord to drink, and the cup of demons; ye are not able of the table of the Lord to partake, and of the table of demons; 22 do we arouse the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He?

Do All to the Glory of God

23 All things to me are lawful, but all things are not profitable; all things to me are lawful, but all things do not build up; 24 let no one seek his own—but each another's. 25 Whatever in the meat-market is sold eat ye, not inquiring, because of the conscience, 26 for the Lord's 'is' the earth, and its fulness; 27 and if any one of the unbelieving do call you, and ye wish to go, all that is set before you eat, nothing inquiring, because of the conscience; 28 and if any one may say to you, 'This is a thing sacrificed to an idol,'—do not eat, because of that one who shewed 'it', and of the conscience, for the Lord's 'is' the earth and its fulness: 29 and conscience, I say, not of thyself, but of the other, for why 'is it' that my liberty is judged by another's conscience? 30 and if I thankfully do partake, why am I evil spoken of, for that for which I give thanks? 31 Whether, then, ye eat, or drink, or do anything, do all to the glory of God; 32 become offenceless, both to Jews and Greeks, and to the assembly of God; 33 as I also in all things do please all, not seeking my own profit, but that of many—that they may be saved.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 10:19-33

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 10:15-22

(Read 1 Corinthians 10:15-22)

Did not the joining in the Lord's supper show a profession of faith in Christ crucified, and of adoring gratitude to him for his salvation ? Christians, by this ordinance, and the faith therein professed, were united as the grains of wheat in one loaf of bread, or as the members in the human body, seeing they were all united to Christ, and had fellowship with him and one another. This is confirmed from the Jewish worship and customs in sacrifice. The apostle applies this to feasting with idolaters. Eating food as part of a heathen sacrifice, was worshipping the idol to whom it was made, and having fellowship or communion with it; just as he who eats the Lord's supper, is accounted to partake in the Christian sacrifice, or as they who ate the Jewish sacrifices partook of what was offered on their altar. It was denying Christianity; for communion with Christ, and communion with devils, could never be had at once. If Christians venture into places, and join in sacrifices to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, they will provoke God.

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 10:23-33

(Read 1 Corinthians 10:23-33)

There were cases wherein Christians might eat what had been offered to idols, without sin. Such as when the flesh was sold in the market as common food, for the priest to whom it had been given. But a Christian must not merely consider what is lawful, but what is expedient, and to edify others. Christianity by no means forbids the common offices of kindness, or allows uncourteous behaviour to any, however they may differ from us in religious sentiments or practices. But this is not to be understood of religious festivals, partaking in idolatrous worship. According to this advice of the apostle, Christians should take care not to use their liberty to the hurt of others, or to their own reproach. In eating and drinking, and in all we do, we should aim at the glory of God, at pleasing and honouring him. This is the great end of all religion, and directs us where express rules are wanting. A holy, peaceable, and benevolent spirit, will disarm the greatest enemies.