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1 Corinthians 10:14-22 - Homilies By E. Hurndall

Wariness in Christian walk.

A burning question amongst Corinthian Christians was whether they were justified in partaking of sacrifices offered to idols. With this the apostle deals in several parts of these Epistles. Note the course of his argument here.

I. HE LIFTS THE VEIL FROM IDOLATRY . He is quite willing to allow that an idol is nothing in itself, and that meats offered to an idol are in themselves as though they had not been so offered. But he thrusts upon the attention the startling truth that, when men professedly sacrifice to idols, they really sacrifice to devils. "They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not" ( Deuteronomy 32:17 ).

1. The character of many of the heathen deities was Satanic. The conception of the worshippers was largely a conception of the character of devils.

2. Paganism is a part of the Satanic kingdom. It is not of the true God, and what is not of him is of the devil. There are but two masters. Pagan worship is the worship of the false, and the false is of Satan, not of God. Behind every idol, because it is an idol, lurks a devil. The dumb image and the supposed deity associated with it are but masks hiding the face of the fiend. An idol is nothing; yes, but "nothings" are generally the veils of very palpable "somethings." Beware of the nothings of life; they are most dangerous because least dreaded.

3. When any objects are worshipped in the place of God, the devil kingdom is served. Idolatry of whatever sort involves "sacrifice to devils." All sin is homage and offering to Satan, the "god of this world." The truth applies when pure things, as well as when impure, are substituted for God. Satanic interests are advanced; a sacrifice is laid upon the altar of darkness.

II. HE SHOWS WHAT PARTAKING OF HEATHEN SACRIFICES INVOLVES .

1. To all. As the sacrifice is virtually offered to devils, partaking of it when it is in the form of a sacrifice—this would not apply to meat sold in the shambles ( 1 Corinthians 10:25 ) or to meat at a friend's house ( 1 Corinthians 10:27 )—involves fellowship with devils. Established by reference to:

2. To Christians specially. It is an attempt to serve God and his greatest enemies. This is what it amounts to really, though not necessarily with full realization of the fact on the part of the participants.

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