Useful Bible Studies > 1 Corinthians Commentary > chapter 10
God has described himself as a ‘jealous God’ (Deuteronomy 5:9). In other words, he insists that his people must serve him alone as their God (Deuteronomy 6:14-15). God will not allow anyone or anything else to receive the honour that he deserves.
When people eat a meal together, they do it to show their friendship. If they share a cup, that shows an especially close friendship. It is not just entertainment; we have duties towards our friends. In particular, we have a duty to be loyal to them.
Christians accept the food and drink that God provides for them. That can mean the bread and wine at church (10:16). It especially means the things that God provides to give health and strength to their spirits (John 6:48-58). Christians receive their friendship with God only because Christ died for them. That is what gives life to their spirits.
Some Christians in Corinth were also accepting food that evil spirits had provided. Actually, they were eating meat that other people had offered to false gods (8:10). Those other people were trying to give honour to the images of their false gods. Really, however, they were giving honour to evil spirits (10:20).
So, those Christians in Corinth were not loyal to God. They were accepting things both from the real God, and from evil spirits. That would cause God to be jealous and it would make him angry.
It is important for us always to be loyal to God. Jesus made a similar statement in Matthew 6:24.
Next part: How should Christians use their freedom? (1 Corinthians 10:23)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.