Please explain 1 Corinthians 10:18.
To get a proper understanding of this verse in its context, we must first read 1 Corinthians 10:15-17, “I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 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? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
In this chapter, we read of being separated from those things which dishonor the Lord. Using Israel as an example, the Apostle points out how that they ALL were under the cloud, passed through the sea, were baptized unto Moses, ate the same spiritual meat, and drank the same spiritual drink. Yet, we read in verses 5-6, “But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” Some of the things the Israelites fell into are idolatry, fornication, tempting Christ, and murmuring. We also read a dire warning in verse 12, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” How easy it is to become so complacent that while we ‘think’ we stand, we are really ‘falling’ into the hands and ways of the enemy.
With all that in mind, we are warned to “flee from idolatry.” Being in Corinth, a city where idol worship was prominent, the warning to them, as well as us, is to FLEE. This goes far beyond resisting idolatry. This speaks of getting far away from ANYTHING that might tempt us to put ANYTHING between us and the Lord. Flee. Run. Get away!
As believers on the Lord Jesus Christ, our focus and desire should be on Christ Himself. At the Lord’s Table, we commune with Him as we remember Him…who He is, and what He has done on our behalf. It would be totally unacceptable for one who partakes of the Lord’s Supper to also be in attendance at a table of demons, or idol worship. It is not the order of the supper that is in question here, so Paul does not hesitate to mention the cup first, but it is this privilege of remembering the Lord with fellow believers in opposition of gathering at the table of demons. There is ‘oneness’ expressed when we partake of the Lord’s Supper. We are ONE with Him and ONE with each other. There is unity among the saints when remembering the Lord together. Paul writes in verse 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.” FLEE FROM IDOLATRY.
Likewise, Israel had a table in the wilderness. 1 Corinthians 10:18 tells us, “Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?” In 1 Corinthians 8:4 Paul had taught that to eat meat that had been offered to idols was no big deal. That says, “As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.” However, it seems from the portion before us that some had gotten so casual as to go to the temples of idols and eat the meat with others gathered there. What impression did that give to others? As written in verse 18, “are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?” As believers remember the Lord together, they are identified as one with the One they remember. As the Israelites ate of the proper sacrifices under the Law, they were identified as one with the One they offered sacrifices to. If one is seen eating at the temple of an idol, they were identified as one with the one of which they ate the meat of sacrifice.
To be seen at the Lord’s Supper and then to be seen at the temple of an idol is devastating to the testimony. So, we are exhorted in 2 Corinthians 6:17, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” There is so much more that could be said about the Lord’s Supper, but I will leave that for another time as we look at this subject from the perspective of the question asked. (261.6)