1 Corinthians 10:6 - Meaning and Application

The apostle has already spoken of Israel’s privileges. Now he turns to their failures and the punishments that followed. These things were left on record as a warning to us, so we will not repeat their sins or share their judgments. We must not do what they did, or we may suffer what they suffered.

He begins with a warning against wrong desires for worldly things: “Do not desire evil things, as they did” (1 Corinthians 10:6). God gave Israel manna, but they craved meat instead (Numbers 11:4). They had enough for their need, but they were not content, so they asked for food to feed their cravings (Psalm 106:14). Uncontrolled desires grow stronger when they are fed, so we must watch and stop them early. This warning comes first because sinful desires are often the root of much other sin.

He next warns against idolatry: “Do not become idolaters, as some of them were” (1 Corinthians 10:7). Scripture says, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” This points to the golden calf, when Israel first offered sacrifice, then ate and drank, and then danced before the idol (Exodus 32:6). Paul’s warning fits the Corinthians, who were tempted to eat at pagan feasts, food offered to idols. Even if they were only eating and drinking in honor of the idol, that was still idolatry, and Israel’s example should have warned them away.

He also warns against sexual sin, which was especially serious in Corinth, a very corrupt city. Corinth had a temple dedicated to Venus, the goddess of lust, and many prostitutes served there. People who lived in such a place, and who were also tempted by idolatry, needed a strong warning against fornication. Spiritual unfaithfulness often leads to bodily sin as well. Many of the pagan religions encouraged lewd behavior, and some Jewish writers, along with many Christians after them, thought this happened in the worship of Baal of Peor, when Israel joined in sexual sin with Moabite women (Numbers 25). That brought a plague that killed twenty-three thousand in one day, besides those executed by public justice. “God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers,” whatever outward privileges they may claim. If we want to avoid Israel’s plagues, we must fear Israel’s sins.

He warns us not to tempt Christ, as some of Israel did, and were destroyed by serpents (1 Corinthians 10:9). Christ was with the church in the wilderness. He was the angel of the covenant who went before them. Yet they grieved and provoked him again and again, especially when they complained against him and Moses, saying, “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?” Because of that, God sent fiery serpents among them, and many were fatally bitten (Numbers 21:5-6). It is only right to fear that those who tempt Christ under the gospel may be left to the power of the old serpent.

He also warns against complaining: “Do not grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer” (1 Corinthians 10:10). A destroying angel carried out God’s judgment. They argued with God and complained against Moses, his servant, whenever trouble came. When they were discouraged on the way to Canaan, they were quick to attack their leaders and wanted to return to Egypt under leaders of their own choosing. Something similar seems to have been happening in Corinth. They were grumbling against Paul, and through him against Christ, and they were looking for teachers who would flatter them and excuse their desires, especially their pull toward idolatry. They would rather eat idol food than face shame or the anger of their pagan neighbors. That kind of conduct greatly provoked God and brought swift destruction on Israel (Numbers 14:37).

These events were not only warnings for Israel. They were written for our instruction too (1 Corinthians 10:11). The laws and ordinances given to the Jews had a pattern-like meaning, and so did God’s dealings with them. Their sins and turning away from God pointed ahead to the unbelief of many under the gospel. God’s judgments on them also pointed to spiritual judgments now. Their exclusion from earthly Canaan pictured the exclusion of many from the heavenly Canaan because of unbelief. Their history stands as a lasting warning to the church, even now, when the ending of the world age has come. Nothing in Scripture is wasted. God had wise and gracious reasons for preserving Israel’s history, and we should learn from it.

So Paul draws this conclusion: “Let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). The troubles that happened to others should make us careful. If we think we are secure, we should not become proud or careless. Others have fallen, and so may we. People are most in danger when they are most sure of themselves, because that is when they stop watching. A humble distrust of ourselves, joined with watchfulness and dependence on God, is the Christian’s best protection against sin. God has not promised to keep us from falling if we refuse to be careful. His protection includes our own caution.

Yet Paul does not end with warning only. He adds comfort in the next verse, because while God is not pleased by our presumption, he is also not pleased by our despair. Presumption is a great sin, but despair is no small thing either.

We should fear and watch carefully, so that we do not fall, but we do not need to be shaken with terror. Our trials will either be matched to our strength, or strength will be given to match our trials. We live in a world full of temptations, surrounded by traps. Every place, every condition, every relationship, every task, and every pleasure has them. Yet there is comfort in this passage.

The apostle says that no temptation has come to us except what is common to people, that is, what human beings normally face. It is the kind of testing we may expect from people with the same principles and power, or from the ordinary weaknesses of human life, or from what even a strong human spirit can endure. The trials of ordinary Christians are only ordinary trials. Others face the same burdens and temptations, and what they have borne and overcome, we also may bear and overcome.

God is faithful. Satan is a deceiver, but God is true. People may be false, and the world may be false, but God is faithful. Our strength and safety are in him. He keeps his covenant, the binding promise he made, and he will never fail the hope and trust of his children.

He is also wise, not only faithful, and he will measure our burden according to our strength. He will not let us be tempted beyond what we are able to bear. He knows what we can carry and what we can withstand. In his wise care, he will either keep the temptation within our strength or make us able to handle it. He will see to it that we are not defeated, if we depend on him and mean to remain loyal to him. We do not need to trouble ourselves over the difficulties ahead when God will see that they are never too great for us to face.

He will also make the outcome good. He will provide a way of escape, either from the trial itself or at least from its harm. There is no valley so dark that he cannot lead us through it, and no trouble so hard that he cannot keep it away, remove it, or help us bear it. In the end, he can turn it to our good.

On this argument, Paul gives another warning against idolatry. He says, “Therefore, my dearly loved ones, flee from idolatry.” Notice how he speaks to them. He calls them dearly loved because his advice comes from tender care for them. The point of his warning is clear, flee idolatry, avoid it, and stay away from even the first steps toward it.

Idolatry is a very serious insult to the true God. It means giving his worship and honor to a rival. Paul’s reason is also clear, since they have such encouragement to trust God and stay faithful, they should act like men of courage and not be shaken by anything their heathen enemies set before them. God will help them in their trials and bring them through their trials, so they must not give in to any idolatrous compromise.

We have every reason to flee sin and remain faithful to God. We cannot fall into temptation if we hold fast to him.