What does "those who eat the sacrifices" teach about community and worship? Setting the Scene: Israel’s Altar in Context • 1 Corinthians 10 draws on Old Testament worship to teach first-century believers how to relate to God and one another. • Paul recalls Israel’s sacrificial meals, where worshipers literally ate portions of what had been placed on the altar (Leviticus 7:11-15; Deuteronomy 12:17-18). • By pointing to that practice, he underlines a timeless principle: worship is never a private act; it forges visible, covenantal bonds. The Phrase in Focus “Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?” (1 Corinthians 10:18) • “Eat the sacrifices” = partake of food offered to God. • “Participants” (koinōnos) = sharers, partners, those in fellowship. • The act is both vertical (communion with God) and horizontal (communion with fellow worshipers). Shared Participation with God • Eating from the altar signified accepting God’s invitation to His table (Exodus 24:9-11). • In the peace offering, a portion burned on the altar went to the Lord, another to the priest, and another to the worshiper—one meal, different seats, same table. • That pattern points ahead to the Lord’s Supper, where believers “share in the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:16). Shared Participation with One Another • Because everyone ate the same sacrifice, they visibly declared, “We belong to the same covenant family.” • Paul uses the image to warn the Corinthians that mixing altars (pagan temples and the Lord’s Table) fractures this unity (1 Corinthians 10:20-22). • The lesson: our corporate worship practices preach a message about our relationships. A divided table misrepresents the gospel. Boundaries That Preserve Fellowship • Israel could not offer and eat sacrifices just anywhere (Deuteronomy 12:13-14). Location and manner mattered. • Likewise, believers must guard the exclusivity of Christ’s table. Participants are welcome, but the terms are set by God, not by culture or personal preference (Hebrews 13:10). • Right doctrine and holy living protect the purity of shared worship (Acts 2:42). Practical Takeaways for the Assembly • Treat gathered worship as a family meal—arrive ready to give and receive fellowship, not merely consume a program. • Examine personal loyalties: any “second altar” (idolatry, divided affections) disrupts the unity the cross purchased. • Celebrate the Lord’s Supper frequently and thoughtfully; it renews covenant bonds both with the Lord and with one another. • Serve, forgive, and encourage fellow believers, remembering that everyone at the table partakes of the same sacrifice—Christ Himself (Ephesians 4:32). |
    |