What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 10:21? You cannot drink Paul opens with an absolute—“You cannot.” There’s zero wiggle room. Just as Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24), the apostle insists that believers must make a clear choice. Fence-sitting feels harmless, but God calls it impossible (Revelation 3:15-16). The verb “drink” pictures personal participation; every sip declares allegiance. Joshua’s ancient challenge still rings out: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). the cup of the Lord This cup points to the New Covenant in Christ’s blood, celebrated in Communion (1 Corinthians 11:25; Luke 22:20). • It proclaims the Lord’s death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). • It unites believers into one body (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). • It testifies that our forgiveness, identity, and hope rest fully on Jesus. Taking this cup is a public, covenantal statement: “I belong to the Lord.” and the cup of demons too Behind every idol lurks a real spiritual force. Paul already warned, “The sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God” (1 Corinthians 10:20; cf. Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalm 106:37). To drink from that cup is to share fellowship with God’s enemies. • Idolatry re-labels sin as worship. • Demonic influence is personal, deceptive, and destructive (John 10:10). The line is stark: Christ’s cup or the demons’ cup—never both. you cannot partake “Partake” stresses ongoing participation. A single sip or bite may look trivial, but Scripture views it as partnership (2 Corinthians 6:14-16). God’s people are called to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11). Double participation isn’t just discouraged; it’s forbidden because it misrepresents Christ and endangers souls. in the table of the Lord The Lord’s Table is more than bread and wine; it is shared life with Jesus. Early believers “devoted themselves to the breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42). Around this table we • remember His sacrifice, • receive spiritual nourishment, • celebrate our unity as His redeemed family. Approaching this table demands reverence and exclusivity (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). and the table of demons too Pagan feasts blended food, drink, and worship, drawing participants into covenant with false gods. Today the forms vary—occult practices, material idols, cultural celebrations that glorify sin—but the principle stands: any table that invites us to honor what opposes Christ is a demonic table (1 John 5:21). Sharing that meal dilutes our witness and grieves the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). summary 1 Corinthians 10:21 sets a bright line of loyalty. The Lord’s cup and table signify wholehearted devotion to Jesus; the demons’ cup and table represent fellowship with spiritual darkness. Scripture allows no mixed allegiance. Because Christ literally died and rose to secure our redemption, believers are called to exclusive, undivided communion with Him—and to lovingly but firmly refuse every rival cup and table. |
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