1 Corinthians 10:23-33 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.… I. THE SENSE OF THE SEVERAL EXPRESSIONS IN THE TEXT. 1. Wealth here does not mean riches, but men's spiritual good. The word signifies prosperity in general, as is still seen in the use of the word commonwealth or public good. 2. The apostle directs us not to seek our own, but every man another's wealth; ourselves are not excluded, but others are included in the rifle. It is a Jewish form of speaking, very common in the Old and New Testaments (Mark 9:37). II. WHAT PARTICULAR INSTANCES THIS RULE OUGHT TO BE APPLIED TO. We are bound by this rule. — 1. Not to do that action which we know to be lawful when there is danger of its misleading and weakening the faith of another Christian who thinks it unlawful. 2. To endeavour to promote the practice of piety and virtue. 3. To promote the knowledge of religion in our fellow-creatures, the want of which we find by experience to produce very fatal effects; for when young persons set out in such a world as this is, unacquainted with the grounds of their religion, not knowing the reason and foundation of the hope that is in them, how easily do they become a prey to the libertine or superstitious perverter. (Z. Pearce, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. |
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