respect to the weak. ' If meat were a matter of importance, if it really commended us to God, there would be a valid reason why you should eat these sacrifices. But as it is a matter of indifference, you should not cause your brethren to offend.' This would be a natural interpretation if the caution which follows were introduced as an inference. That is, if the apos- tle had said, ' Eating is a matter of indifference, therefore you should use your liberty with due regard to your brethren.' His language, however, is, ' Meat does not commend us to God ; it makes us neither better nor worse ; hut take heed how you use your liberty.' It is evidently a concession limited by what follows; comp. 6, 12, "All things are lawful, hut all things are not expedient ;" see also 10, 23.
9. But take heed lest by any means this hberty of yours become a stumbhngblock to them that are weak.
Admitting you have the right to eat of these sacrifices, take care lest your eating become an occasion of sin to your weaker brethren. Your liherty. The word {l^ova-ta) means, 1. Ability or power. 2. Lawful power or right. 3. Author- ity ; ' Who gave thee this authority ? ' 4. Power over others, dominion or rule. Here the second sense is the one in which the word is to be taken. Stumhlinghloclc^ (7rp6<;KOfXf/.a^) else- where rendered offence^ in a moral sense is that which is an occasion to sin, or which causes men to fall. In the same sense the word (o-KavSaXov, literally, a trap-stick^ scandal is used, Luke 17, 1. Rom. 14, 13. 1 John 2, 10. The weak are the doubting, the undecided, those " not having knowledge," as is implied in the next verse.
10. Eor if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idola ;
This verse is designed to show how eating these sacrifices might be an occasion of sin to others. For serv#s to intro- duce the illustration. See thee having knoioledge. This is the description of the strong. They were those whose views were clear and their convictions decided. Sit at meat^ (KaTaKct)u.€- vov,) literally, lying down^ according to the ancient custom of