The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 271

Vers. 8, 9.-Christian liberty. No doubt Paul was regarded as the great champion of liberty. The apostles at Jerusalem were more under the influence of the old JuJaism; Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, gained a larger spirit of tolerance through bis association with men of various races and habits. 'l'he t:ipirit of God set him free from restraints by which many good men were fettered. To him the party of know- ledge, of emancipation, of liberalism, would naturally look for countenance and encouragement, when scruples about trifling matters of outward observance perplexed the conscience and threatened to divide the Church. And, so far as his views ol' religion were concerned, Paul was with this party; yet, as this passag~ reminds us, in- his view, religion had one side turned towards God, and another side turned towards men, and be would not have this second side overlooked. l. THE INDIFFERE:S-CE, AS A MATTER OF PnINCIPLE, OF OUTWARD ODSERVANCES. 1. The general doctrine. It is not what we eat or abstain from eating that God regards, that God will judge us by. 'l'he reasons for this doctrine are obvious. (1) The nature of God, who is a Spirit, and in whose view what is spiritual is of overmastering and supreme interest. Priests in their pettiness may think matters ali-important which- in God's sight are trifles light as air. (2) 'l'be nature of man, who is a reasonable and spiritual being, and whose highest welfare cannot consist in what food enters into his body and what food he refrains from partaking. (3) 'l'he nature of Christianity, which is a sr•iritual religion, and seeks to take possession of human nature and so· to influence bnman life. It is not a religion of feasts and fasts, but a religion of faith, hope, and love. 2. The special applicati011. qf the doctrine. 'l'he query propounded by the Corinthians is fairly answered. It is as though Paul bad sai<l, "So far as God is concerned it makes no difference at all whether y·,u belong to the scrupulous party, and refrain from eatin"0 meat which may possibly have been offered in idol F.acrifice and worship, or to the Ji beral party, and, despising such distinctions, eat whatever is· purchased in the market or placed upon the table. These habits of yours cannot make you either better or worse, cannot commeud you to God or involve you in 'his displeasure; he looks at something very different from such things." So with p:1rallel cases; matters may have importance as regards the Church, as regards human society, which are utterly unimportant as regards our relation to God. II. 'l'HE DA:S-GER OF CARRYING CmuSTIAN LIDEllTY so FAR AS TO INJURE OUR FELLOW- MEN. A .Christian in these early days might be himself quite superior to the small scrnplcs by which hio neighbours were influencecl. Ilut, at the same time, he might be justly calkd t1pon to consider his weak brethren, and not to put an occasion of offence in the path of any. 'l'he best things may be abiiscd, and it is often so with, cu. vrn. 1-13.J 'l'HE FIIlST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 273