Conduct of the Israelites

CHAPTER X.

A. D. 57. The privileges, sins and punishments of the Jews are recorded for our admonition; idolatry must be avoided; how the Lord's supper should be observed, c.

1 For brethren, I would not have you ignorant, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and 2 all passed through the sea; And were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the 3 sea; And all ate the same spiritual food; 4 And all drank the same spiritual drink. (For they drank of the water which followed them out of the spiritual rock; and that rock was 5 Christ.) Yet with most of them God was not well-pleased: for they were destroyed in the desert.

6 Now these things are become examples to us, that we should not desire evil things, as 7 they also desired. Nor be ye idolaters, as were

CHAP. X.

marrying a christian in the faith; but have the same right to do so as other men, They are not only soldiers in the cause of Christ, but leaders, and all their time and talents are employed in carrying on the holy warfare'; and are they to do it at their own charges? If they do they relinquish their own right, as Paul did, in order to prevent the suspicions of some, and the censures of others. Do they like labourers sow and plant; surely they have a right to partake of the fruits? So God appointed that they who ministered at the altar should be partakers with the altar. And so has our Lord ordained, that they who preach the gospel should live by the gospel.

2. We are admonished by the noble example of Paul, to become all things to all men, as far as we can with a good conscience, that we

X..

a warning to us. some of them; as it is written, "This people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." Nor let us commit fornication, as some 8 of them committed, and fell in one day twentyfour" thousand. Nor let us tempt Christ, as 9 some of them also tempted, and perished by serpents. serpents. Nor murmur ye, as some of them 10 also murmured, and perished by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them for 11 examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are

may win them to Christ; and to avoid offending in any manner a weak brother. Self-denial in reference to things lawful in themselves, when indulgence might offend or injure another, is our duty; and the exercise of it will afford the highest gratification to a feeling and affectionate heart. We are all bound to seek each others good, and to promote mutual edification. And how solicitous should we be so to run the christian race, that we may obtain the prize! What faithfulness, diligence and care should be exercised, lest we should run in vain, or la bour in vain! Let the crown of life animate us. Men run and fight for what is fading, and corruptible, but we as believers, for an incorruptible crown. O that we may be approved of the Judge in the great day, as having been faithful unto death

bring it into subjection to my own reason and to the law of Christ.-Disapproved. On trial; and thus I should lose the expected reward. The apostle's assurance, verse 26, did not lead him into a false security, as he well knew that the means and end are inseparably connected.

CHAP. X. 1. Have you ignorant, &c. Having noticed his own con. duct in the close of the preceding chapter, and the reason of it, "lest he should be disapproved;" he shows from what happened to the Israelites that there is need of such watchfulness, as all are not saved who enjoy the advantage of revelation and its ordinances.

2. Baptized into Moses, &c. Into the laws and institutions enjoined by him. See Rom. vi. 3. Gal. iii. 27. They are said to be baptized "in the cloud and in the sea," because as baptism was and is the initiatory ordinance of the gospel, so by their being in the cloud and sea, they declared their belief in the Lord and in his servant Moses. See Exod. xiv. 31.

3, 4. Spiritual food. The manna is so called, because it had a spiritual meaning. See John vi. 45, &c.- -For they drank, &c. The text requires the explanatory terms added. The same figurative mode of speaking occurs Ch. ix. 13, 14. Heb. xiii. 10. The rock smitten was an emblem of Christ; as the water was of the effusion of the Spirit. John iv. 14.; vii. 37. The rock is called "spiritual," because it had a spiritual reference to him who is the rock of ages, and the sure foundation of the church.

5. With most of them, &c. Because though they enjoyed these privileges, yet were they rebellious and unbelieving; and except Joshua and Caleb, fell in the desert.

6-8. Are become, &c. By being recorded, admonitory examples to us, &c.-Evil things. They loathed the manna, and desired flesh and other things, which they partook of in the worship of idols, &c. Ps. lxxviii. 30, &c. Exod. xxxii. 6-19, and note.-Fornication, &c. This was a common sin in the worship of idols. See Numb. xxv. 1-9.-Twenty-four thousand. As some copies so read still, I prefer it to the common one, as a mistake might be easily made by the custom of writing numbers in an abbreviated form.

9-11. Tempt Christ. There is good authority for reading « Lord” instead of Christ, which Newcome adopts, and which Pearce approved, as giv. ing rise to the other readings, some understanding by Lord, Christ; and others God, which some few mss. retain. Griesbach has put Lord into the inner margin, as of nearly equal authority. See Numb. xxi. 6.—Murmur ye, &c. Numb. xiv. 24.- By the destroyer. The angel of punishment; or any agent, as the plague, &c. by which they were destroyed.

12. Who seemeth to stand. To himself to stand firm, from these examples learn caution and watchfulness, lest ye should fall and perish.

13. Common to man. And what a man may not only bear but surmount.

Flee from idolatry.

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Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from 15 idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye 16 what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a common partaking of the blood of Christ? The loaf which we break, is it not a common partaking of the body of Christ? 17 For as there is but one loaf, so we, though many, are but one body: for we are all par18 takers of that one loaf. Behold Israel according to the flesh are not they who eat of the sacri19 fices, common partakers of the altar? What What say I then? that an idol is any thing, or that 20 an idol-sacrifice is any thing? Nay; but I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should be common 21 partakers with demon-worshippers. Ye cannot drink the Lord's cup, and the cup of demons: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's 22 table, and of the table of demons.

Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

23 All things are lawful, ° but all things are not expedient all things are lawful, but all things

23. • for me. Mss. fathers, Griesb.

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAPTER X. 1. We are taught that external privileges are no proof of a man's interest in the divine favour, of his pardon and acceptance. The Israelites enjoyed many and great privileges of this kind; they were called his people, had his ark and

Conscience to be respected.

edify not. Let no man seek his own good only, 24 but every man that of another also. Eat what- 25 soever is sold in the shambles, asking no question because of conscience: For the earth is 26 the Lord's, and all that is therein. And if any 27 of those who believe not ask you to a feast, and you be disposed to go; eat what is set before you, asking no question because of conscience. But if any man say to you, "This hath been 28 offered to idols;" eat not, because of him, who told thee, and because of conscience. I say, 29 not thine own conscience, but that of another: (for why should my liberty be condemned by another man's conscience? If I partake with 30 thanksgiving, why should I be evil spoken of on account of that for which I gave thanks?) Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever 31 ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give no 32 occasion of offending, either to the Jews, or to the Gentiles, or to the church of God: As I 33 also please all men in all things: not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Be ye imitators of me, 1 even as I also am of Christ.

СНАР. Х.

sacred ordinances, yet with most of them he was not well-pleased. They provoked him by their idolatry, uncleanness, murmuring, and unbelief. Hence their difficulties, sufferings, and plagues ; so that they fell in the desert, and entered not into the good and promised

14. Flee from idolatry. Be not induced to partake of victims sacrificed to idols, lest ye should be tempted to join either in worshipping them, or in other vices and impurities connected with them.

-A

15—17. Judge ye what I say. Paul considered that they had understanding, and he calls upon them to use it.——Which we bless. By setting it apart as sacred, and giving God thanks for it, and imploring his blessing.common partaking, &c. Is not the design of the cup "a common partaking" of that which represents "the blood of Christ?" And so of the loaf.-Are but one body. One society, maintaining the same faith, and serving the same Lord, and our union is manifest from our partaking of one loaf.

18. Partakers of the altar? Part was consumed to the honour of God; and of part they partook in common, as joined in the same worship.

20. Nay, but I say, &c. The apostle's questions strongly imply the contempt he had both for idols and their worship; and the structure of the language renders this addition necessary. To demons. The spirits of men, which superstition had deified, in the same manner as Popery has its saints. See 1 Tim. iv. 1, and Mede and Pearce. Some of these were kings and legislators; others were purely imaginary beings, having no real existence.Demon-worshippers. As the apostle had said that an idol was nothing, and an idol sacrifice nothing; and before, Ch. viii. that some christians had this know

evident that he did not design to forbid the eating or drinking of what was offered to idols, but to forbid all fellowship with idolaters on such occasions. Hence I have added worshippers, to give the sense.

21. Ye cannot drink, &c. Ye cannot thus maintain fellowship with idolaters in their religious feasts, consistently with your own christian principles, and without encouraging them. From verse 16, and here, we learn that christians partook of the cup in common when celebrating the Lord's supper.

22. Do we provoke, &c. By joining in idol worship, which is so irrational and expressly forbidden in the second commandment.

23-26. All things are, &c. To which christian liberty extends. See Ch. vi. 12.; but all such things do not edify weak brethren, and their good should be consulted.—Sold in the shambles. Part of the flesh of animals which had been sacrificed was sometimes given to the poor who sold it again. Make no inquiry about this, for the earth is the Lord's, &c. Ps. xxiv. 1, and all the riches of it should be moderately and thankfully enjoyed.

28. Any man. Any Christian or Jew; then respect his scruples, and wound not thy own conscience by acting uncharitably; but rather be thankful that God has given abundance of other food for thy support.

29-31. For why should my, &c. I suppose this and the next verse a parenthesis, and that the apostle illustrates what he had said, "not thine own

Decorum to be observed

CHAPTER XI.

A. D. 57. Paul gives directions about women praying and prophesying; reproves their disorders and contentions; and reminds them of the nature of the Lord's supper, &c.

2

Now I praise you, brethren, because ye remember me in all things, and keep the tradi3 tions, as I delivered them to you. But I would have you to know, that the head of every man is Christ; and that the head of the woman is the man; and that the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying having his 5 head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman praying or prophesying having prophesying having her head uncovered, dishonoureth her head: for that is one and the same thing as if her 6 head were shaven. For if a woman be not woman be not

land. How should their sins and sufferings admonish us, not to provoke the Lord, lest wrath come upon us? Let us be watchful, and rely on the grace and faithfulness of God, and he will afford us such aid that we may bear our trials, or he will mitigate them, or make a way for our escape and deliverance.

2. We learn how great and holy Jehovah is. Who is like unto him in the heavens or in the earth? All the idols of the heathen are indeed a mere nothing and vanity. Whatever honours their deluded votaries might render, or whatever opinions they might form and indulge, they were either an imagination, or else demons, wicked and impure spirits. To pay religious homage to nominal deities, or to demons, is to offer the greatest insult to the true and living God, and to Jesus Christ whom he hath sent. Let not any then who bear the christian name associate or have fellowship with them; but rather let them, by attending on that ordinance which Christ has appointed, maintain communion with him and with one another, as they are one body,

conscience," but that, &c. who informed thee, and so showed that he thought eating of it unlawful. If he had not done so why should my liberty be condemned by his weak conscience? And if I with thanksgiving, &c. The apostle maintains the right of every christian to use his liberty when it would give no offence to others; and on the whole concludes with the most excellent directions in the following verses.

CHAP XI. 2. In all things. They remembered most of his instructions and regulations.- -The traditions. Or the precepts which the apostle had given them relating to the manner of worshipping God. See 2 Thess. ii, 15.

3. Is Christ. You as Christians are members of his body, the church, subject to his authority, as the woman is to the man; and as he is to the Father. Ch. iii. 23.

4. Prophesying. See Ch. xiv. 3.- -Dishonoureth his head. By appearing as if he were in subjection, instead of being the head of the woman.

5. Every woman praying, &c. That the Spirit was poured upon some women, see Joel ii. 28. Acts xxvii. 17.; xxi. 9, &c. In such cases they were allowed to pray and prophesy in the church; but unless thus excited by the impulse of the Spirit, they were not allowed. See Ch. xiv. 34, &c. I Tim. iii. 12.

Her head uncovered. Among the Jews, Greeks, and Romans, women wore veils when they appeared in public; and these veils covered both the head and the face.

covered, let her head even be shorn: but if it be shameful that a woman should have her head shaven or shorn, let her head be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, 7 since he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the 8 man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Nor indeed was the man created for 9 the woman; but the woman for the man. For 10 this cause the woman ought to have a veil on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, 11 neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, through the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, so is the man 12 also by the woman; but all things are of God. Judge among your ownselves: is it becoming 13

and as they are all partakers of that living bread which came down from heaven.

3. We also learn that ritual observances are, under the gospel, utterly abolished. What weakness to imagine that meats or drinks are in themselves polluted, and that it is unlawful to use them! For as the earth is the Lord's, and all that is therein; so he has given its produce and the animals which are suitable, for our food and support. But while we enjoy what God has so liberally bestowed, let us guard against all excess; and rather than offend the weak and scrupulous, let us exercise self-denial. Whether therefore we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do in religion, or in the affairs of life, let us do all to the glory of God. Let us so live as to give no offence to Jew or Gentile, or to any member of the church of Christ; but endeavour to advance the interest of religion, and promote the spiritual benefit of each other, by mutual exhortation, and the constant exercise of esteem, kindness, and love.

6. Should have her head shorn, &c. Women of licentious habits were punished among the Jews with this mark of infamy; and every modest female should therefore avoid exposing herself. In having the hair dishevelled, they would imitate the heathen priestesses, aud thus bring the gospel into contempt.

7. The image and glory of God. As to the dominion granted him, and the proper exercise of it in his entire devotedness to the glory of his creator. See Ps. viii. 5, 6. In other respects the woman is as much the image and glory of God as the man. -The glory of the man. As being taken from, made for, and put in subjection to him, as it follows in the two next verses.

10. For this cause. To show her subjection.— Because of the angels. Whitby supposes evil angels to be meant; and that the veil was to remind her how she had been first seduced by the prince of them, and be a token of shame and subjection. 1 Tim. ii. 11-13. Others consider holy angels to be intended, who are supposed to be invisibly present in christian assemblies. See Eccles. v. 1, 6. 1 Tim. v. 21. Dr. H. Owen and Newcom econsider the word's as a marginal gloss, which were early admitted into the text. The sense is complete without them.

11-16. Nor the man without, &c. Let not the man be lifted up with pride against the woman; as neither can exist without the other, according to that constitution of nature which the Lord hath appointed. Even nature, &c. Is not long hair among men regarded as a mark of delicacy and pride?

14 that a woman pray to God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man 15 have long hair, it is a dishonour to him; But that, if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her? because her hair is given her for a co16 vering. But if any one be contentious, we have no such custom, nor the churches of God.

17

But I praise you not when I declare this; that ye come not together for the better, but 18 for the worse. For first, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there are divisions 19 among you and I partly believe it. For there must be heresies also among you, that they who are approved may be made manifest among 20 you. When therefore ye come together into one place, it is not to eat the Lord's supper. 21 For when ye eat every one taketh before others his own supper: and one is hungry, and another 22 is full. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame those that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you for this? I praise you not.

delivered up, took a loaf: And when he had 24 given thanks, he broke it, and said, "Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me." In 25 like manner he took the cup also, when he had supped, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do ye, as often as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink 26 this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this 27 bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, will be guilty of prophaning the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man 28 examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that 29 eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh so as to bring punishment on himself, not distinguishing the Lord's body. For 30 this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and a considerable number are dead. But if we would judge ourselves, we should 31 not be judged. But when we are judged by 32 the Lord, we are chastened, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come to- 33 gether to eat the Lord's supper, wait one

While on the other hand it is considered as the glory of a woman, being given, &c.—If any be contentious. Here dox is clearly used as a mere expletive. See note, Ch. vii. 40. No such custom as women praying or prophesying with their heads uncovered, obtained in any of the churches.

17. I praise you not. He had praised them, verse 2; but here, with great delicacy, he censures them for their divisions and improper behaviour.

18, 19. Come together in the church. Or congregation. Here and verse 22, church must signify the people, and not the place, as is clear from verse 20. They had then no fixed places of religious worship; but assembled in those houses which were most convenient.- -Divisions. Separate parties, eating and drinking by themselves, contrary to the nature of the Lord's supper.Must be heresies, &c, These are represented as different from, and worse than divisions; and from other passages, we may regard heresies as false opinions in religion, obstinately maintained, against the clearest proofs of revelation, and with the purpose of drawing away men, and of making gain. See Gal. v. 20. Considering the condition of human nature, the apostle expected such things to oceur, that the good and sound part of the church might be manifest.

20. It is not to eat, &c. But instead of that you make it only a common meal. It was the custom of the disciples to assemble on the first day of the week, and the Syriac renders the words translated "Lord's supper," a "meal which is proper for the Lord's day," or "a sabbath's meal;" as Michaelis has observed. See his Ammerk in loc.

22. The church of God, &c. Offend many of your brethren, and shame the poor who have it not in their power to bring provisions as you do?

23-25. I received from the Lord, &c. By special revelation; and so he

26.

did the whole gospel which he preached. See Gal. i. 11, 12.—Had given thanks. See notes, Matt. xxvi. 26-28. The Lord's death, &c. The Lord's supper is a commemoration of his death, and to eat and drink are apt signs and representations, by which it is set forth, as the end of the institution; and not eating and drinking, as at ordinary feasts or meals.

27. Unworthily, &c. As some of you do, by regarding it as a common meal, and taking occasion from it to form parties. Will be guilty, &c. Will be liable to the punishment due for so grossly dishonouring the symbols of the Lord's body and blood.

28. Examine himself. If he come to this ordinance to keep up the remembrance of the death of Christ, and from a grateful sense of his love, as well as with a firm purpose to obey and serve him, then let him eat that bread, &c.

29. Punishment on, &c. The next verse shows plainly that this is the sense of xp here, as it is in other places. See Matt. xxiii. 14. Rom. xiii. 2. James iii. 1, and Pet. iv. 17.- -Not distinguishing, &c. Not making any difference between the bread, the symbol of the Lord's body, and ordinary bread. 30. For this cause, &c. On account of the abuse of the Lord's supper, many in the church at Corinth were then under temporal punishment, weak and sick, while numbers had been cut off by death. These temporal punishments were confined to the age of miracles, and were inflicted in mercy as well as in justice; and were designed to guard the purity of christian ordinances, and to support the authority of the apostles. See Acts v. 5. 1 Cor. v. 5. 2 Cor. x. 8.; xiii. 2. 1 Tim. i. 20. Rev. ii. 22.

31. But if we would judge, &c. So as to distinguish the Lord's supper