81 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols , we know that we all have knowledge . Knowledge makes arrogant , but love edifies . 2 If anyone supposes that he knows anything , he has not yet known as he ought to know ; 3 but if anyone loves God , he is known by Him.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols , we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world , and that there is no God but one . 5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth , as indeed there are many gods and many lords , 6 yet for us there is but one God , the Father , from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord , Jesus Christ , by whom are all things , and we exist through Him.
7 However not all men have this knowledge ; but some , being accustomed to the idol until now , eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol ; and their conscience being weak is defiled . 8 But food will not commend us to God ; we are neither the worse if we do not eat , nor the better if we do eat . 9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak . 10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge , dining in an idol's temple , will not his conscience , if he is weak , be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols ? 11 For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined , the brother for whose sake Christ died . 12 And so , by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak , you sin against Christ .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 8:1-12
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 8:1-6
(Read 1 Corinthians 8:1-6)
There is no proof of ignorance more common than conceit of knowledge. Much may be known, when nothing is known to good purpose. And those who think they know any thing, and grow vain thereon, are the least likely to make good use of their knowledge. Satan hurts some as much by tempting them to be proud of mental powers, as others, by alluring to sensuality. Knowledge which puffs up the possessor, and renders him confident, is as dangerous as self-righteous pride, though what he knows may be right. Without holy affections all human knowledge is worthless. The heathens had gods of higher and lower degree; gods many, and lords many; so called, but not such in truth. Christians know better. One God made all, and has power over all. The one God, even the Father, signifies the Godhead as the sole object of all religious worship; and the Lord Jesus Christ denotes the person of Emmanuel, God manifest in the flesh, One with the Father, and with us; the appointed Mediator, and Lord of all; through whom we come to the Father, and through whom the Father sends all blessings to us, by the influence and working of the Holy Spirit. While we refuse all worship to the many who are called gods and lords, and to saints and angels, let us try whether we really come to God by faith in Christ.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 8:7-13
(Read 1 Corinthians 8:7-13)
Eating one kind of food, and abstaining from another, have nothing in them to recommend a person to God. But the apostle cautions against putting a stumbling-block in the way of the weak; lest they be made bold to eat what was offered to the idol, not as common food, but as a sacrifice, and thereby be guilty of idolatry. He who has the Spirit of Christ in him, will love those whom Christ loved so as to die for them. Injuries done to Christians, are done to Christ; but most of all, the entangling them in guilt: wounding their consciences, is wounding him. We should be very tender of doing any thing that may occasion stumbling to others, though it may be innocent in itself. And if we must not endanger other men's souls, how much should we take care not to destroy our own! Let Christians beware of approaching the brink of evil, or the appearance of it, though many do this in public matters, for which perhaps they plead plausibly. Men cannot thus sin against their brethren, without offending Christ, and endangering their own souls.