7 but not in all men 'is' the knowledge, and certain with conscience of the idol, till now, as a thing sacrificed to an idol do eat 'it', and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But victuals do not commend us to God, for neither if we may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat, are we behind; 9 but see, lest this privilege of yours may become a stumbling-block to the infirm, 10 for if any one may see thee that hast knowledge in an idol's temple reclining at meat—shall not his conscience—he being infirm—be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to idols, 11 and the brother who is infirm shall perish by thy knowledge, because of whom Christ died? 12 and thus sinning in regard to the brethren, and smiting their weak conscience—in regard to Christ ye sin; 13 wherefore, if victuals cause my brother to stumble, I may eat no flesh—to the age—that my brother I may not cause to stumble.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 8:7-13
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.