1 Corinthians 10:27

King James Version (KJV)

If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

If any - bid you to a feast - The apostle means any common meal, not an idol festival; for to such no Christian could lawfully go.

Whatsoever is set before you, eat - Do not act as the Jews generally do, torturing both themselves and others with questions, such as those mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:26.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

If any of them that believe not - That are not Christians; that are still pagans.

Bid you to a feast - Evidently not a feast in the temple of an idol, but at his own house. If he asks you to partake of his hospitality.

And ye be disposed to go - Greek, “And you will to go.” It is evidently implied here that it would be not improper to go. The Saviour accepted such invitations to dine with the Pharisees (see the note at Luke 11:37); and Christianity is not designed to abolish the courtesies of social life; or to break the bonds of contact; or to make people misanthropes or hermits. It allows and cultivates, under proper Christian restraints, the contact in society which will promote the comfort of people, and especially that which may extend the usefulness of Christians. It does not require, therefore, that we should withdraw from social life, or regard as improper the courtesies of society; see the note at 1 Corinthians 5:10.

Whatsoever is set before you … - Whether it has been offered in sacrifice or not; for so the connection requires us to understand it.

Eat - This should be interpreted strictly. The apostle says “eat,” not “drink;” and the principle will not authorize us to “drink” whatever is set before us, asking no questions for conscience sake; for while it was matter of indifference in regard to eating, whether the meat had been sacrificed to idols or not, it is not a matter of indifference whether a man may drink intoxicating liquor. That is a point on which the “conscience” should have much to do; and on which its honest decisions, and the will of the Lord, should be faithfully and honestly regarded.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

There were cases wherein Christians might eat what had been offered to idols, without sin. Such as when the flesh was sold in the market as common food, for the priest to whom it had been given. But a Christian must not merely consider what is lawful, but what is expedient, and to edify others. Christianity by no means forbids the common offices of kindness, or allows uncourteous behaviour to any, however they may differ from us in religious sentiments or practices. But this is not to be understood of religious festivals, partaking in idolatrous worship. According to this advice of the apostle, Christians should take care not to use their liberty to the hurt of others, or to their own reproach. In eating and drinking, and in all we do, we should aim at the glory of God, at pleasing and honouring him. This is the great end of all religion, and directs us where express rules are wanting. A holy, peaceable, and benevolent spirit, will disarm the greatest enemies.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

27. That believe not. That is, friends, relatives, or others who are not Christians.

To a feast. These words are supplied. The context makes clear that the invitation is to a meal in a private home, not a sacrificial celebration at a heathen temple. It often happens that Christians are offered hospitality by non-Christians, and Christians are under no obligation to reject such offers. They have the example of Christ, who accepted the hospitality of those who were not His followers (see Luke 11:37). Christianity does not require believers to become hermits, who abstain from all social contact with their fellow men (see Rom. 12:13; Titus 1:8; Heb. 13:2; 2T 645).

Disposed to go. Literally, “desire to go.” Many valuable opportunities may be lost by reluctance to accept offers of hospitality from unbelievers. All over the world the invitation to share a meal is a gesture of friendliness, and indicates an attitude of willingness to give attention to what the invited guest may say. All such occasions should be used by the Christian to witness for the Lord and to direct attention to the love of God and His plan for the salvation of man. Jesus accepted invitations from unbelievers with this objective in mind (see DA 150, 151).

Whatsoever is set before you. This phrase must be interpreted in its context. The subject is the propriety of eating meats sacrificed to idols. It is with regard to this that the invited guest was asked to lay aside his scruples and gladly partake of the food provided for him. He is not to embarrass his host or place himself in a compromising situation by making inquiries as to whether the meat on the table had earlier been an offering to the false gods worshiped by his host. However, this statement does not sanction the use of foods elsewhere forbidden. The meat must be such as the Christian can conscientiously eat without transgressing God’s requirements relative to clean and unclean meats (Lev. 11). If it meets the requirement he may receive it graciously and thankfully, without asking any questions (cf. on Rom. 14:1). The instruction relates to the question of the use of food that has been offered to idols, and is not concerned with the fitness of food from the standpoint of nutrition and health. The Christian ought to know that he is expected to use his discretion regarding injurious food that would be a danger to his physical well-being (see Rom. 12:1, 2; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20).

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Ellen G. White
The Acts of the Apostles, 191

At Jerusalem the delegates from Antioch met the brethren of the various churches, who had gathered for a general meeting, and to them they related the success that had attended their ministry among the Gentiles. They then gave a clear outline of the confusion that had resulted because certain converted Pharisees had gone to Antioch declaring that, in order to be saved, the Gentile converts must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. AA 191.1

This question was warmly discussed in the assembly. Intimately connected with the question of circumcision were several others demanding careful study. One was the problem as to what attitude should be taken toward the use of meats offered to idols. Many of the Gentile converts were living among ignorant and superstitious people who made frequent sacrifices and offerings to idols. The priests of this heathen worship carried on an extensive merchandise with the offerings brought to them, and the Jews feared that the Gentile converts would bring Christianity into disrepute by purchasing that which had been offered to idols, thereby sanctioning, in some measure, idolatrous customs. AA 191.2

Again, the Gentiles were accustomed to eat the flesh of animals that had been strangled, while the Jews had been divinely instructed that when beasts were killed for food, particular care was to be taken that the blood should flow from the body; otherwise the meat would not be regarded as wholesome. God had given these injunctions to the Jews for the purpose of preserving their health. The Jews regarded it as sinful to use blood as an article of diet. They held that the blood was the life, and that the shedding of blood was in consequence of sin. AA 191.3

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Cross References

bid

whatsoever