1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Applebury's Comments

Text

1 Corinthians 10:1-13. For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and did all eat the same spiritual food; 4 and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ. 5 Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured) and perished by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.

Lesson From the Experience of the Fathers (1-13)

Commentary

For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant.The closing thought of chapter nine about being rejected is continued in this chapter as the word for indicates. It is well to watch for these connecting terms in order to keep in mind the progress of the apostle's thinking. Too often we neglect these little words, especially when we come to the chapter division and as a result neglect to see the close connection between the Chapter s.

Paul is fond of the use of the term brethren because of his deep love and concern for all the members of the family of God. This word gives him an opportunity to show his concern particularly when he must rebuke them for failures or solemnly warn them of the perils that beset their way.
The word translated ignorant just as our own word simply means without knowledge. But our word seems to be harsher than the term Paul used. This may be the result of the way we use it or what we imply by it. Paul certainly was not chiding them when he said, I would not have you ignorant. We are accustomed to a positive expression of this thought. We would prefer to sayand in doing so, more nearly express Paul's thought and spiritI do not want you to be without knowledge, or better, I want you to know. He was concerned that they know the lessons taught by the experience of their fathers in the faith.

our fathers.How could Paul take an example from the Old Testament Scriptures and use it with reference to a Gentile congregation? How could he speak of the ancient Jews as their fathers? We are aware of the fact that the church at Corinth was made up of Gentiles, perhaps for the most part, but there were Jews in it also. The Jew with his background of Old Testament history could be expected to understand such an illustration. Gentiles also could appreciate these Old Testament backgrounds just as we do today. God's kingdom is made up of believers in Christ whose spiritual heritage goes back to the faithful Abraham and to the nation that owes its origin to him. Paul argues in Romans that Abraham was the father of us all, not just the Jews who believed but the believing Gentiles also (Romans 4:11; Romans 4:16-17). This is the reason, then, for calling their attention to the fathers. The church recognizes no such distinctions Jews or Gentiles (Galatians 3:28).

Paul used the experience of Israel as they escaped from Egypt to show that the mere possession of rights, liberties, and blessings did not in itself guarantee victory. The Israelites had freedom, adequate leadership, and divinely provided sustenance but failed to enter the promised land. Their failure illustrates in a negative way what Paul had presented in a positive form in his illustration of the one who wins the race because he exercises self-control in all things.

all under the cloud.God guided Israel through the trackless wilderness and protected them from the burning heat by day and gave them light by night (Exodus 13:21-22).

Panic struck the fleeing Israelites as they came to the Red Sea. Pharaoh and the Egyptian armies closed in on them as they camped by the sea. There was no possible way to go around the sea. There was no way to retreat. They murmured in their fright and wished they had died in Egypt. But Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of Jehovah (Exodus 14:13). They could see the Egyptians in close pursuit, but Moses said they were to see them no more. The angel of God who went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them: and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel (Exodus 14:19-20). As the children of Israel went through the sea on dry land, the Lord looked forth from the pillar of fire and of cloud and caused the Egyptians to be thrown into confusion as they saw that their chariots were becoming hard to move. Then Moses, at the command of the Lord, stretched forth his staff over the sea and the Egyptian armies drowned in the same sea through which the Israelites had passed in safety to the other shore (Exodus 14:15-31).

The cloud, then, represents the blessing of guidance and protection. Paul wanted the Christians to remember this as he urged them to follow the rules of self-control so that they would not be disqualified in the race for the crown of life.

all passed through the sea.Various attempts have been made to discredit this statement. But the evidence of history as given in Exodus is sufficient to justify Paul in saying that they all passed through the sea. The assumption that they went through some shallow water to the north will not fit the description of the event as presented by Moses. To those who believe in God and His power, there is no problem in accepting what Moses said about it. God who made the universe and called the nation of Israel into existence was able to roll back the waters of the sea and let His people pass through on dry land.

were all baptized.We have no clearer example showing that in baptism the sinner is separated from his sins. Israel was separated from the enemy in the Red Sea where the Egyptian army drowned. The Corinthians were to remember that they had been baptized, sanctified, and justified through the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. They were to enjoy the blessing of separation from sin by following the rules of life's race that led to the crown of life.

This incident also shows the action of baptism. There was a wall of water on either side of the people as they passed through the seas and the cloud was over them. They were baptized in the cloud and in the sea, not just the sea. It took both to complete the figure. The Egyptians were, of course, drowned in the sea, but this was not the figure of baptism, for baptism represents the way of escape from the bondage in sin.

unto Moses.The preposition translated unto indicates progress toward some goal. It is motion whether in space or thought realm, It can be translated into or for or even in according to some scholars. The latter is evidently true in the later development of the language. But direction toward a goal or entrance into something or purpose seems to fit most of the cases in which it is used in the New Testament. Their baptism did bring them into the state of submission to his leadership. It was for the purpose of separation from Egypt and coming into the relationship that recognized Moses and their leader that they were baptized.

Baptism for the Christian means separation from sin and acceptance of the leadership of Christ who has all authority in heaven and on earth. He is both Lord and Christ. He saves, but He also requires the Christian to acknowledge His authority. How else can the Christian hope to run successfully the race and win the crown of life?

did all eat the same spiritual food.Israel, cut off from all source of supply, was fed by the manna that God provided as they journeyed from Sinai to the promised land. The manna ceased on the day after the Israelites encamped at Gilgal where from that time on they were to eat the fruit of the land. See Joshua 5:10-12. Long before that time, however, Israel grew sick of the food that came from heaven. They said, Our soul loatheth this light bread (Numbers 21:5). But many generations later, the group that ate the loaves and fish that Jesus miraculously supplied for them suggested that Moses had done a superior thing in giving their fathers the manna. Jesus had to remind them that it was God, not Moses, who gave the manna in the wilderness (John 6:31-32).

The manna represents the blessing of sustenance enjoyed by Israel. Thus it reminds the church at Corinth that they were being sustained by the blessings that came from Christ.

did all drink the same spiritual drink.According to the record, water flowed from the rock only twice to quench the thirst of the children of Israel. The first time was at Rephedim where the thirsty people cried to Moses to give them water to drink. They murmured against the Lord and charged Him with bringing them into the wilderness to die of thirst. God said to Moses that He would stand before him upon the rock in Horeb. Moses was told to strike the rock. Water gushed out when he did it. See Exodus 17:1-7.

The second time was at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin where Miriam died. The people were again without water and again the grumbling complaint arose when they said. Would that we had died when our brethren died before Jehovah (Numbers 20:3). They neither remembered the time when God gave them water from the rock nor were they aware of the privileges that they were enjoying of drinking from the spiritual rock that accompanied them. But once again, the Lord told Moses to take the rod and assemble the people and speak to the rock and bring forth to them water from the rock, Moses said, Hear now, ye rebels, shall we bring forth water out of this rock (Numbers 20:11)? He struck the rock twice and water came flowing from it to give the congregation and their cattle a drink. But Moses failed to give glory to God for the water. The Lord said to him, Because ye believed not in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them (Numbers 20:12).

The expression all did eat considers the whole experience of Israel during the time that the manna was supplied. In the same way, the expression all did drink takes into consideration the whole time during which the Lord provided water for their wilderness journey. Twice on the journey, they drank from the water that came from the rock, and they also drank from the streams and pools to which the Lord led them.

spiritual.Why does Paul describe the food and drink of the Israelites as spiritual? Some suggest that it was because God gave the food from heaven and the water from the rock. But Paul says that they continued to drink of the spiritual rock that accompanied them. A possible solution the problem is suggested by his remarks about the spiritual things he shared with the Corinthians in contrast to the material things which he had a right to expect them to share with him. That spiritual thing was the word of the cross that brought spiritual life to them. He says that Israel continued to drink of a spiritual rock that accompanied them and that rock was Christ, This is not to say that the literal rock from which the water flowed was a type of Christ, but that there was a spiritual rock from which a life-giving stream flowed and that was Christ. A suggestion as to the spiritual food they enjoyed in the wilderness is given in Moses-' words just before they went over into the promised land: Man doth not live by bread alone, but by everything that proceedeth out of the mouth of Jehovah doth man live (Deuteronomy 8:3). Did Christ provide through Moses some spiritual food and drink for the children of Israel? His teaching did point to Christ (Deuteronomy 18:15). Jesus said that Moses wrote about Him (John 5:46). The real significance of the manna is pointed out by Jesus in His discourse on the bread of life which He delivered just after the miracle of feeding the five thousand (John 6:31-35). It is possible that Paul is saying that Christ was present with His people all along the wilderness journey and that He was sustaining them spiritually by every word that proceeded out of His mouth for their direction, protection, and encouragement. For the New Testament teaching about water as a symbol of Christ, the source of eternal life, John 4:14; John 7:37-39. The Holy Spirit was given to the apostles who believed on Christ and from them He sent forth the message of eternal life that was like a flood of life-giving water. On the Day of Pentecost, men received this message of life and repented of their sins and were baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38).

with most of them God was not well pleased.This is the point in the illustration: Paul had certain rights and liberties as a Christian and as an apostle, but he was willing to forgo his rights in order to make sure of winning the crown of life and not be disqualified in the race. The fathers had blessings, but were not willing to exercise self-control in all things. Therefore they were overthrown in the wilderness. They failed because they forgot their goal, the promised land.

Paul says that with most of them God was not well pleased. In fact, this included all of them of responsible age except Joshua and Caleb. The spies who had been sent in to the land came back with glowing reports of a land flowing with milk and honey, but they also said that there were giants in the land. The people were filled with fear and wanted to return to Egypt. Joshua and Caleb urged them to go up and possess the land. They said, If Jehovah delight in us then will he bring us into this land and give it unto us (Numbers 14:8). Because they would not listen to the plea of these who had confidence in God, the Lord said to them, As I live, saith Jehovah, surely as ye have spoken in my ears, so will I do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, that have murmured against me, surely ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware that I would make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephuneh, and Joshua the son of Nun (Numbers 14:28-30).

This tragic failure, the details of which are given in the specific cases that follow, is a solemn warning to the church at Corinth not to follow their example. They were, however, well on their way to do so as Paul plainly indicates.

these things were our examples.We are indebted to the fathers for so many things. The priesthood of the Old Testament time helps us to appreciate our relation to Christ as high priest. The writer of Hebrews helps us to see this as well as the lesson of the system of worship in connection with the tabernacle. But in practical living, the example of the Israelites from the time of their escape from Egypt until they finally were located in the promised land is one filled with both warnings and encouragements for the faithful follower of Christ.

we should not lust after evil things.The word translated lust simply means strong desire. That desire may be for what is good. In that case it may be rendered desire. For example, Jesus said that the prophets desired to see the things which His disciples were permitted to see (Matthew 13:17). The word is found again in its intensified form in Jesus's statement about His desire to eat the passover before His suffering (Luke 22:15). But when John speaks of the strong desire for the things of evil, we translate this word as the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life (1 John 2:16). For an example of the use of the term in both the good and bad sense, see Galatians 5:17.

Paul's evident purpose in his strong admonition in this chapter is to have the Corinthians have their hearts set on the things of Christ rather than on the things of evil.

Neither be ye idolaters.The experience of the fathers had a particular application to the problem of idolatry in Corinth. Just as Israel pretended to worship God while partaking of idolatrous feasts so some of the Corinthians were attempting to worship Christ and at the same time participate in pagan worship. The incident to which Paul refers is the sin of Israel at Sinai when they made the golden calf and proclaimed a feast and said that these are the gods that led us out of Egypt. See Exodus 32:7-8.

rose up to play.This word was used to describe the activity of children at play; but it was also used to describe the actions of the children of Israel in their worship of the idols. It is even used to describe David's expression of joy when the ark was brought up to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14). It is sometimes translated dance but with no reference to the modern dance which may often be described more accurately as works of the flesh. See Galatians 5:19-21.

Neither let us commit fornication.See comment on chapter five and six for the situation that existed in the church at Corinth. Paul was not dealing in mere hypothetical situations; he was facing the problem that actually existed at Corinth. The incident in the experience of the fathers to which he referred was their immoral conduct with the daughters of Moab. See Numbers 25:1-18. Balaam had attempted to pronounce a curse on Israel but had been unable to do so. They involved themselves, however, in a curse by their immoral conduct that brought death to twenty-three thousand of them.

Neither let us make trial of the Lord.This incident is described in Numbers 21:4-9. The people complained about the things the Lord was doing for them. They were tired of the manna; they wanted to go back to Egypt. The Lord sent fiery serpents among them to punish them. Finally they acknowledged their sin and begged for relief. Moses was instructed to make the bronze serpent and lift it up so that those who were bitten could look at it and live. For further history of this bronze serpent see 2 Kings 18:4. Recall also Jesus-' words to Nicodemus based on this incident of lifting up the serpent (John 3:14-15).

This incident had a definite bearing on the situation at Corinth. In their eagerness to exalt men to the place of leadership in the church, they had forgotten that the church was the temple of God and that their bodies were temples of the Holy Spirit which were not to be used for immoral purposes. See chapter six.

Neither murmur ye.The word murmur suggests the gutteral sound one makes when he grumbles about things that cause displeasure. It describes the complaint of the fathers against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Actually their complaint was against the Lord for He had appointed these men to serve the people. The grumblers perished when the earth opened up and destroyed them. See Numbers 16:3; Numbers 16:31-35.

But Paul had in mind the complainers at Corinth. Some of them had contended that he was not an apostle. The whole issue of apostolic preaching became the subject of criticism of envious men who wanted to have authority over the church. See chapter nine for his defense of his apostleship and his rights as an apostle and as a Christian.

for our admonition.Will the admonition go unheeded in the church today? The modern church faces virtually every problem that the church at Corinth faced. There is a serious question whether or not it will accept the admonition of the Lord through His apostle. If it fails, destruction is as inevitable now as it was then.

upon whom the ends of the ages are come.The context seems to indicate that this is a reference to the climax of the history of the fathers with its lessons for those in the Christian age. We can reap the benefit of the examples of their failures as well as their successes.

him that thinketh he standeth.Were there some in Corinth who believed that they could not sin? The most dangerous position one can possibly occupy is the place of the self-satisfied one who assumes that he cannot be overcome by Satan in this life. The whole history of the fathers points out the folly of this assumption. Peter also boasted that he of all the apostles would never forsake Jesus. He said that he was willing to go to prison and to death with Him. Apparently, he was sincere about it; but he failed to reckon with the situation in which was soon to find himself that led him to deny that he had ever known such a person as Jesus.

no temptation but such as man can bear.To those who would complain that the experiences of the fathers were different and couldn-'t possibly have a bearing on the trials through which they were going, the apostle had this reminder: the trials of the Christian were only human trials, that is, exactly as they were in the days of the fathers. God does not permit them to suffer trials that would be for angels or others above the human level. See the story of Job for the limit God placed on the activity of Satan as he tested the faith of God's servant.

John points out that there are just three things that make up all that is in the world of evil: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the reckless disregard for God in this life. All three of them were present in the temptation of man in Eden. We can easily identify them in the Wilderness temptation of Our Lord. Adam fell in the Garden, but Jesus endured all of Satan's efforts to cause Him to sin, yet without sin. Moreover, He showed that it was not necessary for any man to be overcome by the factors of Satanic temptation, for He used the Word of God to defeat the tempter. That same Word is available to man for the same purpose. Let no one say that He defeated Satan as the Son of God. He was the Son of God, but He was also man. James says that God cannot be tempted (James 1:13). Jesus-' temptations were all on the human level just as ours are. We have the whole armor of God with which to withstand the devil. The shield of faith is sufficient to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. See Ephesians 6:16. It certainly behooves the Christian to know God's Word and to trust Him, and to be on guard against the attacks of Satan at all times.