The context of 1Cor.10:1-10
is the example of OT Israel’s temptation and fall into idolatry. Therefore, Paul
warns the Corinthian believer’s because of their own temptation and the failure
of some in participating in pagan feats- eating of food offered to idols. They
were really pushing the limits on the use of their Christian Liberty in regard
to heathen feasts. V.11 is Paul’s challenge, v.12
is the warning- take heed (present imperative) continually take heed & v.13 is the encouragement! Understand that temptations will come, but we
don’t have to fail!! Victory is always
available!
There hath no temptation taken you- Temptation- this word can
mean both testing or temptation. Testing from the outside- trials of any kind
meant to strengthen us. If from God, the trials can be to prove/strengthen
us!! But there are also solicitations
to sin- (1 Peter 5:8) Be sober, be
vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
In this context for the Corinthians it is the temptation to
compromise! There were allurements to
idolatry and the threat of persecution for those abandoning idolatrous
practices. Remember that idolatry was involved in all aspects of life,
including at your job/trade. Once a person was saved in that time, they gave up
a lot of things. Sometimes jobs, families, social status, economic advancement
& so on! (1 Peter 4:3-4) For the time past of our life may suffice us
to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness,
lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of
riot, speaking evil of you:
Albert Barnes states that the temptations could be “Anything that would have a tendency to induce them to
forsake their allegiance to their Lord & lead them to idolatry & sin.”
Taken you- to get a hold of, to seize, overtake. Trials sometimes catch us by surprise and can
overwhelm us. At other times sin will
get a hold of us, especially if we are not consistently walking with God! The threat is always there! (1 Corinthians 10:12) “Wherefore let him that thinketh he
standeth take heed lest he fall.”
Just ask David when he saw Bathsheba bathing, or Peter when he denied
his Lord, & so forth!
But such as is common to man:- In talking about our trials and
sins, there is nothing new in your experience that someone else hasn’t gone
through. They are typical human experiences!
But God is faithful, who will not suffer you…- God will not
allow you to experience any test /temptation that you are not able to meet- to be
victorious over!! John MacArthur notes that “No Temptation is inherently stronger than our spiritual
resources.” God is on our
side and He does not want us to fail! His goal
for us is that we would be like His Son!!
For protection from failing in trials and temptations to sin, Jesus
taught His disciples to pray- (Matthew 6:13) And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever. Amen.
The prayer is to save us from or deliver us out of trials, temptation,
doing wrong. This is a prayer for protection and help. We can pray this because our God is faithful-
He is trustworthy and true to His word!!
Notice the last part of the verse- 2 Parts: 1) “but
will with the temptation also make a way to escape,…” God has given us a way
of escape. “Escape”,
imagery of an army trapped in the mountains and then finding a little
mountain pass to escape by. As Ellicott puts it “God makes an open road” and we have a
choice to follow it or not! Go provides
a way out in each particular instance. The
problem is that usually we enjoy our sin to much and we are not looking for a way
out! 2) “that ye may be able to
bear it.” The verse does not say that He will always take away the trial,
but He will see us through it- help us to endure it because they are a part of
our growth!! (James 1:12) “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:
for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised
to them that love him.” Please
understand that our temptations and trials can be met & endured by
depending on God who is faithful!
Folks, we don’t have to sin- we can
be victorious!! The means are there!!
But also remember that when the testing’s/trial’s also come, they are
necessary to our spiritual maturity and God will help us to endure them so that
we can mature through them!
If we can grasp hold of this awesome verse, our faith will
flourish!! We won’t despair, we won’t be
full of anxiety, but we will find peace in the storm and endure any trial or
temptation with a right understanding. God is with us & wants to help us!!
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