1 Corinthians 10:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

NIV: You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.

NASB: You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

CSB: You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons.

NLT: You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too.

KJV: Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

NKJV: You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.

Sacrifices offered to false idols are, even unknowingly, offered to demons. Paul's reason for not wanting the Christians in Corinth to have anything to do with idols or idol food has become clear. To participate with idols is to participate with demons. Paul's prior remarks clarified that there is no overt sin in eating such meat (1 Corinthians 8:4–7), and he will say as much later (1 Corinthians 10:25). The problem is not in the physical meat, but in the attitude of the person who eats it.

Now Paul insists that participation with demons is mutually exclusive with participation with Christ. The same person cannot both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. To drink from another person's cup, in this context, implies joining that person in his or her destiny (Matthew 20:22–23). Also, Christians drink from Christ's cup when they participate in communion.

To knowingly participate in idol worship on any level involves that person in drinking from the cup of a demon. The destiny of demons is eternal destruction. The destiny of Christ is eternal glory. To participate in both is unthinkable for Paul.

Then he gets more specific. Because this is true, the same person should not participate in the table of the Lord, through communion, and in the table of demons, through the eating of food sacrificed to idols. It's not that the food, in either case, necessarily carries some supernatural power. It's that the act of eating from those tables is an act of joining oneself to that specific "lord."

Nobody can continue to worship both Christ and a demon. A choice must be made.

First Corinthians 10:14–22 describes why it is essential to run away from idol worship of any kind. Participating in communion by taking in the representations of Christ's body and blood brings us into participation with Him. To be involved with idolatry causes people to participate with demons. Nobody can remain in participation both with Christ and demons. Paul uses questions to warn the Corinthians about stirring up the Lord's jealousy in this way. He is stronger than us and willing to act when betrayed.

Idol worship is an extremely serious sin. Paul reminds the Christians in idol-saturated Corinth of that by referring to the history of the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness. Though blessed by God, they worshiped false idols. God killed many of them for it. Paul commands his readers to flee from idol worship. To participate with idol worship in any way is to participate with demons. God always provides some way to avoid sin. So, they must avoid giving anyone the idea that they approve of idol worship, even by knowingly eating food offered to idols. Their first question must always be, ''Will this glorify God?''

The previous chapter concluded with Paul's commitment to continue to control himself. He exercises discipline so he does not become ineffective in his ministry. He begins chapter 10 by reminding the Corinthians of how the Israelites brought consequences on themselves in the wilderness. Among their many sins was worshiping idols, and God killed many of them for it. The Corinthians must flee idol worship and any appearance of supporting the demonic practice. They are free to eat meat if they don't know that it is idol food. However, they should be ready to set aside their own freedoms and rights whenever doing so will glorify God and win others to Christ.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.