1 Corinthians 8:9

9 But see lest anywise this your right [to eat] itself be a stumbling-block to the weak.

1 Corinthians 8:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 8:9

But take heed lest by any means
This is either a reply to the instance of such as argued in favour of eating things offered to idols; or a limitation and explanation of the apostle's own concession, that it made a man, with respect to the favour of God, neither better nor worse: yet care should be taken, lest

this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are
weak;
he owns they had a liberty, or a right, or power, as the word may be rendered, of eating, or not eating, as they pleased; but then they ought to be cautious, lest they should be the means of offending, or causing to offend, such who were weak in the faith, and had not that knowledge of Christian liberty they had: not the use of their power and liberty is here denied, but the abuse of it is guarded against; for though the action itself was indifferent, yet as it might be used, it might be sinful, being attended with very bad consequences, such as hereafter mentioned.

1 Corinthians 8:9 In-Context

7 But knowledge [is] not in all: but some, with conscience of the idol, until now eat as of a thing sacrificed to idols; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

8 But meat does not commend us to God; neither if we should not eat do we come short; nor if we should eat have we an advantage.

9 But see lest anywise this your right [to eat] itself be a stumbling-block to the weak.

10 For if any one see thee, who hast knowledge, sitting at table in an idol-house, shall not his conscience, he being weak, be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to the idol?

11 and the weak [one], the brother for whose sake Christ died, will perish through thy knowledge.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or 'liberty,' exousia. Title in a man's own conscience is the sense: see Note, Matt. 10.1.