1 Corinthians 8:12

12 Moreover when you thus sin against the brethren and wound their weak consciences, you are, in reality, sinning against Christ.

1 Corinthians 8:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 8:12

But when ye sin so against the brethren
Through sitting at meat in an idol's temple, and thereby violating the new commandment of love; by which saints are obliged to love one another as brethren, and take care to do nothing that may hurt and prejudice one another's peace and comfort, it being an incumbent duty upon them by love to serve one another: and

wound their weak conscience:
as before observed: it is contrary to the law of love to wound a brother; it is an aggravation of the sin to wound a weak one; what greater cruelty than to strike or beat, as the word here used signifies, a sick and infirm man? and greater still to strike and wound his conscience than any part of his body; for a wounded spirit is insupportable without divine aid and influence; and what serves most to enhance the crime and guilt is,

ye sin against Christ,
who has so loved this weak brother as to die for him; and between whom there is so close an union, as between head and members; and from whence such a sympathy arises, that what is done to or against such a person, Christ takes as done to himself. The Syriac version emphatically adds, (wh) , "himself".

1 Corinthians 8:12 In-Context

10 For if any one were to see you, who know the real truth of this matter, reclining at table in an idol's temple, would not his conscience (supposing him to be a weak believer) be emboldened to eat the food which has been sacrificed to the idol?

11 Why, your knowledge becomes the ruin of the weak believer--your brother, for whom Christ died!

12 Moreover when you thus sin against the brethren and wound their weak consciences, you are, in reality, sinning against Christ.

13 Therefore if what I eat causes my brother to fall, never again to the end of my days will I touch any kind of animal food, for fear I should cause my brother to fall.