1 Corinthians 8:9

9 But see ye, lest peradventure this your leave be made hurting to frail men. [See ye forsooth, lest peradventure this your license, or leave, be made hurting, or offence, to sick men, or frail.]

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 not in all men is knowing. For some men with conscience of idol till now eat as thing offered to idols; and their conscience is defouled, for it is frail [when it is sick].
8 [Forsooth] Meat commendeth us not to God; for neither we shall fail, if we eat not, neither if we eat, we shall have plenty [we shall abound, or have plenty].
9 But see ye, lest peradventure this your leave be made hurting to frail men. [See ye forsooth, lest peradventure this your license, or leave, be made hurting, or offence, to sick men, or frail.]
10 For if any man shall see him, that hath knowing, eating in a place where idols be worshipped, whether his conscience, since it is frail [since it is sick], shall not be edified to eat things offered to idols?
11 And the frail brother [And the sick brother], for whom Christ died, shall perish in thy knowing.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.