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Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed<\/strong> are<\/em> <\/span>pure, but it is<\/em> <\/span>evil for the man who eats with offense.<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n We are supposed to build-up the church, not tear it down.<\/p>\n The word \u201cdestroy<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek verb katalu\u014d<\/em><\/span>. This word is made up of kata<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cdown\u201d and lu\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201cto let loose\u201d or \u201cto release.\u201d Hence, we see that katalu\u014d<\/em> <\/span>literally means \u201cto loose down\u201d or \u201cto tear down.\u201d It is expressed here in the imperative mood indicating a command and it is expressed in the present tense. We could paraphrase the opening phrase of this verse as, \u201cDo not right now be destroying the work of God for the sake of food!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEvil<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek word kakos<\/em><\/span>, which literally means \u201cevil\u201d or \u201cworthless.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOffense<\/span>\u201d is from proskomma<\/em><\/span>, which, as we learned a few verses back, figuratively refers to \u201csomething that someone stubs their toe on or trips over.\u201d<\/p>\n In the previous verse we learned that we are to edify, or build up, one another. Paul has previously used the metaphor of a building with reference to the church. In the previous verse when he said that we need to pursue those things which edify one another, he was referring to us building up the church, the body of Christ (with gold, silver, and precious stone).<\/p>\n Paul now says that we shouldn\u2019t tear down the work of God for the sake of food. When we compare \u201cbuilding up\u201d from the previous verse with \u201ctear down\u201d in the current verse, we see that in each case Paul is talking about the temple of God. No, not a physical building, but the body of Christ. In speaking to the Church in Corinth, Paul said:<\/p>\n Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that<\/em> <\/span>the Spirit of God dwells in you?<\/span> (1Corinthians 3:16<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n The words \u201cyou are<\/span>\u201d are expressed in the second person plural in the Greek text. So Paul is saying, \u201cDon\u2019t you know that you <\/span>(plural) are the temple<\/span> (singular) of God?<\/span>\u201d In other words, the Church, the body of Christ, is the temple of God. It is this temple that we are to build up, not tear down.<\/p>\n We should pursue those things which build up God\u2019s temple (the body of Christ), but our insistence on sticking to our stance regarding food (or days of the week) will actually tear down the church which is God\u2019s work. Clearly, that\u2019s not something for which crowns are going to be given at the bema seat, is it?<\/p>\n In fact, I think that\u2019s the point Paul is making in the second half of this verse. He says that \u201cAll things indeed<\/span> are<\/em> <\/span>pure, but<\/span> it is<\/em><\/span> evil <\/span>(or worthless) for the man who eats with offense.<\/span>\u201d He has just told us to build up the church not to tear it down, and now he says that if by eating (or doing anything else which our conscience allows) we cause a brother or sister to stumble, we are destroying the temple of God, and it is a worthless work (like wood, hay or straw).<\/p>\n When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ we all want to receive rewards for having built up the body of Christ with valuable works, but our selfish stubbornness can result in tearing down the temple instead of building it up. Are you in the construction business or the demolition business?<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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