BEING AWARE OF TEMPTATION

Passage: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Key verse: 12

NIV

Warnings From Israel’s History

10 For I do not want you to be ignorant(A) of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud(B) and that they all passed through the sea.(C) 2 They were all baptized into(D) Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food(E) 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock(F) that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.(G)

6 Now these things occurred as examples(H) to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters,(I) as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”[a](J) 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.(K) 9 We should not test Christ,[b](L) as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.(M) 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did(N)—and were killed(O) by the destroying angel.(P)

11 These things happened to them as examples(Q) and were written down as warnings for us,(R) on whom the culmination of the ages has come.(S) 12 So, if you think you are standing firm,(T) be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful;(U) he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear.(V) But when you are tempted,[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 10:7 Exodus 32:6
  2. 1 Corinthians 10:9 Some manuscripts test the Lord
  3. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  4. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  5. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Warning Against Idolatry

10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[a] that our fathers were all under (A)the cloud, and all (B)passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and (C)all ate the same (D)spiritual food, 4 and (E)all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for (F)they were overthrown[b] in the wilderness.

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as (G)they did. 7 (H)Do not be idolaters (I)as some of them were; as it is written, (J)“The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 (K)We must not indulge in sexual immorality (L)as some of them did, and (M)twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ[c] to the test, (N)as some of them did and (O)were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, (P)as some of them did and (Q)were destroyed by (R)the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but (S)they were written down for our instruction, (T)on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore (U)let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. (V)God is faithful, and (W)he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 10:1 Or brothers and sisters
  2. 1 Corinthians 10:5 Or were laid low
  3. 1 Corinthians 10:9 Some manuscripts the Lord
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Paul explains here that the Exodus of Israel from Egypt under Moses and forty years of wandering in the desert is an allegory of the gospel. Passing through the Red Sea was like the baptism of new birth in Christ, and the water the Israelites drank from the rock in the desert represents our spiritual nourishment by the Word of God (2-4). Paul writes this as a warning, because even though the people of Israel received all these benefits, most of them did not have faith that pleased God. (5) They fell into grievous sins that brought God’s judgment (7-10).

Christian believers face the same spiritual danger that the Israelites did, because we have the same sinful nature. No one is immune to temptation. Some Corinthian Christians thought their freedom in Christ meant they could enjoy idolatrous sinful pleasures with no consequences. They told themselves they were standing firm, but their pride blinded them to their own sinful tendencies and made them vulnerable to falling (12). Thank God that we have power in Christ to overcome temptations (13). But it requires humble watchfulness, knowing our sinful nature’s tendencies.

Prayer: Father, thank you for showing us the example of those who failed to have faith. Help me stand firm by being watchful for temptation.

One Word: Standing firm means watching out for temptation.