1Cor 10:1 | Clarke | STEP | Peculiar circumstances in the Jewish history were typical of the greatest mysteries of the Gospel; particularly their passing through the Red Sea, and being overshadowed with the miraculous cloud, , . The manna with which they were fed, . And rock out of which they drank, . The punishments inflicted on them for their disobedience are warnings to us, . We should not lust as they did, . Nor commit idolatry, . Nor fornication as they did; in consequence of which twenty-three thousand of them were destroyed, . Nor tempt Christ as they did, . Nor murmur, . All these transgressions and their punishments are recorded as warnings to us, that we may not fall away from the grace of God, , . God never suffers any to be tempted above their strength, . Idolatry must be detested, . And the sacrament of the Lord's Supper properly considered and taken, that God may not be provoked to punish us, . There are some things which may be legally done which are not expedient; and we should endeavor so to act as to edify each other, , . The question concerning eating things offered to idols considered, and finally settled, . We should do all things to the glory of God, avoid whatsoever might be the means of stumbling another, and seek the profit of others in spiritual matters rather than our own gratification, . Verse 1 I would not that ye should be ignorant - It seems as if the Corinthians had supposed that their being made partakers of the ordinances of the Gospel, such as baptism and the Lord's Supper, would secure their salvation, notwithstanding they might be found partaking of idolatrous feasts; as long, at least, as they considered an idol to be nothing in the world. To remove this destructive supposition, which would have led them to endless errors both in principle and practice, the apostle shows that the Jews had sacramental ordinances in the wilderness, similar to those of the Christians; and that, notwithstanding they had the typical baptism from the cloud, and the typical eucharist from the paschal lamb, and the manna that came down from heaven, yet, when they joined with idolaters and partook of idolatrous feasts, God was not only displeased with them, but signified this displeasure by pouring out his judgments upon them, so that in one day 23,000 of them were destroyed. Under the cloud - It is manifest from Scripture that the miraculous cloud in the wilderness performed a three-fold office to the Israelites. 1. It was a cloud in the form of a pillar to direct their journeyings by day. 2. It was a pillar of fire to give light to the camp by night. 3. It was a covering for them during the day, and preserved them from the scorching rays of the sun; and supplied them with a sufficiency of aqueous particles, not only to cool that burning atmosphere, but to give refreshment to themselves and their cattle; and its humidity was so abundant that the apostle here represents the people as thoroughly sprinkled and enveloped in its aqueous vapour. See the note on .

1 Corinthians 10:1

Introduction

Peculiar circumstances in the Jewish history were typical of the greatest mysteries of the Gospel; particularly their passing through the Red Sea, and being overshadowed with the miraculous cloud, 1Cor 10:1, 1Cor 10:2. The manna with which they were fed, 1Cor 10:3. And rock out of which they drank, 1Cor 10:4. The punishments inflicted on them for their disobedience are warnings to us, 1Cor 10:5. We should not lust as they did, 1Cor 10:6. Nor commit idolatry, 1Cor 10:7. Nor fornication as they did; in consequence of which twenty-three thousand of them were destroyed, 1Cor 10:8. Nor tempt Christ as they did, 1Cor 10:9. Nor murmur, 1Cor 10:10. All these transgressions and their punishments are recorded as warnings to us, that we may not fall away from the grace of God, 1Cor 10:11, 1Cor 10:12. God never suffers any to be tempted above their strength, 1Cor 10:13. Idolatry must be detested, 1Cor 10:14. And the sacrament of the Lord's Supper properly considered and taken, that God may not be provoked to punish us, 1Cor 10:15-22. There are some things which may be legally done which are not expedient; and we should endeavor so to act as to edify each other, 1Cor 10:23, 1Cor 10:24. The question concerning eating things offered to idols considered, and finally settled, 1Cor 10:25-30. We should do all things to the glory of God, avoid whatsoever might be the means of stumbling another, and seek the profit of others in spiritual matters rather than our own gratification, 1Cor 10:31-33.

Verse 1

I would not that ye should be ignorant - It seems as if the Corinthians had supposed that their being made partakers of the ordinances of the Gospel, such as baptism and the Lord's Supper, would secure their salvation, notwithstanding they might be found partaking of idolatrous feasts; as long, at least, as they considered an idol to be nothing in the world. To remove this destructive supposition, which would have led them to endless errors both in principle and practice, the apostle shows that the Jews had sacramental ordinances in the wilderness, similar to those of the Christians; and that, notwithstanding they had the typical baptism from the cloud, and the typical eucharist from the paschal lamb, and the manna that came down from heaven, yet, when they joined with idolaters and partook of idolatrous feasts, God was not only displeased with them, but signified this displeasure by pouring out his judgments upon them, so that in one day 23,000 of them were destroyed.

Under the cloud - It is manifest from Scripture that the miraculous cloud in the wilderness performed a three-fold office to the Israelites.

1. It was a cloud in the form of a pillar to direct their journeyings by day.

2. It was a pillar of fire to give light to the camp by night.

3. It was a covering for them during the day, and preserved them from the scorching rays of the sun; and supplied them with a sufficiency of aqueous particles, not only to cool that burning atmosphere, but to give refreshment to themselves and their cattle; and its humidity was so abundant that the apostle here represents the people as thoroughly sprinkled and enveloped in its aqueous vapour. See the note on Exo 13:21.