1 Corinthians 8 · a question people ask
"But food will not commend us to God." (8:8). Then why does the chapter care what is eaten?
The chapter answers in its own words. After 8:8 it says, "But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak." (8:9), and asks, "won’t his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?" (8:10). It goes on, "And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died." (8:11), and "Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ." (8:12). These notes say no more than these verses, and name no food or practice today.
The verses
“But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don’t eat are we the worse, nor if we eat are we the better. But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak. For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol’s temple, won’t his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died. Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.”