1 Corinthians 10:22

King James Version (KJV)

Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? - All idolatry is represented as a sort of spiritual adultery; it is giving that heart to Satan that should be devoted to God; and he is represented as being jealous, because of the infidelity of those who have covenanted to give their hearts to him.

Are we stronger than he? - As he has threatened to punish such transgressors, and will infallibly do it, can we resist his omnipotence? A sinner should consider, while he is in rebellion against God, whether he be able to resist that power whereby God will inflict vengeance.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? - That is, shall we, by joining in the worship of idols, “provoke” or “irritate” God, or excite him to anger? This is evidently the meaning of the word παραζηλοῦμεν parazēloumenrendered “provoke to jealousy.” The word קנא qaana'usually rendered by this word by the Septuagint, has this sense in Deuteronomy 32:21; 1 Kings 14:22; Ezra 8:3; Psalm 78:58. There is a reference here, doubtless, to the truth recorded in Exodus 20:5. that God “is a jealous God,” and that he regards the worship of idols as a direct affront to himself. The sentiment of Paul is, that to join in the worship of idols, or in the observance of their feasts, would be to participate in that which had ever been regarded by God with special abhorrence, and which more than anything else tended to provoke his wrath. We may observe, that any course of life that tends to alienate the affections from God, and to fix them on other beings or objects, is a sin of the same kind as that referred to here. Any inordinate love of friends, of property, of honor, has substantially the same idolatrous nature, and will tend to provoke him to anger. And it may be asked of Christians now, whether they will by such inordinate attachments provoke the Lord to wrath? whether they will thus excite his displeasure, and expose themselves to his indignation? Very often Christians do thus provoke him. They become unduly attached to a friend, or to wealth, and God in anger takes away that friend by death, or that property by the flames, or they conform to the world, and mingle in its scenes of fashion and gaiety, and forget God; and in displeasure he visits them with judgments, humbles them, and recalls them to Himself.

Are we stronger than he? - This is given as a reason why we should not provoke his displeasure. We cannot contend successfully with Him; and it is therefore madness and folly to contend with God, or to expose ourselves to the effects of His indignation.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Did not the joining in the Lord's supper show a profession of faith in Christ crucified, and of adoring gratitude to him for his salvation ? Christians, by this ordinance, and the faith therein professed, were united as the grains of wheat in one loaf of bread, or as the members in the human body, seeing they were all united to Christ, and had fellowship with him and one another. This is confirmed from the Jewish worship and customs in sacrifice. The apostle applies this to feasting with idolaters. Eating food as part of a heathen sacrifice, was worshipping the idol to whom it was made, and having fellowship or communion with it; just as he who eats the Lord's supper, is accounted to partake in the Christian sacrifice, or as they who ate the Jewish sacrifices partook of what was offered on their altar. It was denying Christianity; for communion with Christ, and communion with devils, could never be had at once. If Christians venture into places, and join in sacrifices to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, they will provoke God.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

22. Provoke. Will Christians, endowed with all the light of the gospel, having their eyes opened to the truth concerning the nature of idol worship, run the risk of arousing the anger of the Lord by participation in idolatrous feasts? Will they allow their sensual appetites and passions so to becloud their reason that they defy their Lord by indulgence in idolatrous entertainments? The warning contained in the second commandment is sufficient to indicate the attitude of God toward idolatry, showing that He looks upon such worship as a direct insult to Himself (see Ex. 20:5). Our God is a jealous God and will not share the homage and obedience of His people with any other power (see Ex. 20:4, 5; Ex. 34:12-16; Joshua 24:19; Matt. 6:24). To join in the worship of idols by participating in their feasts would be to take part in that which God has always regarded with particular abhorrence, and which, more than anything else, is a source of provocation (see Lev. 19:4; Lev. 26:30; Deut. 18:10-12; 1 Cor. 6:9; Eph. 5:5; Rev. 21:8; Rev. 22:15).

Anything in one’s life that has the effect of taking the affections away from God and fixing them on other beings or things is a sin similar to that of the Corinthians in taking part in idol feasts and entertainments. Any attachment to friends, property, fame, popularity, or material success, which leads an individual to give time or attention to those things to such an extent that the worship of God is neglected, is idolatrous in nature and merits only the rebuke and wrath of God (see Matt. 10:37-39; Luke 14:26).

Jealousy. To illustrate His love for mankind God uses the figure of marriage (see Jer. 6:2; 2 Cor. 11:2). Departure from God to worship idols is pictured by the prophets as adultery (see Hosea 4:12-15; 8:14; 9:1, 15, 17). God, as the husband of His church, wants His bride to be exclusively His, and is very jealous of that which draws her affections away from Him. Surely no Christian who truly loves the Lord will ever permit anyone or anything to arouse His jealousy. Therefore no Christian can ever associate with anything that is idolatrous in nature.

Stronger. The construction of the question in Greek anticipates a negative answer. No man can contend successfully with God; therefore it is extreme folly to engage in any form of activity contrary to His commands and expect to escape the divine penalty. This principle should be taken into consideration by those who love sin and continue to engage in it, and at the same time profess to love and serve God. However, this fact of the certainty of judgment should not be the chief motive of our service, but rather our recognition of God’s wondrous love and faithfulness (see Rom. 5:8; 8:35; 1 Cor. 10:13).

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Ellen G. White
The Acts of the Apostles, 191

At Jerusalem the delegates from Antioch met the brethren of the various churches, who had gathered for a general meeting, and to them they related the success that had attended their ministry among the Gentiles. They then gave a clear outline of the confusion that had resulted because certain converted Pharisees had gone to Antioch declaring that, in order to be saved, the Gentile converts must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. AA 191.1

This question was warmly discussed in the assembly. Intimately connected with the question of circumcision were several others demanding careful study. One was the problem as to what attitude should be taken toward the use of meats offered to idols. Many of the Gentile converts were living among ignorant and superstitious people who made frequent sacrifices and offerings to idols. The priests of this heathen worship carried on an extensive merchandise with the offerings brought to them, and the Jews feared that the Gentile converts would bring Christianity into disrepute by purchasing that which had been offered to idols, thereby sanctioning, in some measure, idolatrous customs. AA 191.2

Again, the Gentiles were accustomed to eat the flesh of animals that had been strangled, while the Jews had been divinely instructed that when beasts were killed for food, particular care was to be taken that the blood should flow from the body; otherwise the meat would not be regarded as wholesome. God had given these injunctions to the Jews for the purpose of preserving their health. The Jews regarded it as sinful to use blood as an article of diet. They held that the blood was the life, and that the shedding of blood was in consequence of sin. AA 191.3

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