Daily Scripture Reading 1Corinthians 9:19 - 10:13

Many 21st century Christians have trouble comprehending how the Old Testament is relevant to our lives. To many believers, the Old Testament appears to be old rules that don’t apply anymore; therefore, they spend very little time reading or studying the Old Testament.

Today’s passage states explicitly that the Old Testament was written for our instruction; therefore, we should read it and learn it. Fortunately, today’s passage also explains how the Old Testament is applicable to our lives in the 21st century. The events recorded in the Old Testament are examples for us to learn from.

In the early verses of chapter 9, Paul wrote that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living from the gospel, just as those who served at the altar had a share of that which was offered at the altar. Paul went on to say he was willing to forgo support from the Corinthians because he was compelled to preach. He wanted to offer the gospel without charge.

1Cor. 9:19 ¶ For though I am free from all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.

1Cor. 9:20 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews. To those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law.

1Cor. 9:21 To those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.

Pay attention to every phrase in this verse, particularly the phrase “not being without the law of God”.

Some Christians abuse this verse and claim it is okay to ignore certain commands in the Bible in order to win people to Christ. However, that is not what Paul wrote. The phrase “those who are without law” refers to those who were not under the Mosaic Law, it did not mean there were people who had no law whatsoever.

Paul was willing to change his lifestyle to match those to whom he was ministering, but he did not ignore the commands of God in order to do so, and neither should we.

1Cor. 9:22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.

1Cor. 9:23 So I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

1Cor. 9:24 ¶ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

1Cor. 9:25 Now everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.

1Cor. 9:26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;

1Cor. 9:27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Paul was all things to all people for the sake of the gospel, but he was not undisciplined. Perhaps we need to be more disciplined in order to be more effective in sharing the gospel.

1Cor. 10:1 ¶ For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea;

1Cor. 10:2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

1Cor. 10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food;

1Cor. 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them, and the rock was Christ.

1Cor. 10:5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased. For THEY WERE STRUCK DOWN IN THE WILDERNESS.

1Cor. 10:6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.

Note the word “examples”. Many modern Christians have trouble understanding how the Old Testament helps us in the 21st century. This verse explains that the Old Testament contains examples for us to learn from.

1Cor. 10:7 ¶ Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.”

This is a quote from Exodus 32:6 and describes what the Israelites did after Aaron made the golden calf. We should not do what they did.

1Cor. 10:8 Nor let us act in sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.

This is recorded in Numbers 25. Yahweh told the Israelites not to intermarry with non-Israelites. They did it anyway, and 23,000 men were killed. This is an example of what might happen to us if we ignore the biblical commands against sexual immorality.

1Cor. 10:9 Nor let us put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.

This is recorded in Numbers 21. When the Israelites put God to the test, they were destroyed by serpents. We should not put Christ to the test because God may punish us for that sin just as He punished the Israelites.

1Cor. 10:10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

1Cor. 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have arrived.

Once again Paul stated clearly that the events recorded in the Old Testament were written as examples for us and for our instruction.

This does not mean we need to follow the same rules the Israelites had to follow. It means that the Israelites in the Old Testament had the Law of Moses and we see the consequences when they did not obey the Law. Likewise, those of us living in the church age have our set of rules to follow as explained in the Bible, and failure to obey those rules will have consequences just as the Old Testament Israelites suffered consequences.

1Cor. 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.

1Cor. 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

The Old Testament contains many rules which do not apply to our lives in the 21st century. However, that does not mean the Old Testament is not relevant to modern life. Everything in scripture was written for our instruction, including the Old Testament. The value of the Old Testament today is in the examples we see of what happened to the Israelites when they did not obey God. In those stories we learn much about the character of God as well as human nature, all of which helps us make wise choices as we go through life.

How well do you know the Old Testament?

To what extent does your church and pastor accurately explain the value of the examples found in the Old Testament?

What lessons do you apply in your life that you learned from the examples found in the Old Testament?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”