1st Corinthians Chapter
Five
Commentary by Ron Beckham
Verse 1. "It is actually
reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a
kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his
father's wife.
Our "modern" standards of morality are not very high
(and are getting lower). Studying this verse, I remembered all the
"flack" of a few years ago, about the actor Woody Allen and his
stepdaughter. They allegedly had a sexual relationship and most people
did believe this was very bad behavior. I do notice that nobody seems
to talk about it much any more, or even care. And he is continuing to
make movies that people pay to see. Jimmy Swaggart the evangelist
(remember him?) had a much smaller ministry, last I heard, but nobody
seems to care about his behavior either. We ALL can fall and must look
to God continually.
Paul had received the news about the man and his
(step?) mother from "those of Chloe’s household" (1:11) but the Greek
phrase "it is…reported" implies "it is NOTORIOUS" that there is
uncleanness among you. This kind of activity shocked even
non-Christians of the day. Cicero (not a Christian) called this kind of
behavior "a crime" and said about it, "Oh incredible wickedness, unheard
of in all experience…" Rumors were flying around about the Emperor Nero,
in relation to similar behavior, and the nation was shocked. This was a
crime no matter who did it. And even if it was regarded as a "lesser
sin," remember that James informed us that if we are guilty of one sin,
we are guilty of them all (James 2:10).
Such behavior is CURSED in Scripture. In Deuteronomy
27:20, it is reported "Cursed is the one who lies with his father’s
wife, because he has uncovered his father’s bed." That is to say, he
has brought shame to his father. Many years ago, a man
confided to me he had "lain" with his father-in-law’s wife. He was filled
with tremendous guilt, which had led directly to his own eventual divorce.
Note that the socially immoral find their way into
churches. I always look at the church as a sort of hospital for
sinners, and often a person with a serious infectious disease is kept
away from other patients in a hospital. Occasionally, such a person
finds his way into the wrong hospital ward. Those who are in Christ
generally must be kept separate from the so-called "Christian" who is an
active sinner --- just like a bad piece of fruit, such a person infects
others. J. Vernon McGee said that "a pure church is a powerful church,
and an impure church is not powerful." We only have to look around and
see that there is comparatively little power in our churches today.
Verse 2. "You have become
arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this
deed would be removed from your midst."
I read an excellent mini-study on the relationship
between arrogance and sensuality. The conclusion was that the latter
(sensual behavior) often springs from the former (pride). Paul had an
excellent perspective (he was looking from the vantage point of the Holy
Spirit of God) which gave him great concern for the Corinthians he was
writing to. Behavior like
theirs, left unchecked, would have spread to others in the church.
To be "arrogant" or "puffed up" (some translations),
certainly implies PRIDE, the source of many a fall. The verb contained
in this verse is in the past aorist, which therefore makes it possible
the deed was done in the past. However, the context of this chapter
would indicate it was still going on at the time of Paul’s letter.
One of the interesting characters within the Czar’s
household in Russia, was Rasputin, called the "Mad Monk." He actually
taught the Czar’s household that they should sin more and more, in order
that "Grace might abound." This, of course, was specifically forbidden
by Scripture, 1900 years before Rasputin was even thought of. Paul said "God
forbid" to such a practice (Romans 6:1). We are saved to holiness, and
not to sin.
It is amazing that the Corinthians tolerated such
behavior in their midst. We tend to miss the point, just like in
Revelation Chapter 2, where the Church at Ephesus is unmasked by the
Lord. Those people were very busy, doctrinally sound, but it was
pointed out they had "lost their first love." They loved correct
religious behavior and teachings, more than they loved other people,
more than they loved God. In Corinth, they were very religious, but
outright sin was occurring right in front of them, and they were doing
nothing to stop it. Incredibly, they seemed to even be glad it was
occurring. They should have "mourned"
instead.
Verse 3. "For I, on my part,
though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who
has so committed this, as though I were present."
Jesus, in Matthew 7, said "Judge not, lest ye be
judged." We all have "specks" in our eyes, and "logs" as well. Our job
is to use the Holy Spirit’s ruler (measuring device) and not our own,
when judging the condition and needs of others.
Wordsworth examined this verse in the Greek and
remarked that the passage "is as it were written with sobs" – implied
are the tears of Paul, who cared for these people. I knew a woman
supervisor who was very protective of her workers. Julie was like a
mama lion, protecting her cubs. Paul cared for his little ones, as
well, and watched out for them. Just like Paul and Julie the
Supervisor, WE should care and watch out for those around us.
Paul had the Holy Spirit of God, in a way that was
higher and more complete than we usually understand. He did not need to
be with the Corinthians, in order to understand very well their present
condition. The Holy Spirit is available to us, just like He was with
Paul, and He longs to give us understanding.
Verse 4. "In the name of our
Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the
power of our Lord Jesus,"
It’s the "power of our Lord Jesus"
that we need in
life, and not our own. Indeed, our "power" tends to interfere
with the work of God in our lives. There are, by the way, those who
teach that "God is bound by law to answer our prayers, if we truly claim
it in faith." The power we need in life is found in GOD, and not
directly in our prayers, or even in our faith. Real "power,"
real faith, is found in Him.
Prayer IS applied faith (we would not pray if we did not believe), but the power we need is in
GOD, not in us. "Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews
12:2) and so even our faith is God’s creation and not our own. It is
Christ in us, when we are alone or when we "are assembled" that is
important, and not anything of ourselves. Faith is good, but good faith
is actually HIS faith operating within each one.
Verse 5. "I have decided to
deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that
his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."
In Luke 22:31, the Lord said to Simon Peter, "Satan
has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat." Such sifting
drives away the chaff in our lives, and makes us see our
need for the Grace of God. You can reach a point in trouble, when you
finally want NOTHING but God. Note that Satan cannot operate in such a
manner, without the express permission of God, and if our good God does
allow suffering in your life, you can be SURE it is there for a good
reason.
Satan certainly causes problems for people, as in Luke 13:16, where a
woman was "bound" by Satan, for 18-years.
Here in this verse, though, there is something more than bodily
discomfort --- The man who had lain with his father's wife (Verse 1) was
committing sin, and such "carnality"
is a cancer of the
soul, which needs to be removed. The man apparently LIKED
what he was doing; even gloried in it! He needed an attitude
adjustment.
Today we would not think much about being kicked out
of a local church. We could simply go to another church, perhaps right
next door to the old one. Cutting off the offender from the Church,
however, no matter what we might think from a jaded 21st
century perspective, is just the OUTWARD MANIFESTATION of something much
deeper. It is the outward symbol that GOD HIMSELF has cut off that
person. There is no escape from the Judgment of God, and this was a
bitter remedy for the man who would pretend that unsanctified behavior
was some kind of
faith in God.
As Calvin said about this verse, this was "not for
destruction but for edification." Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Timothy
1:20) were handed over that they might "learn to not blaspheme." This
man would learn that we are called, in Christ, to a life of HOLINESS. Chrysostom, an early teacher, pointed out about this verse that Paul
"laid down His (God’s)
laws to the devil, telling Satan just how far, and
how far only, he could proceed." God would act in this man’s
life with surgical precision, to SAVE the man; and save him He would.
Verse 6. "Your boasting is not
good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of
dough?"
The word "kalon" (in the Greek) is the word chosen as
"good" and means, as far as it can be translated, "righteous" or "noble"
in English. Paul is pointing out that not only the man, but the whole
community was in danger of drifting into unrighteousness, because of
what they were condoning in the man's behavior.
Leaven is often used in Scripture as an example of the
effect of sin in our lives. Hugh MacMillan said "Leaven consists of a
myriad of the cells of common green mould in an undeveloped state. If a
fragment of the dough with the leaven in it is put aside into a shady
place, the cells of the fungus in the leaven will vegetate and cover the
dough with a slight downy substance, which is just the plant in its
complete form. The swelling of the dough is due to the multiplication
of the plant-cells, which happens with great rapidity." Leaven is not
"bad" in itself – it’s just used as a type or principle in Scripture.
In it, we see the effect of sin in our lives – it starts small, grows
bigger, and then
takes us over altogether."
The Church today is very much like the world. The
ideas of holiness and purity are addressed by believers, but are not
generally followed. Paul indicates we are to be pure, and if we are not
pure, we are in great danger, for sin will rule us. Just like the
Jews would search their houses at Passover to find and discard even the
smallest bit of leaven, let us search our hearts, and give up even the
smallest bit of sin in our lives.
Verse 7. "Clean out the old
leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact
unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed."
The Jews commenced the Feast of Unleavened Bread with
the slaying, roasting, and eating of a lamb (a figure of Christ). They
had been delivered from the tyranny of the Pharaoh centuries before, just as Christ has
set us free from the tyranny and drudgery of sin. The picture of our
freedom in Him is presented in communion, where His total giving of
Himself to us is acted out, so we might better understand the wonder of
what has happened in our hearts, and lives.
Our Passover Lamb is Jesus Christ. As Isaiah
indicated, it "pleased the Lord to bruise Him" for you and for me. He
did not die for His own sins (He had no sin — Hebrews 7:26) but died for your sins
and mine. He was "without blemish" (1 Peter 1:19). Receiving Christ is
so good (to those who have tried Him) that describing it is compared to
the receiving and eating of good food. "Oh taste and see that the Lord
is good" (Psalm 34:8).
Note that the original Passover Lamb was eaten on the
edge of Egypt, in the wilderness. The lamb was innocent and did
nothing "wrong" that it should die. The whole lamb was utilized –
nothing was left. We receive ALL of our Lord, including full salvation
(not just the parts that please us), and we do so here in the "Egypt" of
this earth. We safely "taste and see that the Lord is good" right here
in the presence of our enemies.
Note there were two parts to the Passover: 1)
the sacrifice of an unspotted lamb, and 2) the feast
itself. Note the first part is done in Christ. We have no need for an
altar, for Christ has died for us. Our life now becomes a "feast" in
Him. Our circumstances may sometimes be bad, but, as Corrie Ten Boom
said, "Jesus is Victor" and He gives victory in you and in me.
The Passover was eaten with bitter herbs, representing
sin. Our sins are very bitter to a Holy God, and we should come to Him
with sorrow, for we have offended Him greatly. He tasted the bitterness
of our sin for us, that we might never have to face its’ full impact.
Verse 8. "Therefore let us
celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice
and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
There is a saying within 12-step programs: "Keep it
simple." We tend to make things unnecessarily complicated. "Sincerity
and truth" is simple. Instead of complexity, we need simplicity,
which means – be
yourself (in Him).
Notice this is not a FAST, it’s a FEAST, a time of
joy. We don’t lose, when we become Christians, we gain. To put away
"malice and wickedness" is to take steps, true steps for perhaps the
first time, towards real happiness in life. Note that the real nature
of sin includes hypocrisy – in sin, we often seem to be one thing, but
really are another. To hide behind a mask is actually to be lonely, and
to be truly alone is perhaps the worst ache of all. "What a FRIEND we
have in Jesus" goes the old song – Let Him in to your heart. We FEAST on the Word of
God; FEAST on the Holy Spirit of God; FEAST in Christ. Taste and SEE
that He is good.
Verse 9. "I wrote you in my
letter not to associate with immoral people;"
Apparently, 1st Corinthians is really 2nd
Corinthians, and what we call the "2nd" would
then be the "3rd." I think it’s interesting
the first
letter did not survive. The One who Selected the Scriptures we now
enjoy, was the Sovereign Holy Spirit of God, acting through men and also
through "circumstances." We HAVE the letters and books that God
intended us to read; the ones designed to bring us to the Son, Jesus
Christ. The "1st" letter was NOT kept, on purpose – God
made the choices that created what we call the "Bible."
Not only are we not to keep company with immoral people
(as in this verse), but I always recall Romans 1:32 in this context.
After a round of condemning specific sinful behavior in the 1st
Chapter of Romans, we are told, "…those who practice such things are
worthy of death, not only those who do the same but also those who
APPROVE of those who practice them." If you seem to be righteous but
spend your time giggling over a questionable magazine, you’ve got a
problem. We are called to HOLINESS. We need to not only talk like
Christians – We are to WALK like our Lord.
Are you a salesman or business person who gloats in
cheating his clients (or walking very close to the line with them?)
There are wonderful churches around, and great Christians in them, but
we are living in a Godless time, and we must give thought to HOLINESS
before God, both in behavior and in our associations. There is a danger
for all of us, that in our "modern" understanding, we often do not
really know sin actually is! We must turn to Him and receive the
spiritual "eyes" that will cause us to finally see clearly.
Verse 10. "I did not at all
mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and
swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the
world."
Joseph Exell said of Emperor Constantine that "he feared the
Lord and served his own gods." Constantine acted in a puzzling manner,
forcing whole cities to be baptized on fear of death, with no apparent
concern about changed hearts and changed lives in Christ Jesus. Paul,
had he been alive when Constantine ruled the Empire, would probably have
written a letter or two about such a man. People in the Church are
supposed to have CHANGED lives.
Now, Corinth was a sinful place and it would have been
impossible for any of them to make a living, except to do business with
non-Christians. Paul is saying it is reasonable for many of us to enter
into the normal business community of this world. It is not that we
should be taken out of the world (John 17:15) but that the world should
be taken out of us.
Does the "idolatry" in this verse include the
"worship" of a TV, a car, a computer, or of another person? If we give
them our time and our devoted attention, it may well be that we actually
become idolaters, extorting time from God that rightly belongs to Him.
To be "covetous" is to want something we do not have, to
an unhealthy degree. If we love others, we will be pleased for
them. To covet
what others have is to NOT love them. In the letter of 1 John, we learn that if we do
not love each other, we do not love God (1 John 3:14).
Verse 11. "But actually, I
wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an
immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a
drunkard, or a swindler -- not even to eat with such a one."
A basic problem with the "Christian" who goes on
willfully sinning after "conversion," is that he is a hypocrite, and
neither God nor man likes a phony. It’s time for every one of us to
take off the masks we cling to, and simply be what we are. Will we be
misunderstood in our honesty? Probably. But it’s better to be honest
than be a hypocrite.
When we associate with a "Christian" person who is a
notorious sinner, we should truly look to the Lord our God, and the
leading of the Holy Spirit. I think there are times when He will lead
us to extend a hand of comfort to the one who has fallen. But, as in
all other things, let us look to God and let HIM direct the extended
hand THROUGH us.
Verse 12. "For what have I to
do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the
church?"
"Outsiders" or "those who are outside" (in some
translations) was a very Jewish phrase, though written in Greek for this
letter. Those who were not a part of the Jewish community, were termed
"outsiders" and treated accordingly. Most of the American Indian
tribes had a name for themselves that would translate as "the people."
Those outside the tribe were not fully people; as they were considered
lesser forms of being (which explains why the tribes had such a hard time
banding together against the European invaders).
Paul’s usage of words was consistent with his time and
place --- Those who say these letters were written by someone else at a
much later time, have to deal with the intense Jewishness of the
author. Paul FITS as the author of these letters.
We really don’t need to worry so much about the
behavior of persons outside the Church. A careful reading of Psalm 73,
indicates that God will suddenly and permanently judge the "lost"
person, and He does not need our help. For them, this world will flit away like a
dream, as they enter the awful reality of a Godless, lonely eternity.
Instead of attacking such people, pray for them – they certainly need
our prayers.
Verse 13. "But those who are
outside, God judges. ‘Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.’"
Paul was not highly regarded by many in Corinth.
Indeed, those who preach that we should live holy lives are not well
thought of in our modern world, either. Yet so many of our problems (and theirs)
would simply go away, if our hearts and minds were pure before God and
man. What if a Godly holiness swept our land? Why, we could safely
walk the streets once again!
God is actively promoting moral purity throughout the
Church. We are to be like wholesome "food" for the rest of the world,
bringing Christ within our very bodies, souls and words, to a starving
populace. But we tend to bring bad "food" because our hearts
tend to be
hypocritical. Let us "purge out the old leaven," for we are to be
"perfect," even as our Father in heaven is perfect.
It is HIS perfection we must exhibit, not some
imitation of our own. He who is in us IS perfect. Let Him shine forth
from you into this troubled world - today.
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.FirstChurchOnTheNet.org
www.FridayStudy.org
Write to:
Letters@FridayStudy.org
"While
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"
(Romans 5:8)
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