Feasting at The Table - 1 Corinthians 10:13

The Apostle Paul wrote many letters to the Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 10 forms part of one of the. Here, he addresses issues about the way they live their lives as Christians - immorality, idol worship, and internal conflicts.

Paul used the example of the Israelites as he warned the Corinthians against becoming overly confident and complacent. Despite experiencing God's deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites often yielded to temptations as they were going through the wilderness. Idolatry, complaints, and sexual sins were the order of the day. 

So Paul was advising the Corinthians here to remain vigilant.

1 Corinthians 10:13 focuses on temptation and God’s promise to help believers resist and overcome it. The verse says:

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (NLT)

Let's break down the verse into sections:

1. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.

- Universality of Temptation: Paul reassures the Corinthians that their temptations are not unique. He highlighted that believers are not alone in their struggles. Everyone faces similar challenges.

   Hebrews 4:15: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin."

   Jesus Himself faced temptation and as such, Jesus fully understands our struggles.

   Ecclesiastes 1:9: "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun."

   Again, temptations are not new but are part of life.

2. And God is faithful

- God’s Faithfulness: Despite how vulnerable to temptation we are as humans, God’s nature is unwaveringly faithful. He is dependable and will protect His people from being overpowered by temptation if we let Him.

   Lamentations 3:22-23: "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

   God’s faithfulness is constant and reliable. This is the reassurance we get in this verse.

   Deuteronomy 7:9: "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments."

   God keeps His promises. He has covenanted to protect and guide His people, even in times of temptation. We can trust Him to do just that.

3. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.

- Limitation of Temptation: This verse is often misquoted and misunderstood. We need to understand what Paul is saying here. We are being assured that God regulates the intensity of temptations in our lives. God does not tempt us. But when we are tempted, rest assured that it is never more than we can handle, with God’s help.

   2 Peter 2:9: "The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment."

   This verse confirms that God knows how to provide help during trials and temptations.

   Matthew 6:13: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

   We know The Lord’s Prayer all too well. But do we? We are reminded that Jesus wants us as believers to seek God’s help in avoiding overwhelming temptation. We do not have to give in. God can protect us. Let us ask of Him.

4. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

- Provision of an Escape: Again, God does not tempt us. He may allow temptation, but while this is true, He provides a means of escape. This might not involve removing the temptation but rather offering the strength or wisdom to endure it without sinning. It underscores God’s guidance and provision during trials.

   James 1:12: "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

   After we have come through these trials, we become spiritually stronger. God equips believers to persevere.

   2 Peter 1:3: "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness."

   God provided the supply before the demand was even created. This includes all that we need to live righteously, including the ability to endure temptation. This verse confirms that. 

   Psalm 124:7: "We have escaped like a bird from the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped."

   The imagery of escaping a trap reinforces God’s provision of a way out, even in seemingly impossible situations.

Applications for Believers:

1. Recognize that all of us are tempted at times: It is a common experience and this realization should help believers avoid feelings of isolation or condemnation.

2. Trust in God’s faithfulness: When we are going through, know that God is faithful to see us through - avoiding it or enduring it. He is faithful as He watches over His people, making sure we are not overwhelmed.

3. Know that God limits temptation: God sees to it that no temptation exceeds the believer’s capacity to resist. This must be comforting, knowing that as the trials come, we can manage them, not on our own, but with God’s grace.

4. Seek the way of escape: When we are tempted, don’t stand there and be tested. Seek the "way out" that God provides. Pray, rely on Scripture, flee from the situation, or seek support from fellow believers.

In conclusion:

1 Corinthians 10:13 offers so many excellent and important insights for Christians going through temptation. It emphasizes that temptation is universal - a shared human experience, but that God is faithful to ensure that we are not overwhelmed. Every time we are tempted, God provides a means of escape or the strength to endure. Our confidence lies in God’s faithfulness, not in ourselves. Our confidence lies in God understanding our limits and providing grace for us to persevere.

aub - 18 September 2024

www.zjoyvi.com