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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers 1 Corinthians 10:6–14. His two-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
The apostle, having recited their privileges, proceeds here to an account of their faults and punishments, their sins and plagues, which are left upon record for an example to us, a warning against the like sins, if we would escape the like punishments. We must not do as they did, lest we suffer as they suffered.
I.Several of their sins are specified as cautions to us; as,
1.We should shun inordinate desires after carnal objects: Not lust after evil things, as they lusted, Co1 10:6. God fed them with manna, but they must have flesh, Num 11:4. They had food for their supply, but, not content with this, they asked meat for their lusts, Psa 106:14. Carnal desires get head by indulgence, and therefore should be observed and checked in their first rise: if once they prevail, and bear sway in us, we know not whither they will carry us. This caution stands first, because carnal appetites indulged are the root and source of much sin.
2.He warns against idolatry (Co1 10:7): Neither be you idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. The sin of the golden calf is referred to, Exo 32:6. They first sacrificed to their idol, then feasted on the sacrifices, and then danced before it. Though only eating and drinking are mentioned here, yet the sacrifice is supposed. The apostle is speaking to the case of the Corinthians, who were tempted to feast on the heathen sacrifices, things offered to idols, though they do not seem to have been under any temptation to offer sacrifice themselves. Even eating and drinking of the sacrifices before the idol, and as things sacrificed, was idolatry, which, by the example of the Israelites, they should be warned to avoid.
3.He cautions against fornication, a sin to which the inhabitants of Corinth were in a peculiar manner addicted. They had a temple among them dedicated to Venus (that is, to lust), with above a thousand priestesses belonging to it, all common prostitutes. How needful was a caution against fornication to those who lived in so corrupt a city, and had been used to such dissolute manners, especially when they were under temptations to idolatry too! and spiritual whoredom did in many cases lead to bodily prostitution. Most of the gods whom the heathens served were represented as patterns of lewdness; and much lewdness was committed in the very worship of many of them. Many of the Jewish writers, and many Christians after them, think that such worship was paid to Baal-Peor; and that fornication was committed with the daughters of Moab in the worship of that idol. They were enticed by these women both to spiritual and corporal whoredom; first to feast on the sacrifice, if not to do more beastly acts, in honour of the idol, and then to defile themselves with strange flesh (Num. 25), which brought on a plague, that in one day slew twenty-three thousand, besides those who fell by the hand of public justice. Note, Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge, in whatever external relation they may stand to him, and whatever outward privileges he may bestow upon them. Let us fear the sins of Israel, if we would shun their plagues.
4.He warns us against tempting Christ (as some of them tempted, and were destroyed of serpents, Co1 10:9), or provoking him to jealousy, Co1 10:22. He was with the church in the wilderness; he was the angel of the covenant, who went before them. But he was greatly grieved and provoked by them in many ways: They spoke against him and Moses, Wherefore have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for which reason God sent fiery serpents among them (Num 21:5, Num 21:6), by which many of them were stung mortally. And it is but just to fear that such as tempt Christ under the present dispensation will be left by him in the power of the old serpent.
5.He warns against murmuring: Neither murmur you as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer (Co1 10:10), by a destroying angel, an executioner of divine vengeance. They quarrelled with God, and murmured against Moses his minister, when any difficulties pressed them. When they met with discouragements in the way to Canaan, they were very apt to fly in the face of their leaders, were for displacing them, and going back to Egypt under the conduct of others of their own choosing. Something like this seems to have been the case of the Corinthians; they murmured against Paul, and in him against Christ, and seem to have set up other teachers, who would indulge and soothe them in their inclinations, and particularly in a revolt to idolatry. Rather let them feast on idol sacrifices than bear the reproach, or expose themselves to the ill-will, of heathen neighbours. Such conduct was very provoking to God, and was likely to bring upon them swift destruction, as it did on the Israelites, Num 14:37. Note, Murmuring against divine disposals and commands is a sin that greatly provokes, especially when it grows to such a head as to issue in apostasy, and a revolt from him and his good ways.
II.The apostle subjoins to these particular cautions a more general one (Co1 10:11):
All these things happened to them for ensamples, and were written for our admonition. Not only the laws and ordinances of the Jews, but the providences of God towards them, were typical. Their sins against God, and backslidings from him, were typical of the infidelity of many under the gospel. God's judgments on them were types of spiritual judgments now. Their exclusion from the earthly Canaan typified the exclusion of many under the gospel out of the heavenly Canaan, for their unbelief. Their history was written, to be a standing monitor to the church, even under the last and most perfect dispensation: To us, on whom the end of the world is come, the concluding period of God's gracious government over men. Note, Nothing in scripture is written in vain. God had wise and gracious purposes towards us in leaving the Jewish history upon record; and it is our wisdom and duty to receive instruction from it. Upon this hint the apostle grounds a caution (Co1 10:12): Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Note, The harms sustained by others should be cautious to us. He that thinks he stands should not be confident and secure, but upon his guard. Others have fallen, and so may we. And then we are most likely to fall when we are most confident of our own strength, and thereupon most apt to be secure, and off our guard. Distrust of himself, putting him at once upon vigilance and dependence on God, is the Christian's best security against all sin. Note, He who thinks he stands is not likely to keep his footing, if he fears no fall, nor guards against it. God has not promised to keep us from falling, if we do not look to ourselves: his protection supposes our own care and caution.
III.But to this word of caution he adds a word of comfort, Co1 10:13.
Though it is displeasing to God for us to presume, it is not pleasing to him for us to despair. If the former be a great sin, the latter is far from being innocent. Though we must fear and take heed lest we fall, yet should we not be terrified and amazed; for either our trials will be proportioned to our strength, or strength will be supplied in proportion to our temptations. We live indeed in a tempting world, where we are compassed about with snares. Every place, condition, relation, employment, and enjoyment, abounds with them; yet what comfort may we fetch from such a passage! For, 1. "No temptation," says the apostle, "hath yet taken you, but such as is common to man, what is human; that is, such as you may expect from men of such principles as heathens, and such power; or else such as is common to mankind in the present state; or else such as the spirit and resolution of mere men may bear you through." Note, The trials of common Christians are but common trials: others have the like burdens and the like temptations; what they bear up under, and break through, we may also. 2. God is faithful. Though Satan be a deceiver, God is true. Men may be false, and the world may be false; but God is faithful, and our strength and security are in him. He keepeth his covenant, and will never disappoint the filial hope and trust of his children. 3. He is wise as well as faithful, and will proportion our burden to our strength. He will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able. He knows what we can bear, and what we can bear up against; and he will, in his wise providence, either proportion our temptations to our strength or make us able to grapple with them. He will take care that we be not overcome, if we rely upon him, and resolve to approve ourselves faithful to him. We need not perplex ourselves with the difficulties in our way when God will take care that they shall not be too great for us to encounter, especially. 4. When he will make them to issue well. He will make a way to escape, either the trial itself, or at least the mischief of it. There is no valley so dark but he can find a way through it, no affliction so grievous but he can prevent, or remove, or enable us to support it, and in the end overrule it to our advantage.
IV.And upon this argument he grounds another caution against idolatry: Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. Observe,
1.How he addresses them: My dearly beloved. It is out of tender affection to them that he presses this advice upon them.
2.The matter of his advice: "Flee idolatry; shun it, and all approaches towards it." Idolatry is the most heinous injury and affront to the true God; it is transferring his worship and honour to a rival.
3.The ground of this advice: "Seeing you have such encouragement to trust God, and to be faithful, do you approve yourselves men, be not shaken by any discouragements your heathen enemies may lay before you. God will succour and assist, help you in your trials, and help you out of them; and therefore be not guilty of any idolatrous compliances." Note, We have all the encouragement in the world to flee sin and prove faithful to God. We cannot fall by a temptation if we cleave fast to him.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
3 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
Those who were destroyed prefigured Judas, who betrayed Christ and was eliminated from the number of the apostles by the judgment of God..
"Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer."
For what is required is not only to suffer for Christ, but also nobly to bear the things that come on us, and with all gladness: since this is the nature of every crown. Yea, and unless this be so, punishment rather will attend men who take calamity with a bad grace. Wherefore, both the Apostles when they were beaten rejoiced, and Paul gloried in his sufferings.
Some of the Corinthians were grumbling that they had only received the lesser spiritual gifts, when they wanted them all.
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Summary
First Corinthians 10:10 serves as a solemn warning to the Corinthian believers, urging them to avoid the sin of murmuring or complaining, drawing a direct parallel to the Israelites in the wilderness who, despite God's miraculous provision, grumbled against Him and His appointed leaders. Paul highlights that such discontent is not trivial but a grave act of rebellion that incurred severe divine judgment, leading to destruction at the hand of "the destroyer," an agent of God's righteous wrath. This verse underscores the seriousness of a complaining spirit and the historical consequences of distrust and ingratitude toward God.
Context
Literary Context
This verse is an integral part of Paul's broader argument in 1 Corinthians 10, where he uses the historical failures of ancient Israel as a cautionary tale for the Corinthian church. Having established in 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 that the Israelites enjoyed significant spiritual privileges (baptism in the cloud and sea, spiritual food and drink), Paul immediately pivots to their subsequent disobedience and God's displeasure. He then lists specific sins that led to their downfall—idolatry, sexual immorality, testing Christ, and murmuring—explicitly stating that "these things happened to them as examples, but they were written down for our instruction" (1 Corinthians 10:6). Thus, 1 Corinthians 10:10 directly addresses the sin of complaining, placing it alongside other grave offenses that incurred divine judgment, reinforcing the urgency of his warning against such attitudes within the Corinthian community.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Corinthian church was plagued by various issues, including divisions, immorality, and a tendency towards spiritual pride and idolatry, as evidenced throughout Paul's letter. Paul's appeal to Israel's wilderness experience would have resonated with his Jewish-Christian readers and provided a powerful, universally understood narrative for Gentile converts familiar with the Septuagint. The Israelites' murmuring was a recurring motif in the Old Testament, often signifying a deep-seated distrust in God's provision and leadership, despite overwhelming evidence of His faithfulness (e.g., manna, water from the rock). Instances like the rebellion of Korah in Numbers 16 or the complaints about the lack of meat in Numbers 11 illustrate how murmuring was not merely a minor grievance but a direct challenge to God's authority, often leading to immediate and severe judgment, including plagues and destruction by "the destroyer" or "angel of death" (Exodus 12:23). Paul uses these historical precedents to impress upon the Corinthians the gravity of their own potential for discontent and rebellion against God's will.
Key Themes
1 Corinthians 10:10 contributes significantly to several key themes within the chapter and the broader epistle. Firstly, it underscores the danger of complaining, revealing it not as a minor annoyance but as a serious act of rebellion against God's sovereignty and provision. This theme is intricately linked to divine judgment, as God's response to Israel's murmuring was swift and destructive, serving as a stark warning that God takes such attitudes seriously. Secondly, the verse reinforces the theme of lessons from history, emphasizing that the Old Testament narratives are not mere historical accounts but divinely inspired examples "written down for our instruction" (1 Corinthians 10:11). Finally, the mention of "the destroyer" introduces the theme of God's instruments of judgment, often understood as an angelic agent or a plague, highlighting the direct and often immediate consequences of God's wrath against persistent rebellion and ingratitude, echoing the Passover narrative in Exodus 12.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This word describes a low, muttering sound, expressing discontent, grumbling, or complaining. It signifies more than just verbal complaint; it reflects an inner attitude of dissatisfaction, often directed against authority or divine providence. The repeated use in the verse emphasizes the persistent and widespread nature of this sin among the Israelites.
Meaning "to destroy fully," "to perish," or "to lose," this term indicates a complete and utter ruin, whether literally or figuratively. In this context, it refers to the physical perishing of the Israelites in the wilderness due to divine judgment, highlighting the severe consequences of their sin.
Derived from a word meaning "to ruin," this noun refers to a "ruiner," an "exterminator," or specifically, an agent of destruction. In the Septuagint, this term is used to describe the angel responsible for executing judgment on the firstborn in Egypt during the Passover (Exodus 12:23). Its use here signifies a direct, divinely appointed agent of judgment, underscoring the directness of God's wrath against the murmurers.
Verse Breakdown
"Neither murmur ye"
This is a direct command, an imperative negative, instructing the Corinthian believers not to engage in the act of complaining or grumbling. The "neither" (Greek: mēdé) connects this prohibition to the preceding warnings against idolatry, sexual immorality, and testing Christ, emphasizing that murmuring is equally serious and to be avoided.
"as some of them also murmured"
This clause draws a clear parallel to the Israelites in the wilderness. The phrase "some of them" refers to those among the Exodus generation who repeatedly grumbled against Moses, Aaron, and ultimately, against God Himself, demonstrating a lack of faith and gratitude despite His miraculous provision. The repetition of "murmured" reinforces the persistent nature of their sin.
"and were destroyed of the destroyer"
This final clause states the severe consequence of their murmuring. The Israelites who complained were "destroyed," meaning they perished in the wilderness, failing to enter the Promised Land. The agent of this destruction is identified as "the destroyer," an instrument of divine judgment, often understood as a plague or an angelic agent of death, linking their fate directly to God's righteous wrath.
Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs several literary devices to convey its urgent message. Foremost is Allusion, as Paul directly references the historical events of the Israelite wilderness journey, particularly the numerous instances of their murmuring and the subsequent divine judgment. This allusion serves as a powerful cautionary tale, leveraging shared biblical knowledge to impress upon the Corinthians the gravity of their potential sins. The phrase "the destroyer" functions as a form of Metonymy or Personification, representing God's active judgment through an agent. While "the destroyer" is a specific entity (often identified as an angel of death or a plague), it stands in for the direct, destructive power of God's wrath against disobedience. Finally, the entire verse acts as a Warning or Exhortation, a direct imperative ("Neither murmur ye") followed by a historical precedent and its dire consequences, designed to deter the audience from similar sinful behavior.
Theological and Thematic Connections
The warning against murmuring in 1 Corinthians 10:10 is deeply theological, revealing God's character and the nature of human sin. Murmuring is not merely an expression of discontent but a profound manifestation of distrust in God's sovereign plan and provision. It signifies a heart that questions God's goodness, wisdom, and faithfulness, akin to the Israelites' rebellion against the One who had miraculously delivered them from slavery. Such an attitude is an affront to God's authority and a rejection of His grace, which is why it incurred such severe judgment. The "destroyer" highlights that God is not passive in the face of persistent rebellion but actively intervenes to uphold His holiness and justice, using various means to bring about consequences for sin. This serves as a timeless reminder that while God is gracious, He is also just, and our attitudes of gratitude and trust are paramount to a right relationship with Him.
Reflection and Application
First Corinthians 10:10 challenges believers to deeply examine their hearts and the words that flow from them. In a world often characterized by complaint, critique, and dissatisfaction, this verse stands as a stark reminder that a murmuring spirit is profoundly offensive to God. It calls us to cultivate a radical posture of gratitude and trust, recognizing that every circumstance, whether joyful or challenging, is filtered through the loving, sovereign hand of God. When we murmur, we implicitly accuse God of being unfaithful, unjust, or uncaring, mirroring the Israelites' lack of faith despite witnessing His miracles. Instead, we are called to embrace a spirit of contentment, finding our satisfaction in Christ alone, and to express thanksgiving in all things, knowing that God is working all things for our good and His glory. This not only honors God but also fosters unity and peace within the body of Christ, as complaining often breeds discord and division. Learning from Israel's tragic example, we are urged to walk in humility, acknowledging God's perfect plan even when we don't understand it, and to respond with praise rather than protest.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who is "the destroyer" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:10?
The "destroyer" (Greek: olothreutḗs) refers to an agent of divine judgment. While not explicitly named, the term strongly alludes to the "angel of death" or "destroying angel" mentioned in the Old Testament, particularly in the Passover narrative where the Lord sent a destroyer to strike down the firstborn in Egypt (Exodus 12:23). This same concept appears when God sends a plague or an angel to execute judgment, as seen in 2 Samuel 24:16 and 1 Chronicles 21:15. Thus, "the destroyer" in 1 Corinthians 10:10 is understood as a direct instrument of God's righteous wrath, sent to bring about the consequences of Israel's persistent murmuring and rebellion.
Why is murmuring considered such a serious sin by God?
Murmuring, or complaining, is considered a serious sin because it fundamentally reveals a lack of faith and a deep-seated distrust in God's character and provision. When the Israelites murmured, they were not just complaining about their circumstances or human leaders; they were implicitly, and often explicitly, complaining against God Himself, questioning His wisdom, goodness, and ability to care for them despite His miraculous interventions. This attitude of discontent and ingratitude is a direct affront to God's sovereignty and His covenant faithfulness. It signifies a rebellious heart that refuses to submit to God's will and instead expresses dissatisfaction with His perfect plan. As such, it is viewed as a form of rebellion and idolatry of self, which God, in His holiness, cannot tolerate, leading to severe consequences as seen throughout the Old Testament and warned against in 1 Corinthians 10:10.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
While 1 Corinthians 10:10 serves as a stark warning from Old Testament history, its ultimate fulfillment and antidote are found in Christ. The Israelites' murmuring stemmed from their distrust and rebellion against God's provision and leadership, a reflection of fallen humanity's inherent discontent. In contrast, Jesus Christ perfectly exemplified a life utterly devoid of murmuring or complaint. He consistently submitted to the Father's will, even to the point of death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). He is the true spiritual food and drink that the Israelites' manna and water foreshadowed, providing ultimate satisfaction and removing any legitimate cause for complaint (John 6:35). For believers, freedom from the destructive cycle of murmuring is found in union with Christ. Through His atoning sacrifice, our rebellious hearts are transformed, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to live lives of gratitude and contentment, trusting in God's perfect plan and provision. Christ bore the judgment for our sins, including our complaining, offering us not destruction but eternal life and peace, allowing us to "do all things without grumbling or questioning" (Philippians 2:14) as a testament to His transformative power.