23 All things are lawful for me,but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me,but not all things edify.
24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake;
26 for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”
27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake.
all things (v.23) — all things not covered in the Mosaic law and all things in the Mosaic law relating to diet, etc. Paul is not referring to the moral law concerning things like murder, fornication, etc.
What Paul says is this; As far as the “law of Moses” goes, I am not under it any longer. But I am now under the law of grace, and my Christian conduct is now motivated by a higher law, the law of love for God and a gracious consideration of my fellow brethren, even those who may disagree with me. Our service under grace is just as punctual as the law ever demanded, and more so, but it is not merely because the law commands it. It is not legal, but the result of gratitude for His great deliverance. The true believer will seek to do God’s will and follow His commandments to be sure, but not … because the law demands it, but because grace expects it. Personally, the believer is not under the law in any sense, but stands in the perfect liberty of grace. But as a member of the body of Christ and of society, his conduct is determined by another rule, and that is, the glory of God and his influence and effect upon other people. — DeHaan, page 100.
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1 Corinthians 6:12 is similarly to 1 Corinthians 10:23, but while in 6:12 Paul deals with Christian liberty and his own welfare, in 10:23 he deals with Christian liberty and his brother’s welfare; “All things are lawful unto me … but I will not be brought under the power of any” (6:12); “All things are lawful for me … but all things edify not” i.e. do not build up (10:23). — Stam, page 179.
asking no questions (vs. 25 and 27) — about whether the food had been offered to idols
for conscience sake (vs. 25 and 27) — on the ground of conscience. There is no reason to go looking for reasons to feel guilty.
Verse 26 is a quote from Psalm 24:1 — The Lord created everything, and the fact that people use it for evil doesn’t negate His ownership.
