28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake;for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”
29 “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?
30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,
33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
As far as the Christian believer is concerned, Paul explains that his intelligent spirituality and his Christian liberty would permit him to partake of such food. It is his right since “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” It is his right and no one dare rightfully speak evil of him since his eating is sanctified by his thanks to God.
This particular point which Paul makes here is that while it is the Christian’s conscientious right, it is not always right to act upon his rights if such action will affect his position as a Christian witness. The Christian’s rights are sometimes to be regulated by his responsibilities. — Lauren, page 177.
the other (v.29) — The issue isn’t my conscience, who understands liberty, but the other person’s, who may not.
my liberty judged (v.29) — My conscience isn’t to be controlled by another person’s determination of right and wrong, but my actions should be. Romans 14:13-15; 15:1-3; Philippians 2:4
If that which you do under grace, in the liberty of faith, offends someone else, then it becomes sin, if you, knowing you are offending a brother, continue in it. You may reply, as Paul states it here, “Why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? Why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Why should I deny myself this pleasure just because some narrow-minded legalist finds fault with it? And the answer is this, “No man liveth unto himself.” The question is not my liberty and my rights, but the glory of God. People who are saved by grace should be gracious, and since we are saved by grace, we have renounced our own will and seek now only to do the will of God to please Him and our neighbor, and not ourselves. — DeHann, page 101.
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Paul believed in giving thanks: but (even though he gave thanks for his food) if all the while in eating it he was wounding a weaker brother and causing him to stumble or become discouraged, was he then, in reality, truly giving thanks to God? To give thanks for what we are doing does not necessarily make that act innocent on our part. We must keep others in mind at all times, regardless of how innocent we may be, for if we are wounding others, it is still wrong. — Greene, pages 343-344.
Verse 32 lists the only three categories of people that exist.
please (v.33) = benefit — the same meaning as “profit” in the same verse.
