Paul encouraged the Corinthians to adjust their perspective. They had been making their decisions on the basis of appearance. They were listening intently to the false teachers who were boasting of their own authority, their perfect Hebrew heritage, and their visionary experiences.All of their loud boasts and extravagant displays of power had dazzled the Corinthians so much that they had become blind to the simplicity of the gospel message that Paul had preached to them in the first place (1 Corinthians 2:1-3).
Although Paul’s opponents had portrayed him as weak and powerless, Paul reminded the Corinthians that he did possess God-given authority. Although he would not boast in himself or compare himself to other preachers, he would boast in the Lord and in the authority that Jesus had given him to preach the gospel that saves.
As chapter eleven begins, we see that Paul was anxious that the Corinthian church’s love should be reserved for Christ alone, just as a chaste virgin saves her love for her groom.
In the first century, an engagement was a serious commitment, similar to a contract. If the bride wasn’t a virgin on the wedding day, it was considered a breach of the engagement contract. Ensuring the bride’s purity and virginity until the wedding day was partially her father’s responsibility.
This passage depicts Paul's concern for the Corinthians as a father’s concern for the purity of his daughter. Paul had already promised the Corinthians to one husband, Christ. He was anticipating that wonderful day when he would present them proudly to Jesus. That day when Christ returns will be like a great wedding feast, an image that Jesus himself had used for his second coming.
To guarantee that he would not be embarrassed at Christ’s return, Paul took the necessary steps to discourage the Corinthians not to stray from their pure devotion to Christ. Thus, the jealousy that motivated Paul was a godly jealousy for the Corinthians: that they might wholeheartedly follow Christ, their Savior.
SO WHAT? (what will I do what I have read today?)
Over and over again through scripture, we read that God cares most about the condition of our heart. The hallmark passage of this truth is found in 1 Samuel 16:7
"But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
So I ask myself and I ask you today - what's the condition of your heart? Is it pure and unsullied? Is it wholehearted in it's devotion to our Lord or has that love been diluted and polluted?
If, like me, you find at times that you have wandered off the path and drifted from the life that He would have you live, then come home to Him today. Listen to the heart of David after he had been confronted about his sin with Bathsheba.
Psalms 51:1-12 (NIV)
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
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