Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

1 Corinthians 10:12

Matthew Henry Commentary

Corinthians 10:6-14 — Carnal desires gain strength by indulgence, therefore should be checked in their first rise. Let us fear the sins of Israel, if we would shun their plagues. And it is but just to fear, that such as tempt Christ, will be left by him in the power of the old serpent. Murmuring against God’s disposals and commands, greatly provokes him. Nothing in Scripture is written in vain; and it is our wisdom and duty to learn from it. Others have fallen, and so may we. The Christian’s security against sin is distrust of himself. God has not promised to keep us from falling, if we do not look to ourselves. To this word of caution, a word of comfort is added. Others have the like burdens, and the like temptations: what they bear up under, and break through, we may also. God is wise as well as faithful, and will make our burdens according to our strength. He knows what we can bear. He will make a way to escape; he will deliver either from the trial itself, or at least the mischief of it. We have full encouragement to flee from sin, and to be faithful to God. We cannot fall by temptation, if we cleave fast to him. Whether the world smiles or frowns, it is an enemy; but believers shall be strengthened to overcome it, with all its terrors and enticements. The fear of the Lord, put into their hearts, will be the great means of safety.

Study Bible

Warnings from Israel’s Past
…11Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall. 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.…

Cross References

Thoughts on Today’s Verse

Author Unknown — reprinted from Knowing Jesus website

The Corinthians had in many ways abused the freedom they had in Christ and in certain cases were using their liberty as a license to sin, but such an attitude, then as now is diametrically opposite to what the Word of God teaches the Christian life should be.

Paul and the other gospel writers often used Israel’s past history as an illustration of how – or how not to behave in our Christian life. Israel’s relationship with God did not exempt them from sin and its consequences – and the same is true of the church in this dispensation of grace.

Israel was used to demonstrate that our actions and attitudes play an important role in our spiritual walk.. but like Israel’s relationship with God.. our position in Christ in no way permits Church-age believers to sin with impunity. The gracious liberty we have in Him must never be used as a license to sin. Using our liberty in Christ as an excuse to sin and claiming exemption from its consequences must be firmly rejected.

In this passage Paul is warning against becoming complacent in our Christian walk.. of being over-confident that we are exempt from falling into sin or of not recognizing the spiritual dangers and consequences of sinning.. simply because we have been saved.

We are certainly privileged to be saved by grace through faith in Christ and to have been freed from the curse of the Law through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection – but we must maintain an attitude of eschewing that which is evil and seeking to do that which is righteous in the eyes of the Lord.

We should not become smugly complacent in our privileged position in Christ and the freedom that we enjoy in our Christian walk – for on those occasions when we think we are standing firm in the faith we can all too easily fall into sin.. for as Paul warns: let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.

Although there is no sin that cannot be cleansed by the efficacious blood of Jesus and despite being positioned in Christ.. accepted in the Beloved; enclosed in the everlasting arms our our God and Saviour and standing on a Foundation that can never fail … we must nevertheless heed the warning in this verse, lest like Israel we fall into complacent unbelief.

Although there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, and although there is no sin that cannot be forgiven.. we must be acutely aware that any one of us may be tempted to fall into sin – and should we become over-confident in our spiritual walk, the danger of falling into sin is significantly increased. We must never forget that all sin dishonors the God Who bought us.. it grieves the Holy Spirit and is a terrible reproach on the Gospel of Christ. Let every Christian who thinks he is standing securely take heed that we do not become careless, complacent or smugly over-confidence – lest we dishonor our Saviour by falling.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the glorious promises in Your Word that we are eternally secure in Christ. But Father, I pray that I would never abuse the freedom I have in Christ. I pray that I may become increasingly conscious to take heed of my spiritual walk in Christ – lest I also fall into sin and discredit Your holy name. This I ask in Jesus name, AMEN