THE WAY OF ESCAPE

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV). 

Many a sermon has been based on this verse of Scripture found in Saint Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. And mostly it is lifted out of its context and used to teach something other than its intended purpose. I must admit, that even though, sermons about overcoming temptation are extremely important and welcome, we must be careful that we do not miss the very point that the Apostle Paul is making. We must see that Saint Paul is showing 'the way' for us to "flee from idolatry" (verse 14). And that, "way to escape", the various forms of idolatry that tempt God's people to stray, is Holy Communion, the Eucharist, which he expounds upon in verses 16 and 17.

Saint Paul starts his thoughts on this topic (verse 1), sharing his fatherly care that we not be ignorant of the Old Testament stories that reveal God at work delivering His people. And too, we are not to be ignorant of the fact that "these things happened unto them for (our) examples: and they are written for our admonition (verse 11). 

Paul, the teacher of truth, reveals that the saving events that the people of God experienced while being delivered from bondage were in actuality a truly spiritual reality. The cloud and the sea baptized them unto Moses (Exodus 13:21); they "did all eat the same spiritual meat" (Exodus 16:15); "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ" (Exodus 17:6). The people of God were spiritually communing with God and Christ, via the sea, the Rock that gave forth water, and the manna. The sea, the Rock, and the manna were not just symbols of a spiritual reality, but literally communicated that spiritual reality to their souls and bodies.

"But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were for our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them..." (verse 5-7). Then Saint Paul lists (verses 7-10) the various forms of idolatry that overthrew the foolish people whom God had delivered, yet who still loved this present world: Gluttony, drunkenness, fornication, tempting God, and murmuring. These are the various forms of idolatry that brought destruction to those people that persisted in rebellion against the laws of God. 

With this Old Testament history now at the forefront of our minds, Saint Paul reveals that none of these temptations, these various idols, that are common to to all people, can simply overcome you; because God has provided a way of escape whereby you enter into communion with God and Christ and are divinely energized to bear the temptation, that is, gain the victory over it. Saint Paul introduces this "way to escape" in the verses that follow: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread" (verse 16-17). Saint Paul is saying, that just as the manna was spiritual food, and the water from the Rock was spiritual drink, so too the bread and the cup of blessing (wine and water) are spiritual realities that feed the people of God and actualize a literal communion with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Bread and the cup of blessing are not merely symbols of Jesus's body and blood, they are the very body and blood of Jesus that we partake of mystically just as the Old Testament saints ate and drank spiritual food and drink, and were made one with Moses. We participate in the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and are made one with Him.

When Saint Paul continues his teaching on "The Lord's supper" (Verse 11:20-34) we now can understand why it is he speaks of such dire consequences (many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep), for those who "eateth and drinketh unworthily" (verse 29), eat and drink judgment to themselves. You cannot be living in idolatry and eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord. This is what is meant by "whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord" (verse 27). We cannot play games with Holy things. If we do, their can be dire consequences. But on the positive side of things, if we partake of the Lord's body worthily, then we participate literally in Christ's divine humanity, and we are provided "the way of escape" from our temptations because Christ's divine humanity is mystically communicated to our souls and bodies by the grace of the Holy Spirit. We become partakers of his divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

I encourage you to read chapters 10 and 11 several times straight through so that you will see the whole picture that Saint Paul is painting. The "Eucharist" (1 Corinthians 11:23-25; Luke 22:19-20), aka, the "Thanksgiving", is central to Christian worship, and thereby central to the Christian life. The Eucharist is most fully experienced within the Orthodox Church which not only provides the historical context for the New Testament Passover, but also provides all the necessary spiritual disciplines that help you prepare to receive Holy Communion worthily. 

Therefore, examine yourself (11:28), and "let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (10:12).