20But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman(A) Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants[a](B) to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. (Rev. 2:20)
Leaving the idea of sexual immorality for now, let us go on to discuss “food sacrificed to idols.” To understand the meaning of this phrase we must understand the meaning of its component words. Most of us, therefore, misinterpret the phrase immediately because we give the wrong definition to the first word. We believe that “food” here simply means that which we eat to still our bodily hunger and usually think this refers to some type of meat like lamb or beef. But, Jesus does not refer to physical food, or meat, here. He uses the word’s spiritual meaning discussed by the writer of Hebrews.
8Jesus Christ is(A) the same yesterday and today and forever. 9Do not be(B) led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace,(C) not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10We have an altar(D) from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. (Hebrews 13:8-10)
The structure of the second sentence shows that the word “foods” is defined here as “diverse and strange teachings.” Thus we understand that the word “food” prophetically mean “doctrine.” Doctrine can be either good or bad, true or false. Good doctrine describes the ways of Christ and of God. Bad doctrine, or diverse and strange teachings, takes us out of God’s way and puts us on Satan’s path. Therefore consider that this phrase could be written “doctrine sacrificed to idols.”
Now, what is a sacrifice with respect to spiritual things? It is an act or actions of spiritual worship. Paul says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1 KJ2000) During the days before Christ and until 73 AD believing Jews offered animal sacrifices to God according to the Old Testament Law. So, a sacrifice is an offering to God.
Or is it? This brings us to the final word of the phrase, “idols.” Jesus condemns Thyatira for eating “food sacrificed to idols.” What is an idol? With respect to this very issue Paul teaches us that idols are demons. He says,
19What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that(A) an idol is anything? 20No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice(B) they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21(C) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and(D) the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and(E) the table of demons. (1 Cor. 10:19-21)
Now that we know the meaning of the component words we can now define “food sacrificed to idols.” The phrase means “doctrines offered as worship to demons.” Jesus condemns Thyatira for “eating” such doctrines, that is, for spiritually consuming them. We always hear “you are what you eat,” and this also holds true with spiritual food. In essence we become one with what eat.
This truth explains why this sin ranks akin to sexual immorality. Earlier in the book of First Corinthians Paul warned that church to flee sexual immorality. He told them that he who fornicates with a harlot becomes one with the harlot and that they must not join the body of Christ to a harlot. Why? Because he who is joined to the LORD becomes one spirit with him and the body of the Christian believer is a temple of the Holy Spirit within us. Eating food sacrificed to idols is akin to sexual sin because it joins the believer to a demon. Thus the phrase defines spiritual adultery. To commit idolatry means to commit spiritual adultery. Eating food sacrificed to idols describes how Christians actually do this.
Now we will look at specific “foods” which have led many of us into sexual sin with Satan.
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