1 Corinthians 10:18 Commentary and Bible Study

A second example reinforces the point. Israel after the flesh refers to Israel, the nation, including unbelieving Israelites who carried out the rites of the ceremonial law. Paul is talking about the divine prescription for handling of animal sacrifices in the tabernacle and then in the temple after it. Under the law of Moses both the priests (Leviticus 7:15) and those making the offerings (Deuteronomy 12:18) were permitted to eat parts of the sacrificial. What was the significance of this? Paul teaches that those who ate were partakers of the altar; they had communion with the Lord through these offerings, and they were united by a common altar. All this was done at a ceremonial level and without any true faith, and yet they are said to have been partakers of the altar. If that is true of unbelieving Israelites, it is also true of those who are involved in offerings made to idols.