Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 10:25

"Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience` sake," — 1 Corinthians 10:25 (ASV)

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles. In the market. The meat of animals offered in sacrifice would be exposed there for sale as well as other meat. The apostle says that it might be purchased, since the mere fact that it had been offered in sacrifice could not change its quality or make it unfit for use. They were to abstain from attending the feasts of the idols in the temple, from partaking of meat that had been offered to them, and from celebrations observed expressly in honor of idols; but so that they would not become too scrupulous, the apostle tells them that if the meat was offered indiscriminately in the market with other meat, they should not hesitate to purchase or eat it.

Asking no question for conscience sake. Do not hesitate or doubt as if it might possibly have been offered in sacrifice. Do not be scrupulous, as if it were possible that the conscience could be defiled. This is still a good rule and may be applied to many things. But:

1. That which is purchased should be in itself lawful and right. It would not be proper for a person to use strong alcoholic drinks or any other intoxicating drinks because they were offered for sale, any more than it would be to commit suicide because people offered pistols, bowie knives, and halters for sale.
2. There are many things today about which similar questions may be asked; for example, is it right to use the products of slave labor—the sugar, cotton, and so on, that are the price of blood? Is it right to use that which is known to be made on the Sabbath, or that which it is known a person has made through a life of dishonesty and crime? The consciences of many people are tender on all such questions, and the questions are not easily solved. Some rules may perhaps be suggested, arising from the case before us:
   • If the article is exposed indiscriminately with others in the market, if it is in itself lawful, and if there is no ready mark of distinction, then the apostle would direct us not to hesitate.
   • If the use and purchase of the article would go directly and knowingly to support the existence of slavery, to encourage violating the Sabbath, or to the continuation of a course of dishonest living, then it would seem equally clear that it is not right to purchase or to use it. If a person abhors slavery, Sabbath-breaking, and dishonesty, then how can they knowingly partake of that which goes to patronize and extend these abominations?
   • If the article is expressly pointed out to them as an article that has been made in this manner, and their partaking of it will be construed as a participation in the crime, then they ought to abstain. (See 1 Corinthians 10:28). No one is at liberty to patronize slavery, Sabbath-breaking, dishonesty, or licentiousness in any form. Everyone can live without doing it; and where it can be done, it should be done. And perhaps there will be no other way of breaking up many of the crimes and cruelties of the earth than for good people to act conscientiously and to refuse to partake of the proceeds of sin and of gain that results from oppression and fraud.