John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 10:23

"All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify." — 1 Corinthians 10:23 (ASV)

All things are lawful for me. Again, he returns to the right of Christian liberty, by which the Corinthians defended themselves, and he sets aside their objection by giving the same explanation as before. “To eat foods sacrificed to idols and be present at the banquet was an outward thing, and therefore was in itself lawful.” Paul declares that he does not by any means call this into question, but he replies that we must pay attention to edification.

All things are lawful for me, he says, but all things are not profitable—that is, for our neighbors. For no one, as he immediately adds, ought to seek his own advantage exclusively; and if anything is not profitable to fellow believers, it must be abstained from. Next, he expresses the kind of advantage: when it edifies, for we must not merely consider the advantage of the flesh.

“What then? Does a thing that is otherwise permitted by God become unlawful on this account—if it is not beneficial for our neighbor? Then, in that case, our liberty would be subjected to men.” Carefully consider Paul’s words, and you will see that liberty nevertheless remains unimpaired when you adapt to your neighbors. It is only the use of liberty that is restricted, for he acknowledges that it is lawful but says that it should not be used if it does not edify.