Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Corinthians 8:7-13

"Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as [of] a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak. For if a man see thee who hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol`s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble." — 1 Corinthians 8:7-13 (ASV)

Eating one kind of food and abstaining from another have nothing in them to recommend a person to God. But the apostle cautions against putting a stumbling block in the way of the weak, so that they are not emboldened to eat what was offered to the idol, not as common food but as a sacrifice, and thus be guilty of idolatry. Whoever has the Spirit of Christ in them will love those whom Christ loved so as to die for them.

Injuries done to Christians are done to Christ. This is especially true of entangling them in guilt: wounding their consciences is wounding Him. We should be very careful not to do anything that may cause stumbling to others, though it may be innocent in itself. And if we must not endanger the souls of others, how much should we take care not to destroy our own!

Christians should beware of approaching the brink of evil, or even its appearance, though many do this in public matters, for which they perhaps argue plausibly. People cannot sin against their fellow believers in this way without offending Christ and endangering their own souls.