1 Corinthians 6:12 (ESV)
¹²“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 

In many reputable translations, including the NIV, RSV, and ESV, the statement “all things are lawful for me” is in quotation marks.  This indicates one of two things—either Paul is simply quoting the saints at Corinth who were using this popular saying as an excuse for their immoral practices, or this is something that Paul said but that the saints at Corinth were abusing or taking out of context for their own satisfaction.  Either way, the statement was misunderstood by the saints at Corinth.

Is there a sense in which “all things are lawful?”  Yes, but only in a certain area.  No one who does not have an ulterior motive would conclude that this statement is universally true.  It is clear in scripture that some things are unlawful, including the ten vices that Paul refers to in vers. 9 and 10 of this chapter.  So, when is the statement “all things are lawful” true?

It is only true regarding things that are indifferent to God.  The statement would never be true regarding anything prohibited by God.  To do what God has prohibited is to transgress His law, and the Bible calls that sin.

1 John 3:4 (KJV)
⁴Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

So, when Paul says that “all things are lawful,” he is referring to a specific area that consists of things that are permitted by God, but not commanded, making Him indifferent toward them.  Some examples of such things would be eating meat, observing days, or getting married.  Whether you eat meat or not does not matter to God.  He has not commanded you to eat meat, nor has He demanded that you refrain from doing so; thus, in that area, “all things are lawful.”

Regarding things that fall into this category (things permitted by God, but not commanded), we have the right to practice them if we want to, but that does not mean that we should.  This is what Paul is getting at in 1 Corinthians 6:12. He would not allow his right to do something dominate his thinking to such a degree that he would practice it even if it meant the downfall of others.  For example, Paul knew he had the right to eat meat if you wanted to, but he would much rather give that right up, that cause a brother to stumble over it.

1 Corinthians 8:13 (ESV)
¹³Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Can you do what Paul did, that is, give up a right that you have to do something if it is harmful to someone else, especially a brother in Christ?  Or are you so dominated by a desire to exercise your rights that you will do so regardless of the impact it has on those around you?

We must ensure that in areas of liberty, we do not exercise our rights without considering how it affects others. Developing an “I have the right” mentality can blind us to the harm that our selfish demand to exercise our rights might cause to a brother or sister in Christ. We can cause brethren to lose their souls by slavishly clinging to our right to do something regardless of its impact on others.

Paul refused to be dominated by an “I have the right” mentality.  His love for souls and the salvation of others would not allow him to exercise his rights when it was more hurtful than helpful to do so.  Let’s follow his example.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.