THE DANGER OF KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT SACRIFICIAL LOVE - 1 CORINTHIANS 8

The world teaches us to protect our rights. We're told to fight for them. Save them. Insist on them. As citizens of India, we're aware of our constitutional rights. We love our rights. We embrace them. We defend them. And we often demand them. But when we open Scripture, we find a different ethic. It's radical. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul shows us this. Knowledge shaped by love doesn't insist on rights. It lays them down. Christian freedom is real. But it's not ultimate. Love is. Sacrificial love gives up personal freedom. It does this for the sake of others.

That's the heart of today's message. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul explains it clearly. Knowledge without sacrificial love leads to pride and harms others. However, shaped by sacrificial love, it limits personal rights to builds others up and reflects Christ.

If you have your Bible, turn to 1 Corinthians 8. Today's sermon topic is The Danger of Knowledge without Sacrificial Love. The Corinthian church was gifted but divided—marked by spiritual pride, factionalism, and confusion over Christian freedom. In chapter 8, Paul addresses how true knowledge must be shaped by sacrificial love, especially in matters like food offered to idols.

Now, let's dive into verses 1 through 6.

Without Sacrificial Love, Knowledge Becomes Prideful (1-6)

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up (v.1).

“Now concerning” signals a new issue. This issue is about eating food offered to idols. The phrase “we know that all of us possess knowledge” was a Corinthian slogan. The Corinthians used that slogan to defend two points: (1) An idol has no real existence (v. 4); and (2) there is no God but one (v. 4).

Paul responds: “This knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know (v.2).” He challenges the proud attitude of the Corinthians. Knowledge makes them arrogant. Without love, their claimed knowledge is incomplete and imaginary. Paul basically means Corinthians’ knowledge is not true knowledge.

“But if anyone loves God, he is known by God (v.3).” The phrase “he is known by God” is a perfect passive. It shows a past action with continuing results. This construction highlights God’s initiative, not man’s effort. True followers of Christ, who have been known by God, are marked not by boastful knowledge but by love. Love for God. Love for others. So, Paul is telling us that true knowledge is knowledge plus love.

“Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that an idol has no real existence and that there is no God but one. For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords” (v.4-5)” Paul resumes the point from 8:1. Their position is: idols are nothing, and there is only one God. Paul accepts that idols have no real being. But he does not deny that false gods and spiritual powers appear in the world. They exert influence in idol worship. Here, food offered to idols is about reclining at the idols’ temple (v.10).

“Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist (v.6).” Paul asserts a strong monotheism that includes Christ into the definition of God. The Father is the source and goal of everything—“from whom all things and for whom we exist.” Jesus, the one Lord, is the agent of creation. He is the means by which believers exist in new creation—“through whom all things and through whom we exist.”

The Corinthians followed the leading teachers of their day. Some followed Paul. Some followed Apollos. And Some followed Cephas. They had sound doctrine. We, too, read and learn from gifted teachers—Piper, MacArthur, Carson, Dever, and others. Good theology matters. The question is whether our doctrine is marked by love. Do our convictions build up the church? Or do they puff us up? The Corinthians possess knowledge and sound doctrines. But they don’t have sacrificial love.

Verses 1–6 warn us: no matter how sound our doctrine or how eloquently we articulate those doctrines, without sacrificial love, such knowledge becomes prideful. Now, let’s see how this prideful knowledge of Corinthians plays out in real relationships.

Let us turn to verses 7–12.

Without Sacrificial Love, Knowledge Harms Others (7-12)

Now, Paul turns to the Corinthians’ actual behavior. He does not immediately condemn them for reclining at the temple. He saves that fuller warning for 10:1–22. Instead, he points out problems: “Not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled (v.7).” A weak conscience describes a believer whose moral sensitivity is still influenced by old habits or incomplete understanding—quick to feel guilty over things they see as wrong. In contrast, a strong conscience is shaped by the gospel's truth, clear-eyed enough to separate harmless cultural customs from real sin.

Some new believers, likely former Gentile worshipers, still remember eating at temple meals. For them, those meals felt like eating in the presence of a god. When stronger believers eat that food without concern, it harms these weaker consciences. Their consciences are “defiled.” This word pictures sacred things being soiled—like bringing unacceptable items into a temple or staining a spotless garment. The immediate effect of the Corinthians’ careless insistence on rights is that they damage fellow Christians whose consciences are still fragile.

“Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do (v.8).” Paul is trying to show that food does not make one holy or unholy. So, refusing food does not make us right with God. And eating it does not separate us from him.

“But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak (v.9).” Paul warns that the right or freedom the knowledgeable enjoy can become a stumbling block for the weak. This “right or freedom” is a gift of Christ. It is granted to believers who are freed from sin and the law. And it includes the freedom to eat any food. When they exercise their rights without love, it becomes a trap that harms fellow believers in the Corinthian church.

“For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? (v.10)” The verb 'eat' here means reclining at the table—the elite way of dining. Reclining and being served signaled wealth, status, and influence. So, the people who reclined at the temple are upper-class folks. The word translated “encouraged” is the same verb Paul used for “builds up” in verse 1. Paul uses it ironically: the strong person’s freedom/rights “builds up” the weak. But in this case, it builds them up to do what they believe is sin.

“And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died (v.11).” When the well-off Corinthians reclined at temple meals, they defiled the weak brother’s conscience. Then they encouraged (built up) him to eat. And they led him into ruin. “Destroyed” here means led into sin by acting against his own convictions. The weaker believer is not an outsider. He is “the brother for whom Christ died.”

“Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ (v.12).” The verb translated “wounding” pictures a hard blow, like striking someone. Paul frames the behavior of the strong as violence against fellow believers: their freedom/right harms a fragile conscience. And therefore it injures a brother or sister.

The Corinthian elites were knowledgeable. But their knowledge made them arrogant. And it harmed the weak believers. It defiled their conscience. It encouraged them to sin. Furthermore, it destroyed them. And they sin against Christ by wounding them. These are strong words.

So, what do we do with our knowledge? “In cultural gray areas—like drinking wine, wearing earrings, chewing pan, tattoos, gold ornaments, or even choices like homeschooling—we must ask not just ‘Can I?’ but ‘Should I?’ These liberties may not be sinful. But they must be exercised with love and discernment.”

For example, drinking wine may not be forbidden in Scripture. But in my culture, it’s seen as a serious offense. Earrings for young boys might be fine in my culture. But for some, it is not.

If exercising our rights harms others, love calls us to lay them down. That doesn’t mean we must always give up every liberty. But it does mean we must always ask: Will this build up my brother or sister? Will this reflect Christ’s love? In some contexts, love may lead us to refrain. In others, it may lead us to gently teach. The goal is not legalism. It is love-driven discernment. Therefore, we’ve seen that without sacrificial love, knowledge becomes prideful (vv. 1–6). And without sacrificial love, knowledge harms others (vv. 7–12).

Now let’s turn to the final and most powerful verse of the chapter.

With Sacrificial Love, Knowledge Limits One’s Rights for a Brother’s Good (13)

“Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble (v.13).” Paul wraps up his argument with a strong personal commitment. In Greek, the double negative “οὐ” and “μή” signals emphatic refusal—“not at all, by no means.” He’s saying, “I will absolutely never do it.” Paul offers himself as the model response to this issue. His example here sets the tone for what he will later say: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (11:1). Love builds up (8:1). And true love never causes another believer to stumble. That’s the heart of Paul’s message.

Yes, knowledge matters! Sound doctrines do matter! But if that knowledge or sound doctrines are not marked by this sacrificial love which Paul talks about in verse 13, the knowledge is incomplete.

Pastor Benson has a tattoo on his arm—he got it while he was at Dubai. But when he comes here, he chooses not to expose it. Why? Because he doesn’t want to defile the conscience of weaker brothers or encourage them to go against their convictions. That’s exactly what Paul is saying in verse 13: love means laying down our rights to protect others

Knowledge without sacrificial love leads to pride and harms others. However, when shaped by sacrificial love, it limits personal rights to builds others up and reflects Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 8, we see a clear contrast between two groups.

• The Corinthians: They possessed knowledge. But it made them proud. They insisted on their rights. They ate meat in idol temples. And it harmed weak brothers. It defiled their conscience. It encouraged weak brothers to go against their convictions. They sinned against Christ by wounding the weak brothers.

• Paul: He had the same knowledge. But he chose sacrificial love. He resolved to give up his rights entirely. He did it to protect and build up others.

Are you exercising your rights to serve yourself or to serve others?

Are you building up the body of Christ? Or causing others to stumble?

Paul, as a follower of Christ, decided to give up his rights—even though he possessed knowledge. His love was sacrificial. Just like Christ’s. In Philippians 2:4–8, Paul reminds us of Jesus. Jesus gave up His divine privileges. He became a servant to save us. Paul writes: Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus, though fully God, didn’t cling to His status. He humbled Himself. He took on human form. And He obeyed to the point of death—even death on a cross. The King of the universe stepped down from His throne out of love. He became a servant. He died for our sins. That’s true sacrificial love. A perfect example of giving up one’s rights for the sake of others. Paul followed that example. And now, we’re called to do the same.

This passage is about food offered to idols. But its message goes far beyond that. It’s about knowledge, rights, and love. The Corinthians had knowledge. But without love, it led to pride. It harmed others. Paul, on the other hand, chose to give up his rights for the sake of others. This principle applies to every gray area—drinking wine, wearing earrings, tattoos, homeschooling, and more. But it also reaches deeper: our comfort, our pleasure, our peace. Do we hold tightly to these? Or do we lay them down to serve others?

Benny Cherian, a missionary from Kerala to Nepal, shared a powerful testimony at ACA in 2013. Once a lawyer, he gave up his profession. He chose to serve the fatherless and voiceless—Nepali orphans. He lives with them. Furthermore, he eats with them. He shares their daily life under the same roof. What led him to leave behind comfort, security, and professional success? That’s sacrificial love. Though he had knowledge and every right to live comfortably in Kerala as a faithful believer, he decided to waive those rights for the sake of others. That’s Christlike. Benny uncle didn’t just preach love. He embodied it.

I see this lived out in Grace City Church. Subhasini Chechi and Ruby give up their comfort to build up my wife, Dorcas. Pastors and PAs daily die to their own ease to disciple others. That’s knowledge with sacrificial love. Think of Benny Cherian. Once a lawyer, he gave up his profession. He chose to serve the fatherless and voiceless—Nepali orphans. He chose to live with them and eat with them. That’s Sacrificial love.

So, what about us? Are you more like the Corinthians—proud of your theology but careless with people? Or are you more like Paul, Benny uncle, and ultimately like Christ?

Christianity is not just about knowledge. It’s about sacrificial love. And sacrificial love means self-denial. Self-denial means dying to self daily. Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). Only when we die to self can we bear fruit. That’s the heart of Christianity.

Knowledge without sacrificial love leads to pride and it harms others. However, when shaped by sacrificial love, it limits personal rights to builds others up and reflects Christ.

Finally, in the same book of 1 Corinthians 13, Paul says, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

So today, will you follow Christ’s example? Not clinging to your rights, but laying them down to build up others? That’s the call of 1 Corinthians 8. That’s the call of the cross. So, we’ve seen: knowledge without love becomes prideful (vv.1–6), harmful (vv.7–12). However, sacrificial love limits rights for others’ good (v.13).

Let’s pray. Thank you, Father, for reminding us that knowledge without love is dangerous. Help us not to be proud, but willing to give up our rights—just like Carl Becker, Benny Cherian, Paul, and above all, Christ our Savior—to build up our brothers and sisters.

In Jesus’s name, Amen.