1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Scripture: 1 Cor. 9:19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

1 Cor. 9:20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.

1 For 9:21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

1 Cor. 9:22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

1 Cor. 9:23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Teaching: Paul continues here on the topic of rights, freedom, and expectations of a pastor or evangelist and his congregation. He’s been arguing for the fact that congregations have an obligation to support their pastor and that a pastor’s posture should be clear-eyed towards the spreading of the gospel, and eternal reward, but that earning a living by this is perfectly fine. In verse 18, Paul asserted that it is a blessing to him that he may, in this case, present the gospel free of charge, and in doing so, he limited his “right” to seek financial provision. Paul then expands on this idea of limiting his “rights” in order to win more people to Christ in verses 19-23. 

Paul gives three examples — that of the Jew, the Gentile (“those outside the law’), and the weak. To each, he says he becomes like them. In what sense? For Jews, he observed the Law. For Gentiles, he did not observe the Law. For the weak, he became weak. He appealed to each group in a manner that would create an cultural connection with them. He came to them, both physically but also spiritually, philosophically, and emotionally. He met them where they were.

However, a few things need to be noticed. First, Paul voluntarily did this — there was no command that he sacrifice his own liberty in Christ to do this. He did this for the “sake of the gospel” to earn a reward, not as a command of the Lord. Secondly, as he was living with Gentiles, not under the Mosaic Law, Paul did not think himself to be free to do whatever he pleased, as a Gentile would. Paul still recognized that he was under the Law of Christ, which essentially is found in Matthew 22:37-40, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And secondly to love your neighbor as yourself. Paul lived by this, voluntarily limiting his freedom in certain instances so that he might win some to Christ. 

Takeaway: We can learn much from Paul in these verses on the topic of evangelism. How we approach others — whether in foreign countries with drastically different cultures or even in our own cities with drastically different ideologies and preconceptions — matters. We should not shy away from meeting others where they are at — we are called to go to them, not sit back and wait for them to come to us. When we do that, we should be prepared to limit our own freedoms for the sake of advancing the gospel. It is inherently loving, both to God and to our neighbors, to meet our neighbors where they are at and minister to them in Jesus’ name. The gospel is one true message, but it can be expressed in many ways and and in many contexts. Jesus himself is multifaceted. For some, it is the truth of his words that pierce through confusion in their lives to reach them. For others, it is his love and grace that comforts them when they most need it. For others, it is his power that strengthens them when they recognize their own weaknesses. In time, and in following Christ, we all come to see how Christ becomes all things to us. I think there is an element here, when Paul says, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” that alludes to Christ being all things to all people, as well. How wonderful it is to have a Lord and Savior who can be all things to us and what an opportunity for us to help others come to see the same for themselves.