1 Corinthians 8:10-13 - You sin against Christ

8:10,11

If the person with the “weak conscience” sees the clever person eating food previously offered to idols, then he may think that it is OK to do that, and so start to do it himself (he is “emboldened in his conscience”). However, Paul demonstrates a deep insight into human psychology. The weaker brother’s conscience will then start to bother him. He is eating the meat not out of a settled decision in his own mind, but by a superficial sense that it is OK because the stronger brother has done it. And when we do things against our conscience it causes all sorts of internal problems.

8:12,13

So rather than exercising their freedom, the stronger brother is sinning against the weaker brother by wounding their conscience. More than that, the person is sinning against Christ. For Christ cares for the weaker brother, “the little one” (cf Lk 17:1,2). With regard to the earlier statement in 1 Cor 8:9 about “exercising” their “rights”, Paul may have been speaking ironically. What the “stronger brother” should be thinking about is the well being and spiritual growth of others.