Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
tempt Christ--So the oldest versions, IRENÆUS (264), and good manuscripts read. Some of the oldest manuscripts read "Lord"; and one manuscript only "God." If "Lord" be read, it will mean Christ. As "Christ" was referred to in one of the five privileges of Israel (1 Corinthians 10:4), so it is natural that He should be mentioned here in one of the five corresponding sins of that people. In Numbers 21:5 it is "spake against God" (whence probably arose the alteration in the one manuscript, 1 Corinthians 10:9, "God," to harmonize it with Numbers 21:5). As either "Christ" or "Lord" is the genuine reading, "Christ" must be "God." Compare "Why do ye tempt the Lord?" (Exodus 17:2, Exodus 17:7. Compare Romans 14:11, with Isaiah 45:22-23). Israel's discontented complainings were temptings of Christ especially, the "Angel" of the covenant (Exodus 23:20-21; Exodus 32:34; Isaiah 63:9). Though they drank of "that Rock . . . Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:4), they yet complained for want of water (Exodus 17:2, Exodus 17:7). Though also eating the same spiritual meat (Christ, "the true manna," "the bread of life"), they yet murmured, "Our soul loatheth this light bread." In this case, being punished by the fiery serpents, they were saved by the brazen serpent, the emblem of Christ (compare John 8:56; Hebrews 11:26). The Greek for "tempt" means, tempt or try, so as to wear out the long-suffering of Christ (compare Psalms 95:8-9; Numbers 14:22). The Corinthians were in danger of provoking God's long-suffering by walking on the verge of idolatry, through overweening confidence in their knowledge.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Numbers 21:5
1 Corinthians 10:1
1 Corinthians 10:9
1 Corinthians 10:13
1 Corinthians 10:27
2 Timothy 3:16
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