And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the {l} living God; as God hath said, I will {m} dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

(l) He sets the living God against idols.

(m) God dwells with us, because Christ has become God with us.

People's New Testament

6:16 What agreement hath the temple of God with idols? As God's temple has nothing in common with the idol temple, so the saints are to be separated from idolaters.

For ye are the temple of the living God. The Christian is himself the sanctuary of the Lord, as is proved by the passage quoted from Le 26:12. God dwells in his people as the Shekinah dwelt between the cherubim (Ex 25:22).

Wesley's Notes

6:16 What agreement hath the temple of God with idols - If God would not endure idols in any part of the land wherein he dwelt, how much less, under his own roof! He does not say, with the temple of idols, for idols do not dwell in their worshippers. As God hath said - To his ancient church, and in them to all the Israel of God. I will dwell in them, and walk in them - The former signifying his perpetual presence; the latter, his operation. And I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people - The sum of the whole gospel covenant. Lev 26:11, and c.

Scofield Reference Notes

Margin temple

Gr. "naos," the sanctuary itself.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

16. agreement-accordance of sentiments (compare 1Ki 18:21; Eph 5:7, 11).

the temple of God-that is, you believers (1Co 3:16; 6:19).

with idols-Compare Dagon before the ark (1Sa 5:2-4).

as-"even as God said." Quotation from Le 26:12; Jer 31:33; 32:38; Eze 37:26, 27; compare Mt 28:20; Joh 14:23.

walk in them-rather, "among them." As "dwell" implies the divine presence, so "walk," the divine operation. God's dwelling in the body and soul of saints may be illustrated by its opposite, demoniacal possession of body and soul.

my people-rather, "they shall be to me a people."

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:11-18 It is wrong for believers to join with the wicked and profane. The word unbeliever applies to all destitute of true faith. True pastors will caution their beloved children in the gospel, not to be unequally yoked. The fatal effects of neglecting Scripture precepts as to marriages clearly appear. Instead of a help meet, the union brings a snare. Those whose cross it is to be unequally united, without their wilful fault, may expect consolation under it; but when believers enter into such unions, against the express warnings of God's word, they must expect must distress. The caution also extends to common conversation. We should not join in friendship and acquaintance with wicked men and unbelievers. Though we cannot wholly avoid seeing and hearing, and being with such, yet we should never choose them for friends. We must not defile ourselves by converse with those who defile themselves with sin. Come out from the workers of iniquity, and separate from their vain and sinful pleasures and pursuits; from all conformity to the corruptions of this present evil world. If it be an envied privilege to be the son or daughter of an earthly prince, who can express the dignity and happiness of being sons and daughters of the Almighty?