If an idol is just dead stone or wood, is there any real power behind it?
Paul explains that although an idol is nothing but dead stone or wood and cannot affect the meat offered to it, there is nevertheless real power behind idolatry. That power is Satan, who works through idolatry, and the Gentiles’ sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God.
Les teaches that Paul’s reasoning can seem hard to comprehend. On one hand, Paul treats the idol as nothing more than dead stone or wood; it could never have an effect on the meat, so he could eat it without compunction. On the other hand, Paul warns that something is associated with those demonic gods, and they had power, so there were instances where he says, don’t eat of it. The idol may be dead, but the power behind it is not dead—that is Satan, because Satan works through idolatry. Verse 20 confirms that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, not to God.
But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.