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I. THE VARIOUS USE OF THIS PHRASE IN SCRIPTURE. We are said in Scripture to glorify — i.e., honour — God —

1. By a solemn acknowledgment of Him and His perfections in worship (Psalm 86:9); but especially in praise and thanksgiving (Psalm 86:12; Matthew 5:16; Luke 5:25; Luke 17:18).

2. By the acknowledgment of sin and repentance for it (Joshua 7:19; Jeremiah 13:16; Revelation 16:9); because in so doing we acknowledge God's authority and the righteousness of those laws which we have broken.

3. By our holiness and obedience (1 Corinthians 6:20). Thus our Saviour glorified God (John 17:4), and bids us do so (John 15:8). So likewise St. Paul prays for the Philippians (Philippians 1:11).

4. By our sufferings for His cause and truth (John 21:19).

5. When the honour and advantage of religion is consulted —

(1)  By faithful ministers (1 Peter 4:11).

(2)  By maintaining the peace and unity of the Church (Romans 15:5, 6).

(3)  By abstaining from things likely to cause scandal, as in the argument concluded by the text.

II. THREE THINGS MUST CONCUR THAT OUR ACTIONS MAY BE DONE "TO THE GLORY OF GOD."

1. They must be materially good; we must do what God commands, and avoid what He forbids.

2. They must be done with regard to God, and out of conscience to our duty to Him, and not for any mean or temporal end. If we serve God to please men, if we profess godliness for gain, though the actions be never so good, yet all their virtue is lost.

3. They must not be spoiled by any bad circumstance; for circumstances may render that which is lawful in itself unlawful.

III. HOW FAR WE ARE BOUND ACTUALLY TO INTEND AND DESIGN THE GLORY OF GOD IN EVERY PARTICULAR ACTION OF OUR LIVES.

1. This is morally impossible, and therefore cannot be obligatory.

2. It is not necessary, any more than it is for a man who takes a journey every step of his way actually to think of his journey's end.

3. A habitual intention to glorify God in the course of our lives is sufficient; because this will serve all good purposes, as well as an actual intention upon every particular occasion.

IV. IS A MAN BOUND TO PREFER THE GLORY OF GOD BEFORE HIS OWN ETERNAL HAPPINESS, as Moses and St. Paul seem to have done?

1. If we could admit the supposition that the two might come in competition, there could be no obligation to choose eternal misery, for that would be to choose sin, the cause of it. And sin is not to be chosen in any case; no, not for the glory of God (Romans 3:7, 8). As to the instance of Moses, the phrase of "blotting out of the book of life" probably signifies no more than death. St. Paul's was a vehement and hyperbolical expression of his mighty affection to his brethren according to the flesh.

2. The supposition is senseless. By seeking the glory of God we directly promote our own happiness; the two are inseparably linked together.

V. INFERENCES.

1. See here the goodness of God, who is pleased to esteem whatever is for the good of men to be for His glory.

2. Here is a great argument to us to be very careful of our duty, and to abound in the fruits of holiness, because hereby we glorify God.

3. We should in all our actions have regard to the honour and advantage of religion, the edification, peace, and unity of the Church; because in these things we do in a peculiar manner glorify God.

(Abp. Tillotson.)

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KJV: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

WEB: Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.