Warnings from Israel’s Past

10 Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers^(A) were all under the cloud,^(B) all passed through the sea,^{(C) 2} and all were baptized^(D) into Moses^(E) in the cloud and in the sea. ³ They all ate the same spiritual food,^{(F) 4} and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock^(G) that followed them, and that rock was Christ.^{(H) 5} But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.^(I)

⁶ Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire^(J) evil things as they did.^{[a](K) 7} Don’t become idolaters^(L) as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play.^{[b](M)[c] 8} Let us not commit sexual immorality^(N) as some of them did,^[d] and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead.^{(O) 9} Let us not test Christ as some of them did^[e] and were destroyed by snakes.^{(P) 10} Nor should we complain^(Q) as some of them did,^[f](R) and were killed by the destroyer.^{[g](S) 11} Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us,^(T) on whom the ends of the ages^(U) have come.^{(V) 12} So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.^{(W) 13} No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful,^(X) and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape^(Y) so that you are able to bear it.

Warning against Idolatry

¹⁴ Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵ I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶ The cup^(Z) of blessing^(AA) that we give thanks for, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread^(AB) that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Because there is one bread, we who are many are one^(AC) body, for all of us share that one bread. ¹⁸ Look at the people of Israel.^[h] Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in what is offered on the altar?^{(AD) 19} What am I saying then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? ²⁰ No, but I do say that what they^[i] sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to participate with demons! ²¹ You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons. ²² Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?^(AE)

Christian Liberty

²³ “Everything is permissible,”^[j][k] but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible,”^[l] but not everything builds up. ²⁴ No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.^(AF)

²⁵ Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake, ²⁶ for the earth is the Lord’s,^(AG) and all that is in it.^{(AH)[m] 27} If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience. ²⁸ But if someone says to you, “This is food offered to an idol,” do not eat it,^(AI) out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake.^{[n] 29} I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged^(AJ) by another person’s conscience? ³⁰ If I partake with thanks,^(AK) why am I slandered because of something I give thanks for?

³¹ Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.^{(AL) 32} Give no offense^(AM) to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God, ³³ just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many,^(AN) so that they may be saved.