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Warning from the wilderness generation

10 Brothers and sisters, I want you to be sure of the fact that our ancestors were all under the cloud and they all went through the sea. All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. However, God was unhappy with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness. These things were examples for us, so we won’t crave evil things like they did. Don’t worship false gods like some of them did, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and they got up to play.[a] Let’s not practice sexual immorality, like some of them did, and twenty-three thousand died in one day. Let’s not test Christ, like some of them did, and were killed by the snakes. 10 Let’s not grumble, like some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. 11 These things happened to them as an example and were written as a warning for us to whom the end of time has come. 12 So those who think they are standing need to watch out or else they may fall. 13 No temptation has seized you that isn’t common for people. But God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.

Avoid false gods to glorify God

14 So then, my dear friends, run away from the worship of false gods! 15 I’m talking to you like you are sensible people. Think about what I’m saying. 16 Isn’t the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Isn’t the loaf of bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one loaf of bread, we who are many are one body, because we all share the one loaf of bread. 18 Look at the people of Israel. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices share from the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That food sacrificed to a false god is anything, or that a false god is anything? 20 No, but this kind of sacrifice is sacrificed to demons and not to God. I don’t want you to be sharing in demons. 21 You can’t drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you can’t participate in the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Or should we make the Lord jealous? We aren’t stronger than he is, are we?

23 Everything is permitted, but everything isn’t beneficial. Everything is permitted, but everything doesn’t build others up. 24 No one should look out for their own advantage, but they should look out for each other. 25 Eat everything that is sold in the marketplace, without asking questions about it because of your conscience. 26 The earth and all that is in it belong to the Lord.[b] 27 If an unbeliever invites you to eat with them and you want to go, eat whatever is served, without asking questions because of your conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This meat was sacrificed in a temple,” then don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 Now when I say “conscience” I don’t mean yours but the other person’s. Why should my freedom be judged by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I participate with gratitude, why should I be blamed for food I thank God for? 31 So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, you should do it all for God’s glory. 32 Don’t offend either Jews or Greeks, or God’s church. 33 This is the same thing that I do. I please everyone in everything I do. I don’t look out for my own advantage, but I look out for many people so that they can be saved.

10 ¶ Moreover, brothers, I would that ye not ignore how our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea

and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea

and did all eat the same spiritual food

and did all drink the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was the Christ.

But with many of them God was not pleased; therefore, they were overthrown in the wilderness.

¶ Now these things became types of us, that we should not lust after evil things as they lusted.

Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.

Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed and fell dead: in one day, twenty-three thousand.

Neither let us tempt the Christ, as some of them also tempted and perished by the serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured and perished by the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened unto them as types, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.

12 Therefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

13 No temptation has taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

14 Therefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

15 ¶ I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the fellowship of the blood of the Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the fellowship of the body of the Christ?

17 For one loaf of bread means that many are one body, for we are all partakers of that one loaf.

18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not those who eat of the sacrifices participants of the altar?

19 What do I say then? that the idol is anything or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything?

20 But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I would not that ye should be participants of demons.

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; ye cannot be participants of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.

22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

23 ¶ All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify.

24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of the other.

25 Whatever is sold in the market, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake;

26 for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.

27 If any of those that do not believe bid you to a feast, and ye are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you asking no questions for conscience sake.

28 But if anyone says unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, do not eat it for the sake of him that disclosed it and for conscience sake; for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof:

29 conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other, for why should my liberty be judged by another man’s conscience?

30 For if I by grace am a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

31 Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatever ye do, do everything for the glory of God.

32 Be without offense, neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to the congregation {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones} of God;

33 even as I please everyone in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.