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He puts them in fear with examples from the Old Testament, and exhorts them to lead godly lives. Of the Lord’s Supper.

10 Brethren, I would not want you to be ignorant of this: that our fathers were all under a cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized under Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and did all eat of the same spiritual food, and did all drink of the same spiritual drink. And they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, which rock was Christ. But in many of them, God had no delight. For they were overthrown in the wilderness. These are examples for us, so that we will not lust after evil things like they did.

Neither be worshippers of images like some of them were, as it is written: The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up again to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed fornication, and in one day 23,000 were destroyed. Neither let us tempt Christ as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. 10 Neither murmur as some of them murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

11 All these things happened to them for examples, and were written to make us mindful – we upon whom the ends of the world have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.

13 No trial has taken you but such as follows the nature of man. But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tried above your strength, but will in the midst of the trial make a way to escape out.

14 And so, my dear beloveds, flee from the worshipping of idols. 15 I speak as to people who have discernment. Judge what I say. 16 Is not the cup of blessing that we bless, partaking of the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break, partaking of the body of Christ? 17 Because we, though we be many, yet are one bread and one body, inasmuch as we are all partakers of one bread. 18 Observe Israel which walks carnally; are not those who eat of the sacrifice, partakers of the altar?

19 What am I saying then? That the idol is anything? or that what is offered to idols is anything? 20 No, but I say that these things that the Gentiles offer, they offer to devils, and not to God. And I do not want you to have fellowship with the devils. 21 You cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and of the cup of the devils. You cannot be partakers of the Lord’s Table and of the table of devils. 22 Or shall we provoke the Lord? Are we stronger than he?

All things are lawful to me, but all things are not helpful. 23 All things are lawful to me, but all things do not edify. 24 Let no one seek his own profit, but let each seek the welfare of the other. 25 Whatever is sold in the market, eat it, and ask no questions for conscience’ sake. 26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it. 27 If any unbelievers invite you to a feast and if you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, This is dedicated to idols, then do not eat of it – for the sake of the one who told you and for injury of conscience.

The earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it.

29 Conscience, I say: not yours, but the conscience of that other. For why should my liberty be judged by another man’s conscience? 30 For if I share in the meal with thanks, why am I ill spoken of for the thing I give thanks for? 31 Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 See that you give no occasion of evil, neither to the Jews nor yet to the Gentiles, nor to the congregation of God – 33 even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of many, so that they might be saved.

10 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that 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 all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”(A) Let’s not commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. Let’s not test Christ,[a] as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents. 10 Don’t grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.

13 No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread. 18 Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

19 What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I don’t desire that you would have fellowship with demons. 21 You can’t both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can’t both partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

23 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good. 25 Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience, 26 for “the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.”(B) 27 But if one of those who don’t believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, with all its fullness.” 29 Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other’s conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for something I give thanks for?

31 Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no occasion for stumbling, whether to Jews, to Greeks, or to the assembly of God; 33 even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.

Footnotes

  1. 10:9 NU reads “the Lord” instead of “Christ”.