Christian Liberty

23 “Everything is permissible,”[a] but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,”[b] but not everything builds up. 24 No one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person.(A)

25 Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, without raising questions for the sake of conscience, 26 since the earth is the Lord’s,(B) and all that is in it.[c](C) 27 If any of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions for the sake of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This is food from a sacrifice,” do not eat it,(D) out of consideration for the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience.[d] 29 I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged(E) by another person’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thanksgiving,(F) why am I criticized because of something for which I give thanks?

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Footnotes

  1. 10:23 Other mss add for me
  2. 10:23 Other mss add for me
  3. 10:26 Ps 24:1
  4. 10:28 Other mss add “For the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.”

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.[a] 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?

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