For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.They all ate the same spiritual foodand drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry." We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.

Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons.Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?"I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive.No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."

If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.I am referring to the other person's conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another's conscience?If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 10

Learning from Israel’s Failures

1 For I do not want you to be unaware,t brothers and sisters,t that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea,2 and all were baptizeds into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,3 and all ate the same spiritual food,4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.5 But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness.6 These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did.7 So do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”ts8 And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day.s9 And let us not put Christss to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes.s10 And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.ts11 These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.12 So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall.

13 No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others.t And God is faithful: Het will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear,t but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Avoid Idol Feasts

14 So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.15 I am speaking to thoughtful people. Consider what I say.16 Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ?17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread.18 Look at the people of Israel.t Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?19 Am I saying that idols or food sacrificed to them amount to anything?20 No, I mean that what the pagans sacrificet is to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons.21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

22 Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than he is?t
23 “Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,”s but not everything builds others up.t24 Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.25 Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience,26 for the earth and its abundance are the Lord’s.s27 If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience.28 But if someone says to you, “This is from a sacrifice,” do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of consciences –29 I do not mean yours but the other person’s. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience?30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for the foodt that I give thanks for?31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.32 Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God,33 just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefitt of many, so that they may be saved.