1 Corinthians 10

Avoid Israel’s Mistakes

1For 1I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all 2under the cloud and they all 3passed through the sea; 2and they all were 4baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3and they all 5ate the same spiritual food, 4and all 6drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was 7Christ. 5Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased; for their dead bodies were 8spread out in the wilderness.

6Now these things happened as 9examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as 10they indeed craved them. 7Do not be 11idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “12The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to 13play.” 8Nor are we to commit sexual immorality, as 14some of them 15did, and 16twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9Nor are we to put the Lord to the test, as 17some of them 18did, and were killed by the snakes. 10Nor 19grumble, as some of them 20did, and 21were killed by the 22destroyer. 11Now these things happened to them as an 23example, and 24they were written for our instruction, upon whom 25the ends of the ages have come. 12Therefore let the one who 26thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall. 13No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and 27God is faithful, 28so He will not allow you to be 29tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

14Therefore, my 30beloved, flee from 31idolatry. 15I speak as to wise people; you then, judge what I say. 16Is the 32cup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is the 33bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17Since there is one loaf, we 34who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf. 18Look at 35the people of 36Israel; are those who 37eat the sacrifices not partners in the altar? 19What do I mean then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or 38that an idol is 39anything? 20No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they 40sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons. 2141You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and 42the table of demons. 22Or do we 43provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not 44stronger than He, are we?

2345All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things 4647build people up. 24No one is to 48seek his own advantage, but rather that of his 49neighbor. 2550Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions, for the sake of conscience; 2651for the earth is the Lord’s, and 52all it contains. 27If 53one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, 54eat anything that is set before you without asking questions, for the sake of conscience. 28But 55if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of that one who informed you and for the sake of conscience; 29Now by “conscience” I do not mean your own, but the other person’s; for 56why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30If I partake with thankfulness, 57why am I slandered about that for which I 58give thanks?

31Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or 59whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. 3260Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or 61the church of God; 33just as I also 62please everyone in all things, 63not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, 64so that they may be saved.