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brothers, I do not want you to be unaware of the fact that our fathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.
6 Now these things became examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things as they did. 7 Do not become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they got up to play”. 8 We must not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in a single day twenty-three thousand people fell dead. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer.
11 Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written down as warnings for us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 So if you think you are standing, be careful not to fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to mankind. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond what you are able to bear. But with the temptation, He will also provide the way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.
14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? And the bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of that one bread.
18 Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That a sacrifice offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are sacrificed to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons also. You cannot partake of the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
23 “Everything is permissible”, but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”, but not everything builds up. 24 No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, without raising questions for the sake of conscience, 26 for the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it.
27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you, without raising questions for the sake of your conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This food has been offered to an idol,” then do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake. 29 I do not mean your own conscience, but that of the other person. For why should my freedom be subject to the judgment of another person’s conscience? 30 If I partake in a meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something for which I give thanks to God for?
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please all people in everything I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, so that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I also follow the example of Christ.