Warning against Idolatry

101 For I do not want you to be unaware , brethren , that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea ; 2 and all were baptized 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 drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ . 5 Nevertheless , with most of them God was not well-pleased ; for they were laid low in the wilderness .

6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave e evil things as they also craved . 7 Do not be idolaters , as some of them were; as it is written , " THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK , AND STOOD UP TO PLAY ." 8 Nor let us act immorally , as some of them did , and twenty-three e thousand fell in one day . 9 Nor let us try the Lord , as some of them did , and were destroyed by the serpents . 10 Nor grumble , as some of them did , and were destroyed by the destroyer . 11 Now these things happened to them as an example , and they were written for our instruction , upon whom the ends of the ages have come . 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall . 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man ; and God is faithful , who will not allow you to be tempted 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. 14 Therefore , my beloved , flee from idolatry .

15 I speak as to wise men ; you judge what I say . 16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ ? 17 Since there is one bread , we who are many are one body ; for we all partake of the one bread . 18 Look at the nation Israel ; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar ? 19 What do I mean then ? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything , or that an idol is anything ? 20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice , they sacrifice to demons and not to God ; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons . 21 You cannot e drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons ; you cannot e partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons . 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy ? We are not stronger than He, are we?

Do All to the Glory of God

23 All things are lawful , but not all things are profitable . All things are lawful , but not all things edify . 24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor . 25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience' sake ; 26 FOR THE EARTH IS THE Lord'S , AND ALL IT CONTAINS . 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go , eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience' sake . 28 But if anyone says to you, "This is meat sacrificed to idols ," do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience' sake; 29 I mean not your own conscience , but the other man's; for why e is my freedom judged by another's conscience ? 30 If I partake with thankfulness , why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks ? 31 Whether , then , you eat or drink or whatever you do , do all to the glory of God . 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God ; 33 just as I also please all men in all things , not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many , so that they may be saved .