10 Now brothers and sisters, I don’t want you all to be ignorant about how our Jewish ancestors sheltered under the cloud and then they all passed through the sea,[ref] 2 so they were all immersed ‘into Moses’ in both the cloud and the sea. 3 They all ate the same supernatural food[ref] 4 and they all drank the same supernatural drink, because they drank from a supernatural rock that followed them, and that rock was the messiah.[ref] 5 Despite that, God wasn’t very happy with most of them, and they ended up dying in the wilderness.[ref]

6 Those things back then became examples for us, so that we wouldn’t be desiring evil things like they did.[ref] 7 Don’t worship idols like some of them did, as it’s written:[ref] ‘The people sat down to eat and drink and then stood up to dance to the golden calf.’ 8 Nor should we commit sexual immorality like many of them did, and 23,000 people died in one day.[ref] 9 And nor should we challenge the master like some of our Jewish ancestors did, and then they were killed by the snakes.[ref] 10 Don’t grumble like many of them did, and then they were killed by the death angel.[ref]

11 All of those things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us who’re living at the ends of the ages.

12 So if you think your faith is solid, be careful that you don’t fall. 13 You all haven’t been tempted by anything except what is common to humanity, but God is faithful and won’t allow you to be tempted beyond what you all can handle. In fact, along with the temptations, God will provide the way out so that you’ll be able to endure them.

14 So my dear friends, totally avoid idolatery. 15 I’m speaking to sensible people, so judge what I’m telling you for yourselves. 16 When we bless the ‘cup of blessing’, aren’t we sharing the messiah’s blood? When we break the bread, aren’t we sharing the messiah’s body?[ref] 17 Because there’s just one loaf that we all eat pieces of, thus we who’re many, are one body together.

18 Consider the people of Israel from a physical perspective: Aren’t those who eat portions of the sacrifices, joining to the altar? RECHECK [ref] 19 So what am I saying? That whether or not food is sacrificed to idols means anything? Or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of the pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I don’t want you all to be partners with demons.[ref] 21 You can’t drink the master’s cup as well as the cup of demons, nor can you partake at the master’s table as well as the table of demons. 22 Or are we trying to make the master envious? No, he’s more powerful than us.[ref]

23 Everything might seem to be allowable, but not everything is beneficial. Everything might seem to be allowable, but not everything builds up character.[ref] 24 No one should aim to satisfy themselves, but work for the good of others.

25 You can eat anything that’s sold at the meat market without even raising questions of conscience, 26 because:[ref] ‘the earth and everything in it belongs to the master.’

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you plan to go, eat anything that’s set before you without raising questions of conscience, 28 but if someone tells you, “That has been offered as a sacrifice,” for the sake of the person who told you and for the sake of conscience, don’t eat it. 29 Now when I said ‘for the sake of conscience’, I didn’t mean your conscience, but that of the other person, because why does my freedom need to be judged by someone else’s conscience? 30 As long as I’ve thanked God for what I eat, why should I then criticise it?

31 So whether you’re eating or drinking or doing whatever, always ensure that God gets honoured. 32 Try not to offend the Jews or the Greeks or the people in God’s assembly, 33 just like I work to please everyone—not for my own benefit but rather, trying to benefit everyone else so that they might get saved.

11 Imitate me, just like I also imitate Messiah.[ref]