MSB 1 COR Chapter 10

Warnings from Israel’s Past

(Numbers 16:41–50; Numbers 25:1–5)

10 Now[fn] I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and [that] they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and 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, for they were struck down in the wilderness.

6 These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they [did]. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them [were]. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and got up to indulge in revelry.”[fn] 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them [did], and in one day twenty-three thousand [of them] died. 9 We should not test Christ,[fn] as some of them also[fn] [did], and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not complain, as also[fn] some of them [did], and were killed by the destroying angel.[fn]

11 Now all[fn] these things happened to them [as] examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12 So the [one who] thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall. 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God [is] faithful;[fn] [He] will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when [you are] tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under [it].

Flee from Idolatry

(Exodus 20:22–26)

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to reasonable [people]; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? [And] is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because [there is] one loaf, [we who are] many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.

18 Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar? 19 Am I suggesting, then, that an idol is anything, or that food sacrificed to an idol is anything?[fn] 20 No, [but] [the] sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink [the] cup of [the] Lord and [the] cup of demons [too]; you cannot partake in [the] table of [the] Lord and [the] table of demons {too}. 22 Are we trying to provoke the Lord {to jealousy}? Are we stronger than He?

All to God’s Glory

(1 Peter 4:1–11)

23 “Everything is permissible for me,”[fn] but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is edifying. 24 No one should seek his own [good], but each one [should seek][fn] [the good] of others.

25 Eat anything sold in [the] meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth [is] the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”[fn]

27 If an unbeliever invites you {to a meal} and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone tells you, “This [food] was offered to idols,” {then do} not eat [it], for the sake of the one who told [you] and for the sake of conscience—for the earth [is the] Lord’s, and the fullness thereof—[fn] 29 the other [one’s] [ conscience ], I mean, not your own. For why {should} my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake [in the meal] with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. 32 Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews [or] Greeks [or] the church of God—33 as I also [try to] please everyone in all [I do]. [For] I am not seeking my [own] good, but [the good] of many, that they may be saved.