Warnings from Israel’s Past

1Now, brethren, I do not wish you to be ignorant, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and that all passed through the sea, 2and were all immersed into Moses, in the cloud and in the sea; 3and did all eat the same spiritual food, 4and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was the Christ. 5But with the most of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6Now these things took place as examples for us, that we should not desire evil things, as they, also, desired. 7Neither be you idolaters, as some of them were, as it is written: Tho people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to engage in idolatrous sport. 8Nor let us be guilty of lewdness, as some of them were guilty, and fell, in one day, twenty-three thousand. 9Nor let us tempt the Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents. 10Nor do you murmur, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they are written for the instruction of us, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12"Wherefore, let him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall. 13No trial has come upon you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tried more than you are able to bear; but he will, with the trial, make a way to escape, so that you be able to bear up under it.

Flee from Idolatry

14Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15I speak as to wise men; judge you what I say. 16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the participation of the blood of the Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the participation of the body of the Christ? 17Because the loaf is one, we, the many, are one body, for we are all partakers of the one loaf. 18Look at Israel according to the flesh: are not those who eat the sacrifices partakers with the altar? 19What, then, do I say? That an idol is any thing? or, that what is sacrificed to an idol is any thing? 20But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. I do not wish you to be partakers with demons. 21You can not drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: you can not be partakers of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. 22Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

All to God’s Glory
(1 Peter 4:1–11)

23All meats are lawful for me; but all are not profitable; all are lawful, but all do not edify. 24Let no one seek his own, but each the welfare of the other. 25Any thing that is sold in the market, eat, asking no questions on account of conscience: 26for the earth and its fullness are the Lord's. 27If any one of the unbelievers invites you to a feast, and you are disposed to go, eat any thing that is set before you, asking no questions for conscience sake. 28But if any one say to you: This is sacrificed to idols; eat not, for the sake of him that pointed it out, and for conscience sake: 29conscience, I say, not your own, but that of the other. Why, then, is my liberty judged by the conscience of another? 30If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I evil spoken of on account of that for which I give thanks?

31Whether, therefore, you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32Give no occasion for stumbling, either to the Jews, or to the Greeks, or to the church of God; 33even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own good, but that of the many, in order that they may be saved.