1 Corinthians 10
10
Warning From History
1Brothers and sisters, I want you to know what happened to our ancestors who were with Moses. They were all under the cloud,#10:1 cloud The cloud that led and protected the people of Israel on their journey out of Egypt, across the Red Sea, and through the wilderness. See Ex. 13:20-22; 14:19, 20. and they all walked through the sea. 2They were all baptized#10:2 baptized See “baptize” in the Word List. Here, Paul seems to mean that what happened to the Jews with Moses can be compared to the baptism of a believer into Christ. into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food, 4and they all drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from that spiritual rock that was with them, and that rock was Christ. 5But God was not pleased with most of those people, so they were killed in the desert.
6And these things that happened are examples for us. These examples should stop us from wanting evil things like those people did. 7Don’t worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people sat down to eat and drink and then got up to have a wild party.”#Quote from Ex. 32:6. 8We should not commit sexual sins as some of them did. In one day 23,000 of them died because of their sin. 9We should not test Christ#10:9 Christ Some Greek copies say, “the Lord.” as some of them did. Because of that, they were killed by snakes. 10And don’t complain as some of them did. Because they complained, they were killed by the angel that destroys.
11The things that happened to those people are examples. They were written to be warnings for us. We live in the time that all those past histories were pointing to. 12So anyone who thinks they are standing strong should be careful that they don’t fall. 13The only temptations that you have are the same temptations that all people have. But you can trust God. He will not let you be tempted more than you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to endure it.
14So, my dear friends, stay away from worshiping idols. 15You are intelligent people. Judge for yourselves the truth of what I say now. 16The cup of blessing#10:16 cup of blessing The cup of wine that believers in Christ thank God for and drink at the Lord’s Supper. that we give thanks for is a sharing in the blood sacrifice of Christ, isn’t it? And the bread that we break is a sharing in the body of Christ, isn’t it? 17There is one loaf of bread, so we who are many are one body, because we all share in that one loaf.
18And think about what the people of Israel do. When they eat the sacrifices,#10:18 sacrifices Animals killed and offered as gifts to God. they are united by sharing what was offered on the altar. 19So, am I saying that sacrifices to idols are the same as those Jewish sacrifices? No, because an idol is nothing, and the things offered to idols are worth nothing. 20But I am saying that when food is sacrificed to idols, it is an offering to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to share anything with demons. 21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and then go drink a cup that honors demons. You cannot share a meal at the Lord’s table and then go share a meal that honors demons. 22Doing that would make the Lord jealous.#10:22 make the Lord jealous See Deut. 32:16, 17. Do you really want to do that? Do you think we are stronger than he is?
Use Your Freedom for God’s Glory
23“All things are allowed,” you say. But not all things are good. “All things are allowed.” But some things don’t help anyone. 24Try to do what is good for others, not just what is good for yourselves.
25Eat any meat that is sold in the meat market. Don’t ask questions about it to see if it is something you think is wrong to eat. 26You can eat it, “because the earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.”#Quote from Ps. 24:1; 50:12; 89:11.
27Someone who is not a believer might invite you to eat with them. If you want to go, then eat anything that is put before you. Don’t ask questions to see if it is something you think is wrong to eat. 28But if someone tells you, “That food was offered to idols,” then don’t eat it. That’s because some people think it is wrong, and it might cause a problem for the person who told you that. 29I don’t mean that you think it is wrong. But the other person might think it is wrong. That’s the only reason not to eat it. My own freedom should not be judged by what another person thinks. 30I eat the meal with thankfulness. So I don’t want to be criticized because of something I thank God for.
31So if you eat, or if you drink, or if you do anything, do it for the glory of God. 32Never do anything that might make other people do wrong—Jews, non-Jews, or anyone in God’s church. 33I do the same thing. I try to please everyone in every way. I am not trying to do what is good for me. I am trying to do what is good for the most people so that they can be saved.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
1 Corinthians 10
10
Avoid Israel’s Mistakes
1For I do not want you to be unaware, believers, that our fathers were all under the cloud [in which God’s presence went before them] and they all passed [miraculously and safely] through the [Red] Sea; 2And all [of them] were baptized into Moses [into his safekeeping as their leader] in the cloud and in the sea; 3and all [of them] ate the same #I.e. divinely provided manna.spiritual food; 4and all [of them] drank the same #I.e. divinely provided water from a rock.spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, God was not well-pleased with #Of all those adult Israelites who had been in bondage in Egypt, only Joshua and Caleb (along with those born in the wilderness) were allowed to enter the promised land.most of them, for they were scattered along the ground in the wilderness [because their lack of self-control led to disobedience which led to death].
6Now these things [the warnings and admonitions] took place as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did. 7Do not be worshipers of handmade gods, as some of them were; just as it is written [in Scripture], “The people sat down to eat and drink [after sacrificing to the #The selection of a calf-god was probably inspired by the Egyptian bull-god Apis (Hapis), believed to be a living manifestation of the Egyptian god Ptah.golden calf at Horeb], and stood up to play [indulging in immoral activities].” 8We must not indulge in [nor tolerate] sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand [suddenly] fell [dead] in a single day! 9We must not tempt the Lord [that is, test His patience, question His purpose or exploit His goodness], as some of them did—and they were killed by serpents. 10And do not murmur [in unwarranted discontent], as some of them did—and were destroyed by the #Perhaps a reference to the angel of destruction whom the rabbis called Mashhith.destroyer. 11Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12Therefore let the one who thinks he stands firm [immune to temptation, being overconfident and self-righteous], take care that he does not fall [into sin and condemnation]. 13No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].
14Therefore, my beloved, run [keep far, far away] from [any sort of] idolatry [and that includes loving anything more than God, or participating in anything that leads to sin and enslaves the soul]. 15I am speaking as to wise and sensible people; judge [carefully and thoughtfully consider] for yourselves what I say. 16Is the cup of blessing which we bless [at the Lord’s Supper] not a sharing in the blood of Christ? [Indeed it is.] Is the bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? [Indeed it is.] 17Since there is one bread, we [believers] who are many are [united into] one body; for we all partake of the one bread [which represents the body of Christ]. 18Consider the people of Israel; are those who eat the sacrifices not partners of the altar [united in their worship of the same God]? [Indeed they are.] 19What do I mean then? That a thing offered to idols is anything [special or changed simply because it is offered], or that an idol is anything? 20On the contrary, the things which the Gentiles (pagans) sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons [in effect], and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons [by eating at feasts in pagan temples]. 21You cannot drink [both] the Lord’s cup and the cup of demons. You cannot share in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons [thereby becoming partners with them]. 22Do we [really] provoke the Lord to jealousy [when we eat food sacrificed to handmade “gods” at pagan feasts]? Are we [spiritually] stronger than He? [Certainly not! He knows that the idols are nothing. But we deeply #The offense consists of becoming “partners with demons” (v 20) merely to enjoy the pagan meal as an exercise of the believer’s liberty.offend Him.]
23All things are lawful [that is, morally legitimate, permissible], but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. 24Let no one seek [only] his own good, but [also] that of the other person. 25[Regarding meat offered to idols:] Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking any questions for the sake of your conscience, 26For the [whole] earth is the Lord’s, and everything that is in it. 27If one of the unbelievers invites you [to a meal at his home] and you want to go, eat whatever is served to you without asking questions [about its source] for the sake of your conscience. 28But if anyone says to you, “This meat has been offered in sacrifice to an idol,” do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’s sake— 29and by conscience I mean for the sake of the other man’s, not yours. For #Or to what end, i.e. what good can come of it?why is my freedom [of choice] judged by another’s conscience [another’s ethics—another’s sense of right and wrong]? 30If I take my share [of food] with thankfulness, why am I accused because of something for which I give thanks?
31So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of [our great] God. 32Do not offend Jews or Greeks or even the church of God [but live to honor Him]; 33just as I please everyone in all things [as much as possible adapting myself to the interests of others], not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, so that they [will be open to the message of salvation and] may be saved.
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