Read the Bible

Avoid Israel's Mistakes

¹ For ^(C1)I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all ^(C2)under the cloud and all ^(C3)passed through the sea;² and all were ^(C1)baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;³ and all ^(C1)ate the same spiritual food;⁴ and all ^(C1)drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was ^(F1)Christ.⁵ Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for ^(C1)they were laid low in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things happened as ^(C1)examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as ^(C2)they also craved.⁷ Do not be ^(C1)idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "^(C2)THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO ^(C3)PLAY."⁸ Nor let us act immorally, as ^(C1)some of them ^(F1)did, and ^(C2)twenty-three thousand fell in one day.⁹ Nor let us try the Lord, as ^(C1)some of them ^(F1)did, and were destroyed by the serpents.¹⁰ Nor ^(C1)grumble, as some of them ^(F1)did, and ^(C2)were destroyed by the ^(C3)destroyer.¹¹ Now these things happened to them as an ^(C1)example, and ^(C2)they were written for our instruction, upon whom ^(C3)the ends of the ages have come.¹² Therefore let him who ^(C1)thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.¹³ No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and ^(C1)God is faithful, who will not allow you to be ^(C2)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 ^(C1)beloved, flee from ^(C2)idolatry.¹⁵ I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say.¹⁶ Is not the ^(C1)cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the ^(F1)(C2)bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?¹⁷ Since there is one ^(F1)bread, we ^(C1)who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one ^(F1)bread.¹⁸ Look at ^(F1)the nation ^(C1)Israel; are not those who ^(C2)eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar?¹⁹ What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or ^(C1)that an idol is anything?²⁰ No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they ^(C1)sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.^21 (C1)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and ^(C2)the table of demons.²² Or do we ^(C1)provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not ^(C2)stronger than He, are we?

^23 (C1)All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things ^(C2)edify.²⁴ Let no one ^(C1)seek his own good, but that of his ^(F1)neighbor.^25 (C1)Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience' sake;^26 (C1)FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND ^(F1)ALL IT CONTAINS.²⁷ If ^(C1)one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, ^(C2)eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience' sake.²⁸ But ^(C1)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 ^(C1)why is my freedom judged by another's conscience?³⁰ If I partake with thankfulness, ^(C1)why am I slandered concerning that for which I ^(C2)give thanks?

³¹ Whether, then, you eat or drink or ^(C1)whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.^32 (C1)Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to ^(C2)the church of God;³³ just as I also ^(C1)please all men in all things, ^(C2)not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, ^(C3)so that they may be saved.