He puts them in fear with examples from the Old Testament, and exhorts them to lead godly lives. Of the Lord’s Supper.
10 Brethren, I would not want you to be ignorant of this: that our fathers were all under a cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and were all baptized under Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and did all eat of the same spiritual food, 4 and did all drink of the same spiritual drink. And they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, which rock was Christ. 5 But in many of them, God had no delight. For they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 These are examples for us, so that we will not lust after evil things like they did.
7 Neither be worshippers of images like some of them were, as it is written: The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up again to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed fornication, and in one day 23,000 were destroyed. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. 10 Neither murmur as some of them murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
11 All these things happened to them for examples, and were written to make us mindful – we upon whom the ends of the world have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.
13 No trial has taken you but such as follows the nature of man. But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tried above your strength, but will in the midst of the trial make a way to escape out.
14 And so, my dear beloveds, flee from the worshipping of idols. 15 I speak as to people who have discernment. Judge what I say. 16 Is not the cup of blessing that we bless, partaking of the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break, partaking of the body of Christ? 17 Because we, though we be many, yet are one bread and one body, inasmuch as we are all partakers of one bread. 18 Observe Israel which walks carnally; are not those who eat of the sacrifice, partakers of the altar?
19 What am I saying then? That the idol is anything? or that what is offered to idols is anything? 20 No, but I say that these things that the Gentiles offer, they offer to devils, and not to God. And I do not want you to have fellowship with the devils. 21 You cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and of the cup of the devils. You cannot be partakers of the Lord’s Table and of the table of devils. 22 Or shall we provoke the Lord? Are we stronger than he?
All things are lawful to me, but all things are not helpful. 23 All things are lawful to me, but all things do not edify. 24 Let no one seek his own profit, but let each seek the welfare of the other. 25 Whatever is sold in the market, eat it, and ask no questions for conscience’ sake. 26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it. 27 If any unbelievers invite you to a feast, and if you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, This is dedicated to idols, then do not eat of it – for the sake of the one who told you, and for injury of conscience.
The earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it.
29 Conscience, I say: not yours, but the conscience of that other. For why should my liberty be judged by another man’s conscience? 30 For if I share in the meal with thanks, why am I ill spoken of for the thing I give thanks for? 31 Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 See that you give no occasion of evil, neither to the Jews nor yet to the Gentiles, nor to the congregation of God – 33 even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many so that they might be saved.
