Warnings From Israel’s History
1Brothers and sisters, I want you to know something about our people who lived long ago. They were all led by the cloud. They all walked through the Red Sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food. 4They all drank the same spiritual water. They drank from the spiritual rock that went with them. That rock was Christ. 5But God was not pleased with most of them. Their bodies were scattered in the desert.
6Now those things happened as examples for us. They are supposed to keep us from wanting evil things. The people of Israel wanted these evil things. 7So don’t worship statues of gods, as some of them did. It is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink. Then they got up to dance wildly in front of their god.” (Exodus 32:6) 8We should not commit sexual sins, as some of them did. In one day 23,000 of them died. 9We should not test the Messiah, as some of them did. They were killed by snakes. 10Don’t speak against God. That’s what some of the people of Israel did. And they were killed by the destroying angel.
11Those things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us. That’s because we are living at the time when God’s work is being completed. 12So be careful. When you think you are standing firm, you might fall. 13You are tempted in the same way all other human beings are. God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted any more than you can take. But when you are tempted, God will give you a way out. Then you will be able to deal with it.
Sharing in the Lord’s Supper
14My dear friends, run away from statues of gods. Don’t worship them. 15I’m talking to people who are reasonable. Judge for yourselves what I say. 16We give thanks for the cup at the Lord’s Supper. When we do, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? When we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? 17Just as there is one loaf, so we who are many are one body. We all share the one loaf.
18Think about the people of Israel. Don’t those who eat the offerings share in the altar? 19Do I mean that food sacrificed to a statue of a god is anything? Do I mean that a statue of a god is anything? 20No! But what is sacrificed by those who worship statues of gods is really sacrificed to demons. It is not sacrificed to God. I don’t want you to be sharing with demons. 21You can’t drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too. You can’t have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22Are we trying to make the Lord jealous? Are we stronger than he is?
The Believer’s Freedom
23You say, “I have the right to do anything.” But not everything is helpful. Again you say, “I have the right to do anything.” But not everything builds us up. 24No one should look out for their own interests. Instead, they should look out for the interests of others.
25Eat anything sold in the meat market. Don’t ask if it’s right or wrong. 26Scripture says, “The earth belongs to the Lord. And so does everything in it.” (Psalm 24:1)
27Suppose an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go. Then eat anything that is put in front of you. Don’t ask if it’s right or wrong. 28But suppose someone says to you, “This food has been sacrificed to a statue of a god.” Then don’t eat it. Keep in mind the good of the person who told you. And don’t eat because of a sense of what is right and wrong. 29I’m talking about the other person’s sense of what is right and wrong, not yours. Why is my freedom being judged by what someone else thinks? 30Suppose I give thanks when I eat. Then why should I be blamed for eating food I thank God for?
31So eat and drink and do everything else for the glory of God. 32Don’t do anything that causes another person to trip and fall. It doesn’t matter if that person is a Jew or a Greek or a member of God’s church. 33Follow my example. I try to please everyone in every way. I’m not looking out for what is good for me. I’m looking out for the interests of others. I do it so that they might be saved.
前车之鉴
1弟兄姊妹，我希望你们知道，我们的祖先曾经在云下走过红海， 2都在云下、在海中受洗跟从了摩西。 3他们都吃过同样的灵粮， 4都喝过同样的灵水，因为他们从那与他们同行的属灵磐石中得水喝，那磐石就是基督。 5尽管如此，他们当中大多数人不讨上帝的喜悦，倒毙在旷野。
6如今这些事正好警戒我们，叫我们不要像他们那样贪恋罪恶， 7也不要像他们当中的人那样去祭拜偶像，正如圣经上说：“百姓坐下吃喝，起来狂欢。” 8我们也不要淫乱，像他们当中的人那样，结果一天就死了两万三千人。 9也不要试探主，像他们当中的人那样，结果被蛇咬死了。 10也不要发怨言，像他们当中的人那样，结果被灭命的天使毁灭了。 11发生在他们身上的这些事都是鉴戒，之所以记录下来是为了警戒我们这活在末世的人。 12所以，自以为站得稳的人要小心，免得跌倒。
13你们遇见的诱惑无非是人们常见的。上帝是信实的，祂绝不会让你们遇见无法抵挡的诱惑，祂必为你们开一条出路，使你们经得住诱惑。
切勿祭拜偶像
14所以，我亲爱的弟兄姊妹，你们要远避祭拜偶像的事。 15你们都是明白事理的人，可以判断我说的对不对。 16领圣餐时，我们为那福杯献上感谢，这不表示我们有份于基督的血吗？我们吃掰开的饼，这不表示我们有份于基督的身体吗？ 17我们人数虽多，却同属一个身体，因为我们同享一个饼。
18你们看以色列人10:18 “以色列人”希腊文是“从血统上讲是以色列人”。，那些吃祭物的难道不是有份于祭坛吗？ 19我这话是什么意思呢？是说偶像和祭偶像的食物有什么特别吗？ 20当然不是，我的意思是那些异教徒所献的祭是祭鬼魔的，而不是献给上帝的。我不愿意你们与鬼魔有任何关系。 21你们不能又喝主的杯又喝鬼魔的杯，不能又吃主的圣餐又吃祭鬼魔的食物。 22我们想惹主嫉妒吗？难道我们比祂更有能力吗？
信徒的自由
23凡事我都可以做，但并非事事都有益处；凡事我都可以行，但并非事事都造就人。 24无论是谁，不要为自己谋利，要为别人谋利。
25市场上卖的肉，你们都可以吃，不必为良心的缘故而询问什么， 26因为世界和其中的万物都属于主。 27如果有非信徒邀请你们吃饭，你们又愿意去，那么，桌上摆的各样食物，你们只管吃，不必为良心的缘故而询问什么。 28不过，如果有人告诉你这些是献给偶像的祭物，你为了那告诉你的人和良心的缘故，就不要吃。 29不过我指的不是你的良心，而是那人的良心。或许有人说：“我的自由为什么要受别人的良心限制呢？ 30如果我存感恩的心吃，为什么还要受批评呢？”
31所以，你们或吃或喝，无论做什么，都要为上帝的荣耀而做。 32不要成为犹太人、希腊人或上帝教会的绊脚石， 33就像我凡事尽量让人满意，不求自己的好处，只求众人的好处，以便他们可以得救。
