16. We give thanks for the cup of blessing. It is a sharing in the blood of Christ’s death. And the bread that we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.
17. There is one loaf of bread. And we are many people. But we all share from that one loaf. So we are really one body.
18. Think about the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices share in the altar?
19. I do not mean that the food sacrificed to an idol is something important. And I do not mean that an idol is anything at all.
20. But I say that what is sacrificed to idols is offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to share anything with demons.
21. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons, too. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons, too.
22. Do we want to make the Lord jealous? We are not stronger than he is, are we?
23. “We are allowed to do all things.” Yes. But not all things are good for us to do. “We are allowed to do all things.” Yes. But not all things help others grow stronger.
24. No one should try to do what will help only himself. He should try to do what is good for others.
25. Eat any meat that is sold in the meat market. Do not ask questions about the meat to see if it is something you think is wrong to eat.
26. You can eat it, “because the earth and everything on it belong to the Lord.”
27. Someone who is not a believer may invite you to eat with him. If you want to go, eat anything that is put before you. Do not ask questions about it.
28. But if anyone says to you, “That food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it. Do not eat it because of that person who told you and because eating it would be something that might be thought wrong.
29. I don’t mean that you think it is wrong. But the other person might think it is wrong. My own freedom should not be judged by what someone else thinks.
30. I eat the meal with thankfulness. And I do not want to be criticized because of something I thank God for.