6. Now those things happened as examples for us. They are supposed to keep us from longing for evil things, as the people of Israel did.
7. So 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)
8. We should not commit sexual sins, as some of them did. In one day 23,000 of them died.
9. We should not put the Lord to the test, as some of them did. They were killed by snakes.
10. Don't tell your leaders how unhappy you are with them. That's what some of the people of Israel did. And they were killed by the destroying angel.
11. Those things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who are living at the time when God's work is being completed.
12. So be careful. When you think you are standing firm, you might fall.
13. You 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 so that you can stand up under it.
14. My dear friends, run away from statues of gods. Don't worship them.
15. I'm talking to people who are reasonable. Judge for yourselves what I say.
16. When we give thanks for the cup at the Lord's Supper, aren't we sharing in the blood of Christ? When we break the bread, aren't we sharing in the body of Christ?
17. Just as there is one loaf, so we who are many are one body. We all eat from the one loaf.
18. Think about the people of Israel. Don't those who eat the offerings share in the altar?
19. Do I mean that what is offered to a statue of a god is anything? Do I mean that a statue of a god is anything?
20. No! But what is offered by those who worship statues of gods is really offered to demons. It is not offered to God. I don't want you to be sharing with demons.