18 Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?
19 What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? 20 No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. 21 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. 22 What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?
23 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. 24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
25 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
Tori's Comments:
This seems rather polar opposite of what the world tells me, That I live life for myself.
God has given me freedom, but not selfish freedom. I am free to live for others.
Terrie's Comments:
So why is Paul raising questions about eating food offered to idols? I believe he is just confirming that if you are a part in the sacrificing of meat to idols or other gods it would be wrong to eat them because offering any meat to anyone or anything other than God is offering them to demons. But if you buy meat at the market and you happen to purchase meat that was sacrificed to a god but you weren't a part of the sacrificial ceremony then it doesn't matter. It is not about the meat itself it is about you not partaking in any sacrifices other than the Lord's table, which unifies us with Jesus and with all other believers in the body of Christ.
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