Food Sacrificed to Idols
(Ezekiel 14:1–11; Romans 14:13–23)
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 1Co 8:7Isa 5:21Rom 14:31Co 8:4Rev 2:141Co 8:2Rom 15:141Co 13:1-13 The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 1Co 13:121Co 3:18Gal 6:3Pro 26:121Ti 6:3-41Co 13:8-91Ti 1:5-7Pro 30:2-4 But the one who loves God is known by God. Rev 3:8-9Exo 33:17Nam 1:72Ti 2:191Co 2:9Gal 4:9Rev 2:19Jas 1:12
So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. Deu 4:39Eph 4:61Co 10:19-20Deu 6:41Ti 2:5Isa 41:241Co 8:6-7Isa 44:24 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), 2Th 2:4Gal 4:8Jer 2:28Deu 10:17Jer 11:13Jer 2:11Dan 5:4Jhn 10:34-35 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. Rom 11:36Jhn 1:3Mal 2:10Heb 1:2-3Col 1:16-171Co 8:4Eph 4:5-6Act 17:28
But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 1Co 10:28-29Rom 14:141Co 8:9-10Rom 14:22-231Co 1:10-11 But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Rom 14:17Heb 13:91Co 6:13Col 2:20-23
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. Gal 5:13Rom 14:20-211Pe 2:162Pe 2:191Co 10:24Rom 14:1-21Co 8:12Rom 14:13-15 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols? 1Co 10:28-291Co 10:20-211Co 8:4Rom 14:231Co 8:1-21Co 8:7Rom 14:14Amo 2:8 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. Rom 14:15Rom 15:1-31Co 8:131Co 10:33Rom 14:20-21 By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Mat 18:6Mat 25:451Co 12:121Sa 19:4-51Sa 2:251Sa 24:11Act 9:4-5Exo 16:8
Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble. Rom 14:212Co 11:292Co 6:31Co 6:121Co 13:51Co 9:19-231Co 10:331Co 9:12