Warnings from Israel’s History
(Parallel teachings: Hebrews 3:7–4:11; Jude 5–11)
(Thematic parallels: 2 Peter 2:4–10)
- 1 For brothers, I don’t want you to be unaware that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,fnquotation/allusion to Exodus 13:21–22; 14:21–22, 29 (also quoted/alluded to by Heb 11:29; Psalm 78:13–14; 105:39; Nehemiah 9:11–12)
- 2 and all immersed themselves into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
- 3 and all ate the same spiritual food,fnquotation/allusion to Exodus 16:4, 15, 35 (also quoted/alluded to by Psalm 78:24–25; Nehemiah 9:15; John 6:31); also see Numbers 11:7–9
- 4 And all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from the spiritual rock following them,fnquotation/allusion to Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:7–11; also see Psalm 78:15–16, 20; 105:41 and the rock was the Anointed.fnquotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 32:4, 15, 18, 30–31
- 5 But God wasn’t pleased with mostfn“most” is literally “the more part” of them, for their bodies were scattered in the desert.fnquotation/allusion to Numbers 14:16-37; 26:64–65
- 6 Now, these things became examples to us, for us not to be covetersfnor “cravers”; either is a correct translation of this Greek word. of wicked things, just as they also coveted.fnquotation/allusion to Numbers 11:4, 34 “coveted them” could also be translated “craved them“; either is a correct translation of this Greek word.
- 7 And don’t become idolaters, just as some of them did. As it’s *written: “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose to play.”fnquotation/allusion to Exodus 32:4-6 (also quoted/alluded to by Acts 7:40–41)
- 8 Nor should we fornicate, just as some of them fornicated and 23,000 fell in one day.fnallusion to Numbers 25:1-9 (also quoted/alluded to by Rev 2:14). Note, Numbers said that 24,000 died in total. It’s likely then that 23,000 died in a single day, and the remaining 1000 died on the next day.
- 9 Nor should we test the Anointed,fn“the Anointed” a few manuscripts read “the Lord” here. just as some of them tested Him and were being destroyed by the serpents.fnallusion to Numbers 21:4-9 (also quoted/alluded to by John 3:14–15).
- 10 And don’t grumble, just as some of them grumbled and perishedfn“perished” The Greek word here is in the middle voice, not the active voice, making the agent significantly more involved in the result. Translating it “killed themselves” wouldn’t be out of place. This is likely a reference to Numbers 16:41-49, where all of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron after God’s divine judgement on Korah’s rebellion. by the destroyer.fnallusion to Numbers 16:41-49 (also quoted/alluded to by Jude 1:11); the destroyer / destroying angel is a quotation/allusion to Exodus 12:23(also quoted/alluded to by Hebrews 11:28)
- 11 Now, [all] these things were happening to them as examples, and were written as a warning to us, to whom the ends of the ages have come.
- 12 Therefore, let the man thinking he *stands beware, lest he fall.
- 13 Temptation hasn’t seized you except what’s common to man. But God is faithful, who won’t allow you to be tempted beyond what you’re able to bear, but with the temptation will also make the way to escape, so you’ll be able to endure it.
- 14 Therefore my beloved, flee from idolatry.
- 15 I speak as I would to prudent men; you judge what I declare.
Things sacrificed to idols
(Parallel teachings: 1 Corinthians 8:1–13)
- 16 Isn’t the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of the Anointed? Isn’t the bread that we break a participation in the body of the Anointed?
- 17 Since there’s one bread, we (the many) are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
- 18 Look at Israel according to the flesh: aren’t the men eating the sacrifices partakers in the altar?
- 19 Therefore, what do I mean? That what’s sacrificed to idols is anything? Or that an idol is anything?
- 20 Rather, I mean that what [the gentiles] sacrifice, they sacrifice it to demons and they don’t sacrifice it to God.fnquotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 32:17, and verse 16 is also contextually relevant Now, I don’t want you to become partakers with demons.
- 21 You aren’t able to drink the Lord’s cup and the demons’ cup. You aren’t able to partake of the Lord’s tablefnquotation/allusion to Malachi 1:7, 12 and the demons’ table.
- 22 Or, do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?fnquotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 32:16, and verse 17 is also contextually relevant We aren’t stronger than Him, are we?
- 23 All things are lawful [for me], but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful [for me], but not all things build up.
- 24 Let no one seek to build himself up, but to build up another.
Eat everything
(Parallel teachings: Romans 14:13–23; Acts 15:19–29)
- 25 Eat everything sold in the meat market, investigating nothing for your conscience’ sake.
- 26 For “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”fnquotation/allusion to Psalm 24:1
- 27 If someone among the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat everything set before you, investigating nothing for your conscience’ sake.
- 28 But if someone tells you: “This is sacrificed to an idol.” Don’t eat it because of the man who told you and his conscience. [For The earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.“fnquotation/allusion to Psalm 24:1]fnThe majority of manuscripts have the bracketed portion in this verse, but it is missing from some early manuscripts that some scholars consider important. Most modern Bibles don’t include it.
- 29 Now, I certainly don’t mean your own conscience, but the conscience of the other man. For why is my freedom decided by another man’s conscience?
- 30 If I partake with thanks, why am I slandered over the food for which I give thanks?
- 31 Therefore, whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all things to the glory of God.
- 32 Become inoffensive to both Jews and Greeks, and to the church assembly of God,
- 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many so that they might be saved.