Food Sacrificed to Idols
(Ezekiel 14:1-11; Romans 14:13-23)

1Now concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we know indeed we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2If anyone thinks to have known anything, not yet does he know as it is necessary to know. 3But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.

4Therefore concerning the eating of the things sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is no God except one. 5Truly even if indeed there are those called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as there are many gods and many lords, 6yet to us there is one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we through Him.

7But this knowledge is not in all. And some, by habit of the idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak, it is defiled. 8But food will not commend us to God; neither if we should eat do we come short, nor if we should not eat, do we have an advantage.

9But be careful, lest somehow this right of yours becomes an occasion of stumbling to those being weak. 10For if anyone sees you, having knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, being weak, be built up so as to eat the things sacrificed to idols? 11For the one being weak is destroyed through your knowledge—the brother for whom Christ died. 12And thus sinning against the brothers and wounding their being weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

13Therefore, if food snares my brother, never shall not I eat meat to the age, so that I might not snare my brother.