Food Sacrificed to Idols
Ezekiel 14:1–11; Romans 14:13–23
1Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.+ 2If any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know;+ 3but if any man loveth God, the same is known by him.+ 4Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is [anything] in the world, and that there is no God but one.+ 5For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many;+ 6yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.+ 7Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as [of] a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.+ 8But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.+ 9But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.+ 10For if a man see thee who hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?+ 11For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died.+ 12And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ.+ 13Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.+