Thursday, September 10, 2026

¹Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

²But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn't yet know as he ought to know.

³But anyone who loves God is known by him.

⁴Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one.

⁵For though there are things that are called "gods", whether in the heavens 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, through whom are all things, and we live through him.

⁷However, that knowledge isn't in all men. But some, with consciousness of an idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

¹¹And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

¹²Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

¹³Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don't cause my brother to stumble.

¹LORD, you have searched me, and you know me.

²You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.

³You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

¹³For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb.

¹⁴I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.

²³Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.

²⁴See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.

²⁷"But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

²⁸bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.

²⁹To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don't withhold your coat also.

³⁰Give to everyone who asks you, and don't ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again.

³¹"As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them.

³²"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

³³If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

³⁴If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much.

³⁵But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

³⁶"Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.

³⁷Don't judge, and you won't be judged. Don't condemn, and you won't be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free.

³⁸"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you."