1 Corinthians 10:8

Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

'fornication' -a regular part of worship to idols. And. very real temptation for the Corinthians. (1 Corinthians 6:9) 'A thousand priests ministered at the licentious rites of the temple of Venus at Corinth.' (Vincent p. 240)

'three and twenty thousand' -referring to the events of Numbers 2:1 ff. Moses recorded that 24,000 died. 'Both figures appear to be round numbers, for few will contend that exactly 23,000 or 24,000 fell on that day.' (Lenski p. 398) Both figures are accurate approximations, the precise number that died being between both of them. Over 23,000, but not quite 24,000. We do the same thing today.

'in one day' -any questions about how God feels about fornication?

Point to Note:

The specific event of fornication cited, was the result of the Israelites attending an "idol feast", in which they "ate and bowed down to their gods" (Numbers 2:2). 23,000 Israelites died in one day, and the whole thing started when the people of God accepted an invitation to attend. feast dedicated to the worship of an specific god. (Numbers 2:2 'For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods..') And this is exactly the "liberty" that some Corinthians are claiming.