Lord’s Supper – 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

It would be wrong to say that Paul did not value the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  But in the first chapter he makes it clear that Christ did not send him to baptize but to preach the gospel (hence, baptism is not strictly part of the gospel).  And here, in chapter 11, he suggests eating at home instead of coming to the Lord’s Supper and eating in a manner unworthy.  These symbols are sacred, but they are not essential to the gospel.  This is another way of saying, they don’t help accomplish your salvation.

But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.  (1 Corinthians 11:17-34 ESV)

Though they haven’t asked about this aspect of public worship, the Lord’s Supper, Paul has heard of a problem.  The more well-to-do members are eating the supper without those poorer ones who can’t get there sooner.  They are despising the Lord’s Supper because it is about the unity we share in Christ and that shows the need we all have for his sacrifice.  For Paul, this may be exposing who is and who isn’t a genuine Christian.  If by celebrating the Supper you are proclaiming (not “re-enacting”) Christ’s death you should be doing so from a heart of gratitude, not trying to exclude other believers.

Paul notes that some of them have become sick or died because of this behavior as a discipline from the Lord.  The Lord’s Supper is a sacred symbol and God does not allow His sacred symbols to be denigrated without consequence.  The consequence is not punishment, but discipline.  God disciplines us to keep us holy, because without holiness no one will see God (Hebrews 12:1-14). 

When taking the Supper we must judge the body rightly.  That is, we must genuinely acknowledge that all of us are the body of Christ and in need of what Jesus died to accomplish.  If you are really hungry and can’t help yourself at the supper, eat first at home, Paul says.  Do anything rather than treat God’s people and His salvation with contempt.