1 Corinthians 11:17-34
17
In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes 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 praise you for this? Certainly not! 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 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." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions. (1 Corinthians 11:17-34, NIV)As people drive down the street, they pass many church buildings. Each building looks different, and the services held in these buildings may themselves be very different from one another. Each denomination may do things in a much different way because of their theological distinctives. And even within denominations, individual churches may do their services differently, based on their own perspectives on what the Bible teaches.
Sometimes I wonder whether people look at these church buildings and wonder just what goes on inside, and why those churches do what they do the way they do it. A common ceremony may be done in a wide variety of ways. At times I wonder whether the Christians even know why they do what they do the way they do it.
The Lord’s Table is a prime example of this. If you were to attend all of the services in all of the churches in this area and witness the celebration of our Savior’s sacrifice, you would probably be surprised at the variety of practices, beliefs, and names associated with the service.
You may attend one church where people gather in an informal meeting and practice an earnest exhortation and self-examination before they ate of the bread and drank of the cup. They may use a single loaf and single cup, or they may use small pieces of bread and small individual cups. The people may come forward to an altar where they receive the bread and the cup, or they may have it brought to them in the seats.
You may attend another church where you would witness a priest with attendants dressed in colorful vestments. The priest alone would drink from the chalice of wine and the people would receive only the little white wafers. After the priest utters the words of consecration, "This is My body" C hoc est corpus meum in Latin, the elements are believed to actually become the flesh and blood of Jesus.
Practices vary widely, as you can see. Different traditions, we call them denominations, have come to different conclusions based on their careful study of the Scriptures. Obviously, each tradition thinks that it is doing it the "right" way. And I’m sure one day the Lord will straighten out all those other people who are doing it the wrong way, meaning those who do it differently than we do it.
The truth is that the fact that we are not in perfect unity about every biblical practice throughout the entire Christian world is not a major problem. The real problem comes when we can’t come to agreement within our own local church. This is the problem that the apostle Paul is addressing in this text written to the church in Corinth. He looks at their practice of the Lord’s Table, and not only explains its significance, but also deals with their own attitude problem in the church.
17
In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes 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 praise you for this? Certainly not! (11:17-22)The church in Corinth certainly had some big problems. This entire letter deals with one after another, so it should not be surprising that when it came to celebrating the Lord’s Table, they would have a problem with that as well.
As you can see from a close look at our text, Paul points out at least three major problems that emerged from their meetings. In fact, he asserts that your meetings do more harm than good. When I first read that, I thought he was talking about a Baptist business meeting. I have personally attended some of those meetings where people exposed just how petty and carnal they can be. I have even seen people shout at one another across the auditorium, angrily making their point. This episode occurred many years ago when I was a student pastor. I happened to be the moderator of that meeting, and I stopped it dead in its tracks, and even rebuked the people for acting like little children.
The first problem Paul points out is the problem of divisions. People had differing opinions and demanded their own way. Jesus called his church to be united. While it is inevitable that we will not agree on every little detail, when we doggedly demand our way, we are disrupting the unity of the church. It always amazes me how people can be so blind to this common problem.
The second problem Paul points out is the problem of selfishness. When he says that each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else, he reveals how selfish and self-centered they had become. In the early church, the Lord’s Table was often a part of a larger feast. It was called an agape meal–– the term in Greek for God’s love. Today we might call it a church fellowship dinner. And some were just diving in without waiting and even taking all the food for themselves. Some people were going hungry, and others were even getting drunk. What a selfish disgrace!
The third problem Paul points out is the problem of irreverence. He asked, "Do you despise the church of God?" Had they no respect or reverence? Obviously not, because they seemed to think that they had a right to behave in a way that served to humiliate others. Paul is certainly not happy about this situation.
You see, the real problem they had in Corinth is the same problem that we struggle with today in so many of our churches. It is the problem of "I LOVE ME!" I want what I want. I want my way, and I don’t care what I have to do to get my way. As a matter of fact, I can act selfishly, cause disruptions, and otherwise act in an unchristian manner in order to get my way. Of course, if the pastor corrects me, I can then accuse him of not being loving and kind, of not taking my feelings into consideration. This was their problem then, and it is surprising that it is still so much of problem today in so many of our churches of every denomination. Make no mistake about it; this is a sad state of affairs.
23
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 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." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (11:23-26)After he deals with the problems, he turns his attention to the purpose of the Lord’s Table. As Christians, we should certainly understand the significance of this Holy Communion the Lord himself commanded us to observe.
As we have already pointed out, there are many different ways churches observe this celebration. And you would also find many names by which these services are designated. Some, from a Greek tradition would refer to it as a "mystery," from the Greek word mysterion. Other Christians with a Latin background may call it the "mass." This is taken from the words of dismissal (missa = mass) which are used by the priest. You may also hear it referred to as a "sacrament," which comes from sacramentum, a Latin word meaning "pledge of allegiance" which itself is a translation of the Greek word mysterion. Congregations influenced by the Protestant Reformation of the 16th Century usually call the service the Lord’s Supper, or Lord’s Table. Some refer to it as the Eucharist, from the Greek eucharistia which means thanksgiving. Others refer to it as Communion, from the Greek koinonia which means fellowship or communion. As you can see, practices and beliefs vary.
From the Bible, we understand that the Lord’s Table is not a magical rite which itself imparts grace, but neither is it simply a nice ceremony filled with nostalgic memories. Rather, it is an ordinance of the church, which, if properly understood can bring us into the presence of God, help us deal with our sin, restore fellowship with God and one another, give testimony of the significance of Christ’s sacrificial death, and point to the Second Coming of our Lord.
In this memorial meal, we partake first of the bread. The bread is symbolic of Christ’s body. We see a dual truth. The bread speaks to us both of Christ’s suffering and his sufficiency. He is both the Savior who suffered for us and who himself is sufficient to meet our every need.
When you behold the bread, behold also Christ’s suffering. What does that suffering reveal? For one thing, it reveals the gravity of sin. The fact that Jesus had to die for our sins to be forgiven indicates that God hates sin. The prophet Habakkuk says of God in Habakkuk 1:13, "Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, and Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor." Our God is a holy God–– too pure to condone sin. He hates sin because sin destroys people. Sin is a moral plight which nothing less than the suffering of Christ could cure. We are all interconnected in this plight, and only through the Cross of Christ can we be saved.
But the suffering of Christ also reveals the love of God. We are all familiar with the passage in John 3:16 which reads, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." It was because of the love of God that Jesus suffered and died on the Cross. This is why He came. This is why He died. Charles Wesley expressed it this way:
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?
We sing of amazing grace –– we should also sing of amazing love! When Jesus died on that Cross, it was the greatest expression of God’s love that could ever be given.
His suffering also reveals the provision of God. It reveals that Christ’s death is sufficient for our every need. Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" The God who gave Jesus for us will not withhold anything we need.
The second element of the Lord’s Table of which we partake is the cup. The cup is filled with the fruit of the vine which symbolizes the blood of Christ. The blood itself is symbolic of life. So when we speak of Christ’s blood poured out, we are speaking of his life being poured out. And when his life was poured out, it was poured out as a payment for our sins.
Christ’s blood poured out speaks of the forgiveness for sins. Because of His shed blood, we can now be fully and freely forgiven by God. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says, "…you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ."
The Lord’s Table is rich in meaning. It pictures for us the sacrificial death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are told to do it in remembrance of Christ. As we partake, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. The Lord’s Table is not only a look back, it is a look ahead. The same Lord who died to save us is coming again to receive us to himself.
27
Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions. (11:27-34)Finally, Paul turns his attention to the preparation we must make before partaking of the Lord’s Table. He gives a warning not to partake in an unworthy manner. He says to do so is to be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. And so he exhorts us to examine ourselves. What does he mean?
One clue comes from this phrase "recognizing the body of the Lord." I believe he is referring to the fact that we need to recognize that we are part of one another. We do not live our Christian lives in isolation. Jesus established the church, and we live in communion with him and one another. Therefore, it is important to wait for one another.
So we need to do a self-examination. You need to consider yourself. Is there sin in your life that you need to forsake? If so, turn from that sin and be done with it. Do you have broken relationships, especially with other Christians? If so, mend them. Do not let the sun go down today until you have spoken to that person and done your best to make it right.
I suppose the real issue in this self-examination is whether you are willing to repent. We are told that if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. God is not playing games. You see, if we are not willing to obey God, then we should stop playing games and forgo taking the Lord’s Table, because it is a Holy Communion. God takes it seriously, so seriously that he is willing to discipline us to keep us from being condemned with the world. God is more interested in our holiness than in our happiness, because this world is not all there is. So, when you partake of the Lord’s Table, remember what it symbolizes. Never take it lightly. It cost God much. In response, we should surrender all we are, have, and ever hope to be, to him.
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