Jesus gave His disciples 2 ordinances:  one to celebrate a disciple’s entrance into the New Covenant community (baptism), and one to commemorate the basis for a disciple’s inclusion in the New Covenant community (the Lord’s Supper).  We believe there has been much misunderstanding concerning the section dealing with “examining yourselves” before observing the Lord’s Supper. We hope that this message will bring light and clarity to this subject!

Teaching Notes:

The Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Intro: In 11:2, Paul praised them because they remembered the “traditions” (things handed down) as he had delivered them. No doubt, 2 such traditions included women wearing head coverings, and the observance of the Lord’s Supper. Paul gives some correction to both of these traditions.

1.  The Problem: The Corinthians Were Observing the Lord’s Supper In A Divisive, Selfish Manner: 11:17-22

17: “I do not praise you” – in contrast with 11:2.  Your meetings are causing more harm than good! Note “come together” in 17, 18, 20.

18: “divisions” – in contrast to what the Lord’s Supper symbolizes – Unity (10:17).

19: God has a purpose in these painful “factions” – He is showing forth those He has approved. The way we conduct ourselves in church factions demonstrates whether we are approved of God or not!

20: Their reason for coming together was to eat the Lord’s Supper, but because of the manner in which they did so, they weren’t really eating the Lord’s Supper.

21: Instead, they were eating their own suppers first.

22: Paul is really angry at what is happening! Now, we can reconstruct what was taking place. From Vs.21 – many were taking their own supper first, before others arrived. Thus, when the poor or servants or working class finally arrived, they were left hungry because there was no food left. On the other hand, others had gorged themselves and had eaten and drank. Paul rebukes the rich (those who have houses). Can’t they eat something before they come so that they don’t eat up all the food. In so doing, they are despising the church of God and shaming those who have nothing (the poor).

Factions: they were creating cliques or divisions based on wealth. The “haves” enjoyed their own private meals before the “have-nots” arrived, creating division between the 2. Compare 1Cor.12:13 and Eph.2:13-18.

Selfishness: Jesus died to create a New Man, who are all One in Him, marked by love for one another. However, the way they were observing the Lord’s Supper was out of selfishness, not love. This merits a harsh rebuke from the apostle.

2.  The Solution: 11:23-34

1) Realign Their Focus: (From Self to Christ’s Sacrificial Death): 11:23-26

In this passage, Paul repeats the words of institution of the Last Supper, similar to Luke’s version. There is a striking difference though. Mt. and Mk. don’t speak of “remembrance of Me.” Luke includes it once after the bread. Paul, here puts it both after bread and cup. He is emphasizing something. The Corinthians’ observance had digressed into a self-focused event. Each person selfishly pursued his own interests. No, this needs to be a Christ-focused event, in which we remember what He has done!

26: Here Paul gives the spiritual significance of the Supper. “In remembrance of Me” means to remember Christ’s death, and the New Covenant it has ratified. The Israelites had a supper – Passover. In it they remembered how God had delivered them from bondage to the Egyptians. The Church is the True Israel. In our Supper we remember how God has delivered us from sin, death and hell through the Cross.  So, rather than focusing on ourselves or our food, the focus must be Jesus, and the Redemption He has purchased in His sacrificial death!

2)     Examine Themselves: (To Discern If Their Observance of the Lord’s Supper Was Displaying Love and Unity Toward The Brethren):  11:27-32

This passage has often been misinterpreted because it is read out of context. In our church services we usually read 11:23-32.  We omit 17-22 and 33-34. By doing this, we misunderstand Paul’s intent.

27: Notice “unworthy manner”. The KJV says “unworthily”. Very bad translation! This causes us to think of the person as either being worthy or unworthy, instead of the manner in which he eats and drinks being either worthy or unworthy. If we eat and drink in an unworthy manner, we are guilty of sinning against Christ.

28: Examine himself – in what regard? Look at vs.29.

29: Here the NASB has an unfortunate translation. “Judge the body rightly” should be translated “discern” or “recognize” the body rightly. What “body” is Paul talking about? Is this the physical body of Christ that suffered on the cross? Many believe this is teaching that unless a person truly appreciates the fact that he is eating the body of Christ he will come under God’s judgment. However, in 26, 27, and 28, Paul refers to the “body and the blood.” Here it is only “the body.” In 10:17 he identifies “the body” as “we who are many”; in other words the body of Christ or the church. Paul’s point: we must discern the Church rightly if we are to escape coming under judgment. The Corinthians were not discerning the Church rightly. They were creating divisions based on wealth, and were not appreciating the fact that slave and free were all one in Christ.

30-32: This judgment is not of heaven or hell, but a temporal judgment in which a loving God is correcting His children.

3) Wait For One Another: 11:33-34.

33: Here is the conclusion of the entire teaching. How do we know we have interpreted Paul correctly? Because of this conclusion. Notice, Paul does not say, “when you come together to eat, make sure you are worthy” or “make sure you realize you are eating and drinking the body and blood of Christ.” No, he says “wait for one another.”  11:33-34 and tied together to 11:17-22.  “Come together” – 11:18, 20.  “Hungry” – 11:21. “Eat at home” – 11:22. Thus, 17-34 is 1 undivided unit of thought. Paul has not gone on to a new discussion in 11:23-32.  He is dealing with the same problem and solution throughout the entire section! Thus, the “unworthy manner”, the self-examination, and the discerning of the body, must all be tied to the original problem in 11:17-22 which has to do with partaking of the Lord’s Supper in a way that promoted divisions, rather than unity.

34: Eat at home refers to eating something to curb your appetite so that you are not tempted to eat before the poor arrive.

Therefore, this text is not teaching:

1.  That an unregenerate person who takes communion is drinking judgment unto himself (vs. 29). There is nothing in this text about unsaved people. An unregenerate person is already condemned in the sight of God. Though an unregenerate person will find no true meaning in observing Communion, it does not follow that by doing so he is become more condemned than he already was.

2.  That a believer must be walking in a certain state of holiness or “worthiness” to take the Lord’s Supper, unless by that, we mean he must be loving his brothers, instead of thinking only of himself.  A misinterpretation of this text has done great harm in keeping people away from the Supper because they don’t feel they are personally worthy. Instead they need the Supper to remind them of God’s grace!

Application:

1.   Let us beware of partaking of the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner, which would include fostering divisions, and eating and drinking in a selfish, loveless way. Let us wait for one another before eating, so that we do not selfishly consume the meal before all arrive. If we are concerned about our own hunger, eat a little bit before we come to curb our hunger, rather than be tempted to eat and neglect others. If we see these sins in ourselves, let us judge ourselves, and repent.

2.  Let us make sure each time we observe the Lord’s Supper that we are proclaiming the Lord’s death – the efficacy of the cross to save us, rather than just eating a meal to satisfy our hunger and thirst. The Lord’s Supper has tremendous spiritual significance, and we should not cheapen it by neglecting this spiritual significance.

3.  Let us eat the Lord’s Supper in conjunction with a full meal. It is obvious from vs.21-22, that the Corinthians were doing so. Paul never forbids the meal. He simply urges them to eat something before they come if they can’t wait for the poor to arrive.

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