It Starts Small

A problem in the Corinthians church led Paul to discuss the finer points of the Lord’s Supper. This is an integral ordinance that Christians are to follow according the command of Jesus Himself. Jesus established both baptism and the Lord’s Supper as ordinances for believers to follow. (See Matt 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:17-20)

The Corinthians had been abusing the Lord’s Supper. They approached it with selfish motivations. Their aim was to gratify their own desires and enjoy themselves. They did this rather than remembering the Lord and bringing glory to Him. It was more of a lighthearted party. It was not a serious reflection of Jesus’ death and our sin that put Him there. From this chapter, we will learn how not to approach the Lord’s Supper. We will also learn what the Lord’s Supper is. Lastly, it will teach us how to approach the Lord’s Supper. We will also learn some of the benefits of the Lord’s Supper.

¹⁷ Now in giving this instruction I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse

1 Corinthians 11:17

Coming together for fellowship and worship should be positive. It enriches our faith. It helps us grow in our relationships with each other and the Lord. It also brings glory to Him. Unfortunately, that was the not the case with the Corinthian meetings to take the Lord’s Supper. It was a negative time of abuse, divisions, selfishness, and self-gratification. People were going for what they could get instead of for the proper reasons.

 ¹⁸ For to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 

1 Corinthians 11:18

The Lord’s Supper was just another manifestation of the divisions in the Corinthian church. This appears to have been a division of haves and have nots (see verses 21-22). As we learned in the first part of this book, divisions have no place in the body of Christ. Love, mercy, and grace should be the marks of the Christian body, not the selfishness that was showed. In Acts 2, we read about the right kind of united and undivided church. If people didn’t have anything, others helped them out.

¹⁹ Indeed, it is necessary that there be factions among you, so that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 

1 Corinthians 11:19

Although divisions are unrighteous and worldly and inevitable (tares and wheat), God still uses them for a divine purpose.

¹⁷ Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them,

Romans 16:17

The approved or spiritually mature would pass this test and avoid getting involved in factions and these petty quarrels. These factions would reveal those truly committed to the Lord. They would also expose others who were in it for their own selfish gain. This is yet another example of God using even our sin for some positive good. The answer for them was to avoid divisions and use the Lord’s Supper as an opportunity to express their unity. (See 1 Corinthians 10:16-17)

 ²⁰ When you come together, then, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.

1 Corinthians 11:20

The outward reason for their meeting seemed to be to eat the Lord’s Supper. However, their actions showed this wasn’t their real purpose. They weren’t going there to worship the Lord or remember what He had done. They intended to fulfill their selfish desires. They wanted to enjoy themselves, chat with those in their cliché, or enjoy a nice meal or some good wine. It is like telling a group at a church today, “You are not going to worship the Lord.” You are also not going to learn. This implies they are going for another reason.

Unfortunately, even today, many people go to church for other reasons besides the proper one. What are some of them? Some reasons include finding a mate or making friends. Others attend to join fun activities. Some enjoy listening to interesting music or getting free snacks or lunch. Impressing others and guilt are also reasons.

 ²¹ For at the meal, each one eats his own supper.^[e] So one person is hungry while another gets drunk! ²² Don’t you have homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I do not praise you in this matter!

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 

1 Corinthians 11:21-23

Originally Communion and “love feasts” were held together. There would be something like a pot luck meal where the different members brought food and ate together. This was a celebratory meal. Members enjoyed good fellowship and love for each other. They could also receive the food with thanks. These love feasts would culminate in taking Communion together as a body. In the Corinthian church this love feast was being abused.

Divisions became evident between the haves and haves not. The haves were taking their food and eating it in front of others. They did not share it with those who didn’t have anything or who had little.

Imagine showing up to the next pot luck with a bunch of fried chicken and eating it in front of those who could not bring anything.

This was shaming the poor people and pointing out their lack to everyone. It left some hungry and it left others drunk and overstuffed. Basically, their selfishness was exhibiting itself in a way that dishonored God and the poor. Paul later establishes some rules to prevent this from happening. Eventually, Communion was separated from these feasts to protect its sanctity. The love feasts died out altogether. Still in many places, pot lucks are practiced.

The Lord’s Supper is a time to show our special unity. There should be no divisions of any kind: gender, age, race, class, etc. But they were despising this unity and looking down on others. They were in it for selfish reasons. Paul seems to grasp for an explanation in verse 22. He asks, somewhat sarcastically, if they have no house to use if they want to indulge themselves. He also asks if they are flagrantly doing this to destroy the church and purposely shame others. Paul struggles to understand how believers could be so unloving. He condemns their behavior.

I want to pause for a moment and focus our hearts on the Lord’s Supper. The following are verses that remind us what the Passover was and the connection of the Lord’s upper to it.

¹² “I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night and strike every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, both people and animals. I am the Lord; I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt. ¹³ The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a distinguishing mark for you; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will be among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

¹⁴ “This day is to be a memorial for you, and you must celebrate it as a festival to the Lord. You are to celebrate it throughout your generations as a permanent statute. ¹⁵ You must eat unleavened bread for seven days. On the first day you must remove yeast from your houses. Whoever eats what is leavened from the first day through the seventh day must be cut off from Israel.

Exodus 12:12-15

²⁶ As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.” ²⁷ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ But I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” ³⁰ After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Matthew 26:26-30

²² As they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” ²³ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. ²⁴ He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. ²⁵ Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Mark 14:22-26

¹⁷ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. ¹⁸ For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

²⁰ In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Luke 22:17-20

As you read through these verses, do you see the connection between the two?

In verse 23, Paul once again shows that he is just a messenger. This isn’t his ordinance or ritual. He received this from the Lord as he did the rest of his teachings.

 ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said,^[f] “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

1 Corinthians 11:24

The bread is a symbol of Christ’s body. How is it a symbol? It is to be broken, then eaten. This mirrors the way Christ’s body was broken for us as a sacrifice. It is representative of His flesh. The bread does not miraculously transform into Jesus’ actual body as some believe. Jesus’ was clearly using figurative language. It shows that we as believers identify with Christ. In a sense, we die and resurrect with Him. The biggest reason for taking the Lord’s Supper is to remember what the Lord did for us. Life is busy. It is easy to get ingrained in our habits and actions. We almost forget what Christ did for us. WE must never forget. WE must keep it fresh in our memories forever. This Lord’s Supper helps serve this purpose to keep us actively remembering what He did for us. If we remember what He did for us, it will help us live for Him each day. We love because He first loved us.

²⁵ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

1 Corinthians 11:25

The cup is a symbol for His blood. His blood ran out for us. It was this perfect blood that washed away our sins. It satisfied God’s wrath. What is the new covenant?

¹⁵ Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. ¹⁶ Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in effect while the one who made it is living. ¹⁸ That is why even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood. ¹⁹ For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.

Hebrews 9:15-20

It is also to be done in remembrance of Him.

So how often should we take the Lord’s Supper?

There is no set terms, which means it is up to the church and our Christian freedom. We remember Him for this purpose. It makes sense to do it often. This keeps His death fresh on our minds. I like pretty well the Brethren habit of every week, but have no particular conviction on it. Once a month seems about the minimum of what one would want to do though.

How about, where can one partake of it? Does it have to be in a church?

We need to keep in mind that the church is not a building, but a group of believers. Therefore I believe anywhere a group of believers gathers together is an acceptable place to have communion. It doesn’t have to be at an official church building.

 ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:26

The Lord’s Supper serves as a reminder to ourselves. It is also a proclamation to all who may be watching that Jesus died for us! We are to continue this practice until He comes again. The implication is that when He comes again, it will no longer be necessary.

Paul is teaching us that the Lord’s Supper:

Reminds believers of their unity in Christ.

Reminds us of and proclaims to the world Christ’s death on our behalf.

Reminds us to examine ourselves and confess our own sins.

Reminds of the grace of the New Covenant.

I believe this is why Jesus said, do this in Remembrance of Me. It is to remind us.

²⁷ So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body^[h] and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. 

1 Corinthians 11:27-28

An unworthy manner includes all of the problems the Corinthians had. These include selfishness and divisions. It also includes any other unworthy ways people do it. Some examples are trying to impress others or show that we are a believer. Others do it because people expect us to, or because we are hungry or thirsty. Some treat it lightheartedly or hold on to sin in their hearts. Others do it indifferently, etc.

So what is the worthy manner?

Do it with self-examination and a repentant heart.

Do it with love for others and unity in the Spirit.

Do it with thanksgiving and remembrance for what the Lord has done.

Do it with the resolve to serve the Lord fully with our lives.

If we do it in an unworthy manner it is mocking Christ’s sacrifice and makes us guilty in His presence. It is a serious thing and should be treated seriously. Examine yourselves for what? Make sure you have the right attitude and confess your sin.

²⁹ For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. 

1 Corinthians 11:29

The one who takes it improperly without confessing his sin first brings judgment on himself. This tells us a couple of things.

If you are not ready to take it and sure of your commitment then don’t do it.

If you take it when you shouldn’t, you will face the consequences yourself. The warning is right here. A mother tells a kid not to touch the fire. The kid does it anyway. Whose fault is it that the kid is burned?

³⁰ This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 11:30

What kind of results might happen? Sickness and diseases and even death sometimes. This is necessary to purify the church and remind us that sin is serious.

³¹ If we were properly judging ourselves, we would not be judged,

1 Corinthians 11:31

If you examine yourself and confess your sins, you don’t have to worry about his. The result is on our own hands if we don’t listen to the warning.

³² but when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned with the world.

1 Corinthians 11:32

Discipline is for our good.

⁵ And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:

My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly
or lose heart when you are reproved by him,
⁶ for the Lord disciplines the one he loves
and punishes every son he receives.

⁷ Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? ⁸ But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:5-11

Paul then lays out very clear instructions that help us to avoid these problems.

³³ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, welcome one another. ³⁴ If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you gather together you will not come under judgment. I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.

1 Corinthians 11:33-34

Everyone eat together. Be patient for others to arrive. If your soul-purpose is to fill yourselves, eat at home. The love feasts and subsequent communion were not just to fill physical desires. They were for filling spiritual desires. If you can’t do it properly than just eat at home so you will avoid sinning and being chastened.

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