The Lord’s Supper
1 Corinthians 11
The purpose of Paul’s writing is to correct their improper mode of observing this ordinance. He actually states that their church meetings are doing more harm than good. That’s refreshingly honest. I have a feeling a lot of church meetings and get-togethers of believers do more harm than good. That’s because we come together in the wrong spirit sometimes.
18.
For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.Imagine coming together for the Lord’s Supper – for communion – a celebration of all that Christ did for us, and a celebration of our common relationship in Him, and an anticipation of our homecoming someday with him, where we will all be together for eternity – imagine coming together for those purposes and having animosity toward one another. It just doesn’t fit.
It’s hypocritical
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
What he is saying here is that there will always be some people with some hair-brained ideas – somebody who thinks or believes or acts a little different than you. Don’t get shook about it. "Iron sharpens iron." Those differences are there to make you a bigger and better person. How could you ever learn to love your enemies if no one ever rubbed you the wrong way? How could you learn to be patient if no one ever frustrated you?
Get over it. We can disagree without disbanding. We can differ without dividing. That’s just part of fellowship – learning to get along with each other.
20 When ye come together therefore into one place, [this] is not to eat the Lord's supper.
21 For in eating every one taketh before [other] his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise [you] not.
Now get this. Paul is saying that they are coming together with the wrong attitude and for the wrong purpose. Our fellowship – our gathering in His Name – is primarily for spiritual purposes, not for socializing.
These believers were coming together and getting so caught up in the party that they forgot to honor the Lord. They were so caught up in the meal, the celebration, that they forgot to consider one another. The purpose was to commemorate the Lord’s work, to recognize their partnership in the gospel, and to honor one another.
Somewhere along the line they got off track. Some were being overlooked or left out. This was to be a time, not to get with the click, but to celebrate the unity and the diversity of the whole body.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
Now, what happens when you get in the wrong attitude?
Most people interpret this as if the word were "unworthy," and not "unworthily," and they seem to suppose that it refers to their personal qualifications, to their "unfitness" to partake of it, rather than the "manner" in which it is done.
Remember that the word here has reference to the "manner" of observing the ordinance, and not to their personal qualifications or fitness. We are all "unworthy" of an approach to the table of the Lord; "unworthy" to be regarded as his followers; "unworthy" of a title to everlasting life; but it does not follow that we may not partake of this ordinance in a worthy and proper manner, with a deep sense of our sinfulness and our need of a Saviour.
The term "unworthily" refers to an unworthy or improper manner; in a manner unsuitable to the purposes for which it was designed or instituted. We come together and we ignore, we neglect the guest of honor and his invited guests. We take his sacrifice lightly, and we are guilty of his shed blood. Yes, indeed his blood was shed for us, but we should be humbled by that, not light-hearted about it.
When you come together for the Lord’s supper, or for any gathering of the body of Christ for that matter, examine your attitude. Is it reverent? Is it respectful? Is it unselfish?
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
People were actually getting sick and dying because of their frivolous or careless attitudes in gathering with the body of Christ.
What should we look for in examining ourselves?
Remember, this is a solemn occasion. We celebrate the Lord’s death. That is no matter to be taken lightly.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
It is good for us to pause occasionally in life, and take an account of our standing in the sight of God. By self-examination we may search out and remove those things that are offensive to God, and the sins which so easily beset us, that we may be recognize and abandon them.
Our approach to the table of the Lord is a solemn approach to the Lord himself.