Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Psalms 107-110
     New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 11

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 and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself (1 Corinthians 11: 27-29).

In Paul’s day, the love feast was like a modern-day potluck. Members of the church family would gather and bring whatever food or drink they could afford. They were encouraged to share it all, regardless of how rich or poor they were. After the feast, the most symbolic part of the meal was observed—the communion service. It included the breaking and eating bread to commemorate Jesus’ crucified body and drinking from a cup of wine in remembrance of the blood He shed for our sins. After the meal, the Believers would linger to share, sing, and enjoy a time where all barriers were down, and all bonds strengthened.

Like everything else man touches, the Corinthians ruined even the Lord’s supper. What was intended to be a feast of love and remembrance turned into a festival of gluttony and drunkenness by the rich, while the poorer members went hungry. The selfish pride of the wealthy created a deep divide in the church. The love feast should have been an opportunity for edification, but they were using it as a time for embarrassment.

Of course, the division at dinner was but evidence of the deeper problem in the Corinthian church. They thought they were mature Believers when, in reality, they were but little children. Paul did not suggest they abandon the feast, but rather that they grow up and restore the proper meaning to their love feast.

Paul reminds the Corinthian Believers what he had taught them about the Lord’s Supper. The beautiful symbolism of remembrance for all that Christ did for us when He died on the cross for our sins. In addition, we look forward together as we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes (v26). The return of Jesus Christ is the blessed hope of the church and each individual Christian. Jesus not only died for us, but He arose from the grave overcoming death so that we also might live. And then He ascended into heaven, and one day He shall return to take us to heaven to be with Him forevermore.

Paul pleaded with the Corinthians to let a person examine himself (v28).Paul never said that we had to be worthy to partake of the supper, but only that we should partake in a worthy manner. To partake in a worthy manner, we must examine our hearts and confess our sins to the Lord. To come to the table with unconfessed sin in our lives is to be guilty of Christ’s body and blood, for it was sin that nailed Him to the cross.