The Lord’S Supper
THE LORD’S SUPPER
1 CORINTHIANS 11:17-22
Paul criticizes snobbery at the Lord’s table.
The trouble within the Corinthian church was not that the believers were avoiding congregational meetings for service and sacrament, but that they failed to understand and apply some elementary principles of Christian worship (11:17); therefore Paul’s word of reproof comes.
Two criticisms are raised in this section. First, the lack of unity in the church had become most obvious at the very place where that unity should be most powerfully demonstrated (11:18). Paul can’t put his finger exactly on the trouble-spot but fears the worst. 11:19 is ironical and looks back to earlier references (1:10 ff.; 3:3,21) which clearly indicate that the church was sharply divided into groups, and a jealous spirit prevailed. The rebuke of the apostle is the corollary of the truth (10:17) of the oneness of the church, which shows a single loaf at the fellowship meal. By this quarrelsome and divisive attitude the Corinthians were denying the unity of the church at the precise point at which its oneness as the body of Christ should be displayed and realized to the full.
The second feature of the Lord’s Supper observance was no less serious. The outward form may be observed and the members may go through the motions associated with the cup of blessing and the breaking of the bread (10:16), but solemn worship employing holy things is worthless unless the spirit of the worshipers is right. Psalm 51:6-19 are a classic statement of this requirement. Can you recall some of the prophets’ condemnation of wickedness and worship (Isaiah 1:10-31; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8)?
11:20. “The Lord’s Supper” is a comprehensive term, embracing a fellowship meal (the agape or love feast) in the framework of which a communion service was held. The grievous fault at Corinth was a sin of selfishness and greed (11:21). The rich members arrived early at the assembly (in a house, no doubt, 11:22) and began their meal; the poorer members, probably slaves whose duties detained them, came late only to find all the food consumed. The early arrivals had had a royal time—to the point of intoxication. No wonder Paul ridicules this situation in tones of astonished disgust (11:22)!