Participating In Lord’S Supper Reverently
PARTICIPATING IN LORD’S SUPPER REVERENTLY
1 CORINTHIANS 11:27-34
Sharing in the Lord’s Supper is a precious privilege for believers.
The vital phrase in this passage, which is the practical application of Paul’s recital of the words of institution (11:23-26), is found in 11:29: “without discerning the body.” Some fearful consequences are the result of a failure to heed this warning (11:27,30,32).
Some interpreters take the phrase to refer to the elements which represent the crucified body of the Lord; then the sin will be one of desecration or an ill-considered approach to the holy ordinance. Alternatively and preferably, “the body” may be a description of the church (as in 10:17; 12:12) which is closely linked with Christ. Then, Paul’s criticism fastens on the Corinthians’ lamentable disregard of their oneness in Christ, giving rise to the practices which so disfigured their fellowship meal: selfish interests (11:21); gluttony and drunkenness (11:21); and snobbery (11:22). By these malpractices, unworthy of their Christian profession and allegiance, the Christians were despising the church of God (11:22) by failing to discern the true nature of Christ’s body in which there is no room for proud display and ill-tempered inconsideration of others. This attitude, so rife at Corinth, implies such an insensitive concern at the table that the meal was celebrated “in an unworthy manner” (11:27) and in a highminded spirit which received God’s judgment (11:30-32). Paul’s answer matches the need (11:33-34), that is, be considerate by making the occasion a true family action, and let the demands of hunger be satisfied before you come to the assembly in order not to show up the poorer church members who brought only a little food or even nothing at all (11:22)!
Thought How should we prepare for the communion service?