Quote:
Originally Posted by Amanah
Anyone who would like to comment on The Lord's Table, 1 Corinthians 11, I liked to hear what you have to say.
I've always thought of breaking the bread and blessing the cup as a time of remembrance of our Lord's sacrifice, a time to discern the body of believers in appreciation, and wondered what the warning about some becoming sick, or even having fallen asleep actually means. |
1 Corinthians 11:18-34 KJV
For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. [19] For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. [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. [23] For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: [24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. [25] After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. [26] For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. [27] Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. [28] But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. [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. [31] For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. [32] But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. [33] Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. [34] And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
1. The Lord's Supper was a full meal supplied by the participants as they were able in commemoration of the Lord's death, looking forward to His coming. As such it is both a fellowship meal as well as an evangelistic sermon (a proclaiming of the Gospel).
2. Some were eating and drinking their full before others were able to arrive. This would be the more well to do eating the food before the poorer (laborers, slaves, etc) could get to the meeting. So the late comers had nothing to eat and so missed out.
3. The inconsiderate in 2 above were not discerning the Lord's Body (the church with their poorer brethren) and were partaking "unworthily". This paralleled Judas eating the Supper with Christ but still betraying Him. So the inconsiderate were acting like Judas which was manifesting in how they approached the Supper.
4. The lack of love this abuse engendered threatens the soul because he that loveth not his brother is lost (see 1 John).
5. This spiritually weakens the church and health and healing are diminished as a result. So some are weak, sickly, and some have even died.
6. Paul rebukes them for this and says to "check yourself" to make sure you aren't acting like a Judas. He says the things happening (plus his rebuke) are corrective measures taken by God to get the congregation back on the right track so the church doesn't wind up condemned with the rest of the world.
7. So they were to wait until the church was fully assembled to eat, so that all could participate. If somebody was so hungry they couldn't wait then they needed to eat at home before they came to the meeting instead of stuffing themselves at the Supper to the detriment of others.
8. The Supper included a single loaf of bread divided up among the members, and a single cup of wine shared by all taken toward the end of the meal. One loaf, one cup. The multiple crackers and thimbles of wine/juice thing is NOT the Lord's Supper, nor any kind of supper!
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