1 Corinthians 11:27-34
Ps Paul Cheng
~6 min read
Dear Bethelites,
Having discussed the danger of the Lord’s Supper being perverted, and reiterating the purpose of this vital sacrament, Paul went on to speak about how the believers ought to prepare themselves as they approach the Table.
III. The Preparation
The Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion is not only commemorative, it is also spiritual. Since it is spiritual, there is a strong warning given.
1 Corinthians 11:27, 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.
Who can partake of the Lord’s Supper? In the Old Testament, only those who were circumcised were allowed to take the Passover. As circumcision had been taken over by baptism in the New Testament, thus only those who are baptised are allowed to take the Lord’s Supper. The reason why we do not allow those infants who were baptised to partake of the Lord’s Supper is because they do not understand the significance of the elements. They have to attend the Basic Bible Knowledge classes (e.g. catechism classes) so that they can understand the significance of the element before they partake of the elements.
There is a difference between unworthy and unworthily. We will always be unworthy but because of God’s grace and mercy, we can approach the Lord’s Table. But a person can come before the Lord’s Table unworthily in many ways; (1) he may partake of the elements in a ritualistic way, without preparing his heart and mind, (2) he may just go through the motion, with a careless attitude, “Oh, once again, it is the first Sunday of the month to conduct the Lord’s Supper! Alright, why not?” (3) he may come with a spirit of bitterness, or hatred toward another believer, or come with a sin which he refuses to repent.
When a person takes the flag of a particular country, throws it on to the floor and steps on it, he is not only dishonouring that piece of cloth but the country it represents. When a believer comes before the Lord’s Table unworthily, he is not dishonouring the pastor who conducts it but the One in whom the elements represent. That was why Paul said, “He or she shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord because that is what the Holy Communion represents. He is guilty of mocking the very Person of Jesus Christ and what He had done.”
Instead, every time he comes to the Lord’s Table, his heart’s attitude should be,But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup (1 Corinthians 11:28). Essentially, he must examine himself (1) if there are any sins he refuses to confess and repent, (2) if his motives and attitudes are right toward the Lord, His Word and His people, (3) he must take time to consider the meaning and significance of the Lord’s Supper and what it represents, (4) he must remember His sacrificial death and shedding of His precious blood on the cross, (5) he must commit himself to obey the Lord’s command and look forward to His imminent return.
Dear friend, do you realize the Lord’s Table is a special place for the purifying of the church? If every member truly understands the significance of the Lord’s Supper, and prepares his heart spiritually, what would happen? Sins would be confessed and repented, heart would be transformed, there would be rededication of lives, where there are differences, the offending party would admit his mistake and apologise, the offended party would be willing to forgive, and there would be reconciliation. All because the people understand the significance of the Lord’s Supper. Sadly, we do not see that happening today in many churches. Do you think God does not know those people who partake of the Lord’s Supper unworthily? Do you think He will not deal with them? Most certainly, He will!
1 Corinthians 11:29, For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. The word damnation does not mean “condemnation,” but rather “judgment” as in chastisement, because Paul was speaking about the believers (c.f. Romans 8:1).
The next verse further attested to the fact that Paul was speaking about the believers, For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (1 Corinthians 11:30). Some of the chastisements the Lord might use to discipline the believers might be physical weakness, sickness and even death. The word sleep was always used as a reference to the death of the believer. When the believer dies, his soul goes to be with the Lord while the body goes to sleep, only to be awakened when the Lord returns so that both body and soul can be united in a glorified body. Some of the Corinthians in the church had died because they had partaken of the Lord’s Supper unworthily!
It is vital to note that it is wrong for us to go around and judge anyone who is weak and sick, and conclude that it is because of their sins. Some believers have been godly and obedient, yet they are weak and sick, because God allows those trials into their lives, not due to sins, but on the contrary, it is due to their godliness so that those trials would build them up to be stronger and enable them to help others more effectively. However, it is always right for us to judge ourselves; whenever we are weak and sick, we need to examine ourselves, “If this situation is a result of some sins? Are there any sins we have committed or refused to repent?” It is better for us to judge ourselves and repent if we have sinned, rather than be judged and chastised by God. Therefore, 1 Corinthians 11:31 said,For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
Verse 32, But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. But even if the Lord were to judge us, it is because He wants to discipline and chastise us, it is always for our good because He wants us to be righteous, godly and holy. God does not want us to live in worldliness and ungodliness, and He will even take our lives, if need be, then for His beloved children to live in unrighteousness. Today, if we are still being chastised by God, it is proof that we are His children, and as His children, we would not be condemned together with the world.
Finally, Paul said, Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 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 Corinthians 11:33-34).
Paul was not against the love feast or fellowship meals that the Corinthians had before the Lord’s Supper. He wanted them to get their lives right, and change their selfish attitudes. Therefore, they should wait for one another, and not just jump into their own meals without considering others. They should care and share with one another, and make sure nobody went away hungry. If anyone wanted to attend those love feasts just for the sake of satisfying their physical hunger, then let him eat at home. In other words, “What is the point of coming together and sin, and then be judged and chastised by God!” Paul ended this section by stating that there were other issues he would like to deal with, but he would take care of those matters when he visited them personally.
Indeed, it was not only important for the Corinthians to understand the significance of the Lord’s Supper, but everyone of us as well. Hopefully, we will always remember the lessons we have learned about the Lord’s Supper, the perversion, purpose and preparation.
In Christ,
Pastor Paul Cheng
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