I Corinthians 11:17-34 – The Heart and the Manner of The Lord’s Supper

I Corinthians 11:17-34 – The Heart and the Manner of The Lord’s Supper

When most of us look at the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper we reference I Corinthians 11:23-34.  In this we gain the specifics of how the ceremony should be performed.  We also gain an insight into the heart of the participants and the Lord’s seriousness of this ceremony.  One thing we miss in starting at verse 23 is the intention that the church should come together, no matter what the circumstances of the church or the individual trials of the member are. 

We should come together in unity of the local church, in Christ, and perform this ceremony before the Holy Spirit who testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God.  This is an encouragement to us, to solidify our faith, and to give a continuous testimony of Jesus Christ until he returns. 

Below is the passage I Corinthians 11:17-34.  Read it and pray about it.  Meditate upon its meaning.  I have put my personal summary afterward.  I pray this is a blessing to you, and a help in you daily walk.

17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

18 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 Corinthian 11 has a lot to say about the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. The gathering of the fellowship should include the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.  It should be a reverence to the Lord, not for the filling of the belly.  The Lord’s Supper should not be a time of gluttony.  It is therefore not a feast, or celebration like that of Thanksgiving, nor is it a festival like that of a wedding or a birthday.  One should have eaten your normal portion prior to attending, or perhaps after the ceremony.  No drunkenness or excess should be exhibited.  Greed in not a virtue of God.   

There is no favoritism before God.  So, in the church there is no special treatment or special arranging of seats, or unequal portions for prominent church members of guests. There is not a separation of Jew, to Gentile, free man to slave, nor rich to poor. All who come to the table should be fed equally of the Lord’s portion. One should not come to be served but to serve.  If any must wait, surely it is the Pastor who should partake last, to ensure all believers have their portion of participation.  The Pastor is after all the utmost servant of the local church in direct service of office to Jesus Christ. 

The sacraments of the Lord’s Supper should be taken in reverence and remembrance with a pure heart.  One must be clean of conscience, confessed of sin, and with a heart of repentance.  One should not be holding of anything against his brother, instead one should be forgiving at heart, as he was forgiven by God in Christ Jesus.

This is a time of reflection and of hope in his death and his return. It should have a ceremonial atmosphere, and in accordance with the manner in wick it was handed down from Jesus to the Apostles.  Thanksgiving should be given for the ceremony, the sacraments provided, and the blood and the body sacrificed by the death of Jesus Christ.  By whose blood we have atonement. 

We should also be warning of others to not take this lightly.  Participation in this ceremony is only for the true believer.  To partake of this sacrament unworthily brings death.  It is a mockery and a blasphemy of the Holy Spirit to partake unworthily.  Each man should examine himself, to see of he is worthy to participate.  Is his heart of clean conscience before the LORD?  If not then he must leave his gift at the altar and make it right.  All things must be done in faith, or they are sin. 

Therefore, the participant must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God who came and lived among us as a man, who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, overcoming death once and for all men.  He then ascended to heaven with a promise of return.  This is what you testify to when you participate in the Lord’s Supper, until his return.  Participation says I trust you LORD and I await your return, doing the work of a good servant. In obedience to your commandments.  I await you Holy bridegroom with my lamp filled with oil, and the light of hope burning, piercing the darkness of this world in trust and hope in you, Jesus Christ.