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TEXT: I CORINTHIANS 11:17-34
SUBJECT: A STUDY OF I CORINTHIANS 11:17-34
INTRODUCTION
The subject of this passage is "disorder in the church". At Corinth, there was plenty of it. It was seen in a party spirit, in a lack of church discipline, in the abuse of gifts, and--here--in the "unworthy partaking" of the Lord's Supper.
A GENERAL CRITICISM
Vv.17-19: "Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you".
1.The church at Corinth is divided.
2.The divisions made their public meetings more of a curse than a blessing.
3.These divisions are evil, but will work for their good. How? By making the godly in the church manifest to all.
THE LORD'S SUPPER ABUSED
Vv.20-22: "Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink it? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you!"
1.The church gathered for what looked like the Lord's Supper, but it was not! Why not? Because it was eaten with strife.
a.The better off members would come early, eat and drink too much, and leave nothing for their poorer brethren.
2.This piggish behavior indicated: (a) a disregard for the church, and (b) a spite for the Lord's poor people.
THE LORD'S SUPPER HONORED
Vv.23-26: "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, `Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' "In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, `This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes".
1.The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ.
2.It consists of two elements: bread and wine.
3.They represent His broken body and shed blood.
4.They must be taken "in remembrance" of Christ.
5.By taking the Lord's Supper, we "proclaim His death" and anticipate His return.
THE LORD'S SUPPER REFORMED
Vv.27-34: "Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Therefore, my brethren, when yo come together to eat, wait for one another. And if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come".
1.It is possible to eat the Lord's Supper in an "unworthy manner". Note: the word, "unworthy" is an adverb, not an adjective. It does not refer to an "unworthy" person eating the Supper, but a person eating it in an "unworthy" way.
2.We eat the Lord's Supper in an "unworthy manner" when we do not "discern the Lord's body". "Discern" means "to think about". But what is "the Lord's body"? It must mean one of three things: (a) the Lord Jesus Himself; (b) the bread which represents His body; or (c) the church. Which is most likely? The Lord Himself is never called "the Lord's body". The bread is, but its always coupled with "His blood", see vv.26-27a. The best answer is "the church". Why?
a.It fits the context. Vv.17-22 indicate the big problem at Corinth was a disregard for the church. Many other places agree.
3.To eat the Lord's Supper without regard for His people is dangerous. It is "to drink judgment to himself". The peril is not theoretical. "For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many are dead".
4.Before coming to the Lord's Table, therefore, we must "examine" ourselves with respect to "discerning the Lord's body". Are we bitter toward anyone? Do we love everyone?
IMPLICATIONS
1.The Lord's Supper expresses our fellowship with one another.
2.The Lord's Supper calls us to make our fellowship concrete by knowing each other better, respecting each other more, and loving one another with a fervent love.
QUESTION
1.What kind of "fellowship" does the Lord's Supper express? Church fellowship or Christian fellowship?
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