The Lord’s Supper
(Analysis of 1 Corinthians 11:27-34)
There are many examinations to which one is subjected in a lifetime. Students are particularly aware of this as they move up the educational ladder. Some students will go to great lengths to “pass the test.” Years ago this writer had prepared a test over a portion of the Old Testament. The day before the test a voice on the phone informed me that copies of the test had been stolen. I spent much of the night making a new test. As I watched the class take the new test the next day, I immediately identified two students in great agony. After serious detective work and intense interrogation, the two students “pled guilty.” They were dismissed from the class and failed the course. However, since they pled guilty, they were not discharged from school.
Paul realized the Christians at Corinth needed to take the most difficult test of all – self-examination! He knew they needed this examination because of their unworthy manner of partaking. It was obvious that they had a misconception of the Supper, and lacked regard for their fellow Christians. These two defects were vividly reflected by their segregated groups, insensitivity, selfishness, and drunkenness. This separated them from God and created havoc and ill-will within the (one) body of Christ.
If honestly taken, what did a self-examination reveal to these people. It showed their “state of remembrance” was scandalous. It showed that their “unworthy manner” of partaking applied not only to the moment of eating and drinking but also to the life and attitudes of the partakers.
Paul realized these Christians needed to have their minds on what they were doing when they observed the Supper. They were called upon to “discern” the body. Did they understand this to be a requirement for properly partaking of the Supper? Did they understand what he meant? He wanted them to visualize the body of Christ on the cross and realize what that meant to them. He wanted them to see that the body was more than a lifeless corpse. Life lay dormant. Death could not hold the Holy One. He wanted them to understand the glory of the resurrection. In short, to discern the body was to see the triumphal victory of Jesus and to realize the reality of the GOSPEL. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) was being enacted each time they partook properly of the Lord’s Supper.
On the other hand, Paul may have included in his teaching that they were to discern the body, the church; that is, they should have the proper view of their fellow partakers (Colossians 1:18). It is obvious that the Corinthian Christians were derelict in this matter. Their disgraceful outward behavior was evidence for this. Paul said their worldly activity at the Lord’s table was causing sickness and even death.
Paul tells them how to develop more spiritual lives by partaking of the Lord’s Supper in a proper way. First, they are to “wait for” one another. Second, the agape feast they were eating in connection with the Lord’s Supper must be a true charity fellowship. Third, if they do not observe all of his teachings on the matter of the Lord’s Supper they will be condemned.
Their warped understanding and shameful activity pertaining to the Lord’s Supper made it impossible to partake of the Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20-21). However, a proper partaking would demonstrate that the Lord’s Supper was a glorious and beautiful experience. It still is.
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