The Lord’s Supper

As we continue to read through 1 Corinthians we arrive at the passage that is most often read during Communion on Sunday mornings. Here Paul reiterates the instructions and reasoning concerning the Lord’s supper. In all probability, the Lord’s supper in the early church looked very different than what communion in most evangelical churches today looks like. Instead of a tiny cup of juice and one bite wafer, the Lord’s supper was probably exactly that, a meal. The actual breaking of bread together. But that’s what was causing problems in the church in Corinth.

Read 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

What was the problem? The church in Corinth was a church divided. This has been clear since the beginning of the letter, and apparently the division had spilled over into communion. 1 Cor 11:21 sums up the major issue. “For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk” Here was the problem, in bringing food to church to have a meal together and to remember Jesus’ death on the cross for them, those with food were eating their meals without those who didn’t have food. Instead of sharing the meal together, those who had were filling themselves while those who had nothing were going hungry. In the early church (a church without walls) it would have been common for their to be people from the middle/upper class just as there were people from the lower classes of society. Slaves, the poor, widows, orphans, the people that Jesus commanded us to care for. Those who had food had no desire to give to those who didn’t, to sacrifice of themselves for the good of others. What a slap in the face to the whole idea of the Lord’s supper, where we REMEMBER the atoning sacrifice that Jesus made for us. 1 Cor 11:26, “for as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” What Paul was telling the church in Corinth was that what they called “the Lord’s supper” was really a false imitation of the real thing because of their behavior.

Now it would be easy to just look at this under the lens of communion, to make sure our hearts are right when we go before the Lord’s table on the first Sunday of every month. [Side note: Communion is a privilege for Christians, but it is not reserved only for those who are baptized. This is a privilege for anyone that has put their faith and trust in the saving work of Jesus on the Cross, and is a time for us to remember the sacrifice he’s made for us.] But what about other areas of our walks with the Lord? Are we doing what the church in Corinth was doing in other aspects? They came to the Lord’s table thinking they were doing the right thing, but their hearts and attitudes and motivations were centered on themselves. Have we done the same? Maybe in worship? We come thinking the singing and music is glorifying to God, but we do it to promote ourselves. Or what about service projects? Do we go in order to show love to others? Or do we feel this is just another task to put on our spiritual resumes? I’m not saying don’t worship or don’t do service projects. What I would encourage all of us to do is go before God and ask him to help us examine our hearts so that everything that we do is for the purpose of bringing Him glory and showing the world that He is real and at work in you.

Monday: Pray for your relationship with God
Ask God to show you what he is calling for you to do.