The Lord's Supper

In 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, we see Paul rebuking the Corinthian believers regarding their behavior as it related to their practices surrounding the Lord’s Supper.

In this time, the Lord’s Supper was often observed in tandem with a meal referred to as a Love-Feast. The Love-Feast was to be a time of fellowship and worship. The Passover meal has also been characterized as such. In the instance of the Love-Feast, participants would partake of the meal prior to the Lord’s Supper. These mealtimes “would be characterized by festive, joyous religious discussion”. However, in this 1 Corinthians passage, we see that Paul is incensed by the behavior of the participants.

Paul says that he has heard that when the believers get together, it is not for the good of all. There is division, fighting, and arguing. In fact, he says they truly have not gathered for the ceremony of the Lord’s Supper – what they are doing is not in keeping with the supper that was instituted by the Lord. Some are rushing to get food; leaving others (specifically the poor) behind. Some remain hungry while others are drunk! Paul asks a rhetorical question: do you not have homes to eat and drink in? He goes on to ask, “Or do you despise the church of God and mean to show contempt for it, while you humiliate those who are poor (have no homes and have brought no food)?” (see verse 22)

Paul reminds them of the Lord’s instruction and that this ordinance is to be reverently engaged in remembrance of Him. The Corinthian believers had taken a precious and sacred event about which we learn “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” and turned it into a profane and corrupt practice.  

Dear ones, how is your reverence of the Lord’s Supper? In westernized Christianity, we run the gamut from partaking in the ordinance of communion at every gathering, to partaking only on specialized occasions. The frequency is not the issue; our reverence is. We are to remember the sacrifice of the Savior – the One who gave His life for a sinful world, knowing that many would not appreciate or receive or even care about His sacrifice. Many would reject Him and not recognize who He is and what He is offering. Some would even hate Him and make it their life goal to tear down the truth of who Christ is.

So again I ask, how is your reverence? I encourage you (and myself as I meditate on these truths) to not allow the practice of this ordinance to become mundane or common – like routinely taking the same route home from work or watching your favorite television program every Wednesday evening. Remember this is a holy ordinance that our precious Savior asked us to do in remembrance of His loving sacrifice on our behalf. What a wondrous love!