1 Corinthians 11:17-34

TODAY’S READING SCHEDULE: Job 34-35; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

1 Corinthians 11:17-34 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Abuses at the Lord’s Supper

¹⁷ Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸ For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it. ¹⁹ Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine. ²⁰ When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s supper. ²¹ For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk. ²² What! Do you not have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you!

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for^[a] you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Partaking of the Supper Unworthily

²⁷ Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For all who eat and drink^[b] without discerning the body,^[c] eat and drink judgment against themselves. ³⁰ For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.^[d] 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. ³² But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined^[e] so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

³³ So then, my brothers and sisters,^[f] when you come together to eat, wait for one another. ³⁴ If you are hungry, eat at home, so that when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other things I will give instructions when I come.

What does this passage mean to me/us?  Contributed by Charlotte Shockley

As we enter into Lent, our thoughts and meditations help to prepare for us for Easter and all the events and emotions that precede it.  The reality of the story is hard to imagine, let alone to accept that someone would endure such hardship for strangers. Strangers, that were inflicting physical and emotional pain on Him.  It is hard for us to imagine such love. We are left feeling humble, thankful and in awe.  The essence of the season can be captured in The Last Supper, when Jesus shared bread and wine with the disciples in an effort to help them (and us) understand what was about to happen.  We have the opportunity to participate in this Supper each time we take Holy Communion.  In the scripture, Paul is telling us to come to the table with the same reverence, humbleness and thankfulness that we feel when remembering His sacrifice for us.  Divisiveness, chaos and distractions should be put away.  There is no room for it here. We should be completely focused on our relationship with Him and nothing else.  In a world, where we multitask and have several things going simultaneously, this may be a difficult task.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the many blessings that we receive.  The ones we that we pray for and the many that we take for granted and may not even notice. We are undeserving of the care you bestow on us.  Help us to be very clear headed about the season of Lent and later Easter.  Help us to forgive and forget our quarrels and differences with others.  Help us to put away the distractions of the world, so that we can completely focus on our relationship with you.  Make Holy Communion an ongoing reminder of Your sacrifice for us! Amen.

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