Sunday, August 20, 2011 pm
STUDIES IN 1 CORINTHIANS
(37)
Concerning the Lord’s Supper (3)
1 Cor. 11:27-34
As
we have stated before, it was not that they should not partake of the
Lord’s Supper (we established that including noting it was something to
be done on the first day of the week), but what they were doing was NOT
the Lord’s Supper. In this
statement we learn that when God establishes a pattern we are to follow
that pattern in whatever we do for Him. That
is why we partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week.
We also examined the purpose of the Lord’s Supper in our last
lesson. Paul reminded them
that Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper on the night He was betrayed
(Matt. 26:26-29, Luke 22:14-23, etc.).
In
our lesson this evening we will notice the application Paul makes so
that they can partake of the Lord’s Supper correctly.
We have seen WHEN we are to partake (on the first day of the week
when we come together), HOW it is to be administered (i.e. the emblems
involved), WHY we partake (the purpose being to proclaim the Lord’s
death till he comes). In our
lesson tonight we will examine the proper ATTITUDE involved as we
partake of this memorial.
a.
Paul is now very
emphatic of the dangers of abusing the purpose and manner in which the
Lord’s Supper is to be partaken of.
b.
Eating and drinking in
an unworthy manner. Does
this apply to the way in which the Lord’s Supper is offered by the
church OR does it apply to the attitude and disposition of the one
partaking of the memorial?
i.
As to the manner of
offering – consider that what provoked this discussion was an abuse of
the Lord’s Supper. It had
been turned into a common meal with no thought of its real purpose.
Furthermore, it had become a source of division.
So Paul clearly has in mind that it must be done “decently and in
order” (1 Cor. 14:40) and with respect for God’s boundaries (1 Cor.
4:6). That WAS the problem
Paul was specifically addressing.
ii.
As to one’s proper
attitude when partaking of this memorial –
1.
vs. 28 says, “But let a
man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the
cup.” This is followed by a
stern warning for the one who does otherwise.
Therefore, in some sense this text ALSO implies that the
individual partaker must do so “worthily”.
What exactly does that mean?
2.
“Let a man examine
himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”
a.
The word “examine” means
to put to the test. This is
the word that means to determine the genuineness of something by
examining or testing it.
This is the word that (Louw & Nida)
It is the term used in the testing of metals to determine their purity.
b.
So as one partakes of
the Lord Supper there is a need to in some way determine that he is
doing it properly.
c.
Does this apply to his
worthiness himself (i.e. purity of life) OR the manner in which he
observes the God given pattern?
The answer is inconclusive because it be interpreted either way.
3.
“He who eats in an
unworthy manner” (11:27, 29-NKJV & KJV only)
a.
Concerning the phrase,
the NKJV, NASU and ASV all say, “unworthy manner” while the KJV says,
“unworthily”.
b.
Again, there are the
same two possibilities for this expression:
1) Does this mean he is worthy to partake (i.e. cleansed of sins)?
2) Or that he must partake of it seriously considering its intended
purpose (i.e. thinking about the significance of the emblems in one’s
life).
c.
My understanding would
be that it is the latter – the manner in which one partakes with respect
to the pattern and his disposition as he partakes.
d.
I base this again on the
text which prompted this rebuke.
i.
The abuses identified
involved the way it was being offered.
It was being offered as a common meal
Not with all assembled together at once as it was “observed”.
ii.
“unworthy manner” is
defined as “unworthily, irreverently, in an unbecoming manner.” (WS
Dictionary, Zodhiates) This
lends more strongly to being descriptive of the way the memorial was
being observed.
iii.
If it was being offered
in a social setting (such as a common meal), chances are the partaker
would not seriously have his mind on the sacrifice, death and
resurrection of Jesus and the impact it had in his life.
iv.
Furthermore, the
consequences of the one partaking in “an unworthy manner” is better
explained concerning the method of observance (i.e. he is guilty of “not
discerning the Lord’s body” – vs. 29).
v.
As to the one being
cleansed of sins, are any of us truly “worthy” from that standpoint to
partake? NOW, one MIGHT
because of sin in his life not be able to concentrate on this memorial –
in which case he ought not to partake until he can clear his mind.
(Sometimes, when one has sinful conduct they are intending to
confess after the service, might be so “shook up” he cannot with a clear
conscience partake at that time.
In such cases, perhaps he ought to forego the Lord’s Supper that
service, because his mind is clearly “in an unworthy manner.”
4.
To drink in an unworthy
manner brings serious consequences:
a.
Paul’s warning is VERY
strong concerning the one who abuses the Lord’s Supper.
b.
He is “guilty of the
body and blood of the Lord” & he “drinks judgment (condemnation – TT) to
himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”
c.
In essence he is saying
that his actions are as egregious as the ones who actually crucified the
Lord Himself. There are a
handful of passages that describe in very serious terms one whose
actions reject the Lord. For
example: Heb. 10:26-29 speaks of the one who sins willfully as a
Christian having, “trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood
of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted
the Spirit of grace.”
d.
Considering Paul’s
warning, we better take very seriously HOW we observe this memorial AND
our attitude.
c.
How do we discern the
Lord’s body?
i.
What preparations are we
making? Considering that
this is worshipping God what are we doing to ensure that our minds are
in the right place?
Here is a thought –
consider ahead of time what you are going to think about as you partake.
Maybe read some passages that will turn your mind in the right
direction.
ii.
We need to make sure
that our minds don’t wander as such would clearly make what we are doing
an unworthy manner. This
requires concentration or “meditation” in the Biblical sense.
Are we well rested?
Is our mind clean and pure?
iii.
What should we think
about as we partake? Is
there something specific we need to think of?
This text says more than any other about what ought to be on our
minds as we partake.
I am of the opinion that
we ought to “mix it up” a little to keep this memorial fresh in your
mind. With that thought,
here are several suggestions of what you can think about.
1.
Think about the words of
the song, scripture reading or words of the one presiding at the table.
Make personal application to those things.
2.
Think about the occasion
that the Lord instituted this feast.
When was it instituted and why?
3.
Think about what the
bread represents – His suffering body; and the cup – His blood.
4.
Think about the
suffering that Jesus endured – both before and as He was crucified.
Try to picture the pain of His rejection, abandonment,
mistreatment at the trials, His scourging, mockings, and the torture of
crucifixion itself.
5.
Think about the perfect
sacrifice Jesus provided for us – He lived without sin to pay the price
for the sins we have comitted.
6.
Think about His
resurrection – the defeat of the devil and sin.
7.
Think about what His
blood accomplishes – salvation, redemption, consecration,
sanctification, etc.
8.
Think about what the
death of Jesus has accomplished in your life.
We are told in our text, “Let a man examine himself.”
We can examine if we are as committed as we ought to be and if He
is the priority He ought to be in our lives.
iv.
Coffman in his
commentary on this context made the following observation about the
NATURE of the Lord’s Supper.
He noted that it is:
1.
Retrospective – looking
back to Calvary and the awful events surrounding the Lord’s death.
2.
Prospective – looking
forward to the Lord’s Return (11:26)
3.
Introspective – looking
inward and examining your life in light of what you ought to be. (11:28)
4.
Commemorative – in
remembrance of the Lord (11:25).
A memorial to be treated with proper dignity.
5.
Instructive –
proclaiming the Lord’s death (11:26).
As we partake we set an example to others about the importance of
this event.
6.
Corrective – examination
(11:28) is meaningless if a willingness to correct that which is amiss
is lacking.
7.
Separative – it is only
meaningful to the saved. I
believe there is a reason it is to be done when we come together as the
church. (11:33)
It is a FELLOWSHIP for those of “like precious faith” who have
assembled together for among other reasons, to partake of this memorial
TOGETHER!
a.
For this reason many are
weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
Paul notices that there were consequences to their behavior.
In vs. 30-32 he speaks of many being sick and some sleep.
Is this a physical punishment by God?
Or is this spiritual punishment affecting their relationship with
God?
i.
Many denominational
commentators hold to this being physical punishment.
After all, they were still living in times when God did, at least
occasionally, directly intervene (cf. Ananias and Sapphira – Acts
5:1-11). If such were the
case, God was directly inflicting physical illness on these people.
While this is plausible, is it the best possibility?
ii.
I believe this statement
to be spiritual. Paul is
telling these brethren that because of their blatant disregard for God’s
pattern and irreverence in their so-called acts of worship, that it had
affected their spiritual relationship with Him.
Some were out of fellowship with God and others, perhaps had
reached that point of no return (asleep – i.e. spiritual death).
I say this because the consequences are more consistent with how God
deals with man, INCLUDING today.
Furthermore, in vs. 31 as Paul speaks of the chastening of the Lord (cf.
Heb. 12:5-11) which means measures are being taken (how – we don’t know)
to try to bring them back to repentance.
Notice how vs. 32 says, “when
we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord,
that we may not be condemned with
the world.” There is
a hope of repentance. This
would not be possible if the punishment is physical since some would
have already been struck dead.
ALSO, in vs. 31 when Paul says, “For if we would judge ourselves, we
would not be judged”, if you consider that in light of vs. 28, “Let a
man examine himself” you find an encouragement that says,
IF we start taking of this
memorial in a proper manner – both by pattern AND mentally, we will NOT
bring upon us God’s judgment.
iii.
Like everything else we
have noticed in the book of 1 Corinthians, Paul is calling for them to
repent before it is too late!
b.
“Wait for one another.”
(33-34) Paul now begins to conclude this discussion of the Lord’s
Supper. In one sentence he
gives the solution – WAIT.
The implications of this we have already discussed – namely, the Lord’s
Supper is a COLLECTIVE act to be carried out by the local church when we
assemble together on the first day of the week.
This verse (and text) prohibits the individual partaking of the
Lord’s Supper away from the setting of the local congregation.
c.
Finally, he again
reminds them, “If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come
together for judgment. IN a
simple sentence - coming together to worship God is NOT a social
occasion! Nowhere in
scripture do we read of the church officiating over social activities –
such as meals, recreation, entertainment, sponsored outings, etc.
Such things are ALWAYS relegated to the individual Christian who
IS instructed to prefer his brethren and spend time with them.
If churches would recognize this, we would have far less
casualness and confusion as to the work God has given the church to do.
And thus we can see Paul has addressed another concern with this church.
May we learn from His teachings to respect God’s pattern in all
that we do – as the Lord’s church, when we worship, how we treat our
brethren and how we treat the world.
Paul will continue dealing with issues of worship – and so will
we, in our next study.