Title: The Lord’s Supper – Examined
Theme: To show the proper way of observing the Lord’s Supper
Text: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
1 Cor 11:23 NKJV For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’’ 25. In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’’ 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.
Introduction
In this chapter Paul deals with a problem that has been going on in the church at Corinth. There have been some abuses of the Lord’s Supper or Communion as we call it. He takes these verses to correct them. This morning I want us to examine the Lord’s Supper and see what we can glean from these scriptures as we observe this Sacrament.
Paul Brings up the Lord’s Supper
1Co 11:17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, (in other words in this next section that he is about to write about he is not going to praise them) (there has been something going wrong in the church and he wanted to bring it into light, it is time for some correction) (Message 17 Regarding this next item, I’m not at all pleased) that you come together not for the better, but for the worse. (Instead of coming together for good for good, This is the reason we come together, that is to edify one another, to build each other up in the holy faith, yet here it has actually been worse)
Abuses of the Lord’s Supper verses 18-22
Why have they made things worse when they come together? How could that be? Well Paul lists four abuses that have been happening in the church.
A. There were divisions and cliques within the church which corrupted the Lord’s Supper
(18) For first of all, when you come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
The first problem was that there were divisions and cliques in the church which infected and corrupted the Lord’s supper. There was no unity.
(19) For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
In this verse Paul says that these people who cause these factions serve a purpose. They show who are the true followers of Christ. The bring forth the true followers.
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1Co 3:3 For you are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal, and walk as men?
B. There was self-deception (false security) which corrupted the Lord’s Supper (vs. 20)
(20) When you come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
The second abuse is that the people are deceiving themselves. They are using something God has given them as an excuse to get together and have a party.
They say it is because of the Lord’s Supper but it is not.
C. There was selfishness and neglect of others which corrupted the Lord’s Supper (vs. 21)
(21) For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken
The third problem is that there are some people who are getting full while the others are going hungry. We get the picture of people who are bringing their meals and drink and not sharing it with the poor. Some were not eating at all.
This feast was designed to show everyone equal not separate people.
D. There was the abuse of the sanctity of the church and the shamming of the poor which corrupted the Lord’s Supper (vs 22)
(22) What? have you not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise you the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
Finally Paul says there is abuse because they were taking away from the sanctity of the church. This church is a special place. A place of worship and that is what it should be. As I have said before it is not a place of eating and drinking.
That is why Jesus made a chord of whips and cast out the money changers and the sellers from the temple in Matthew 21:12-17
Consequences verses 27-30
Now let us skip down to verses 27-30 and look at the consequences of the abuse.
This is one of only a few scriptures that promise a curse when one abuses the command of God. Another is found in Ephesians as Paul repeats the commandment of “honoring your father and mother” that you days may be long.
A. A person becomes guilty of the Lord’s death 27
(27) Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord
Unworthily-taking as no regard, not repenting of sins (division, heresy (factions) self-deception, selfishness, drunkenness, neglecting the poor
, irreverence and carelessness in protecting the sanctity of the church
When a person does this Paul says that first they are guilty of the Lord’s death. They see Christ’s death as no regard. They sin and do the things of the righteous as if to say what difference does it make. This insults, offends, tramples underfoot of Christ
B. A person condemns himself if he does not examine his heart for unconfessed sin
(28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
C. A person is disciplined and chastened by the Lord (vs. 30)
(30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep
1. sickness also spiritual sickness
2. death also spiritual death
Proper way to observe the Lord’s Supper 31-34
A. Approach the Lord’s supper by judging (examine) ourselves first
(31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
B. Accept the chastening of the Lord (conviction in the heart)
(32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Hebrews 12:11 Message At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.
C. Serve one another
(33) Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry (serve, wait on) one for another.
D. Do not bring condemnation on yourself
(34) And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
I Thessalonians 5:22 “Stay away from any thing that looks like evil”
The Lord’s Supper (vs. 23-26)
(23) For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you
Referring back to the time that Jesus sat down with his disciples in the upper room in Matthew 26:26-30
A. The Bread
That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
Night before the Crucifixion
(24) And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Eat, this is my body-this bread represents the body of Christ that was broken (bruised, suffered) for us. When we do this we need to do it in remembrance of Jesus.
B. The Cup
(25) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
Again he takes the cup. This cup represented a New Covenant (Testament) paid by the blood of Jesus on the cross. When we do this we need to always do it in remembrance of Jesus. Notice not as much as in memorial because memorial are for those who have passed on not to be seen until we get to heaven. But in this remember we reflect on Jesus. His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection, His salvation for us, His eternal existence as being God.
C. Reason for Observing
(26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come
1 Corinthians 11:26 Message What you must (solemnly) realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.
Notice again that it becomes a life style. It is not just the ceremony that we are doing but there is a lifestyle and a confession that goes with it.
Conclusion
Let us now drink, eat, and remember.
