1 Corinthians 11:17-34
About the Text
(18) What kind of "divisions" were there in that church? Among the many schisms present in the church (see chap. 1-3), Paul here targeted their problem of the wealthy humiliating the poor. The phrase "those who have nothing" in verse 22 indicates this. The early church typically celebrated the Lord's Supper through the eating of a complete pot-luck style meal. Many scholars believe this meal was the "love feast" mentioned in Jude 12. Although the members of the church were supposed to share their food in one common meal, the wealthier members would eat their own food, not sharing it with those who were only able to bring very little or none at all. Verse 21 indicates that they were eating their own supper, not the Lord's Supper. (In the original Greek language the word idion in verse 21 means "one's own" supper as opposed the the Lord's Supper.)
(23) What is the Lord's Supper? It is the ceremony that God commands all true believers to celebrate together. Through the eating of symbolic bread and the drinking of symbolic wine (or grape juice), we are to remember Jesus Christ's last supper before He died, and remember WHY He died - it was to earn God's forgiveness for all our sins. The bread represents His body that died on the cross. Thus the words "this is My body" in verse 24. The cup of wine or grape juice represents His blood that flowed from His body as He was tortured and nailed to the cross. When Christians celebrate the Lord's Supper using these two elements and affirming their unity as one family under God, they make a statement to the world as if they are saying "Jesus Christ died for us and gave us new life." Thus the words, "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes" in verse 26.
(27) How does one eat the bread or drinks the cup in an "unworthy manner"? By failing to love and embrace all their believing brothers and sisters regardless of race, wealth, maturity, or personality (cf. verses 20-22); and by failing to understand the meaning of the Lord's Supper (cf. verses 23-26). This is consistent with the words in verse 29: "For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the Body [of the Lord] eats and drinks judgment on himself" (the original Greek sentence does not have "of the Lord").
(30) What happened to the Corinthian Christians for profaning the Lord's Supper? Paul indicates that they became sick and some even died, as a result of the Lord's discipline. Keep in mind, however, that these Christians, if they were true believers, were still saved. That is, they still received the full love from God, pardon for sins, and eternal life (see Rom. 8:1). But as a father lovingly disciplines His sons, so God disciplined the Corinthians by allowing sickness and death for their committing such a great sin.
This does not necessarily mean that God disciplines all violators in the same way. It does mean, however, that the irreverent and segregated participation in the Lord's Supper arouses God's anger.
Insights
The Bottom Line
Worship radically. That is, worship, especially when celebrating the Lord's Supper, with abounding love for your fellow believers, and with full attention on the cross of Christ. True worship should be something that the unbeliever has never before experienced nor understood, for it is truly an act of God. Only the power of God can move believers to be so loving and reverent when they gather. Worship, like all transformed areas of the believer's life, flows from a genuine understanding of the cross of Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 12:1). Christ died on the cross to take upon Himself the punishment that we deserved for our sins, thus earning a new, eternal life for us. After three days, He rose from the dead, proving the truth of His claims about Himself. He promised that if you believe, regardless of how sinful you are, you can be sure of your salvation and eternal life. The resulting new life for the believer is so wonderful that the true believer cannot help but worship God with reverence, and embrace his new brothers and sisters with love.