1 Corinthians 11:26-30 (WEL) 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whosoever will eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 So then let each person examine himself, and after that let them eat from the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For one eating and drinking unworthily eats and drinks condemnation on himself, not differentiating the Lord’s body from common food. 30 For this reason, many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
V26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
This is the bread (material flour and water) and drink this cup (grape wine), we show what we believe, honor (the Lord Jesus), and witness His ministry to us. If others believe, they too will join in the blessings of the Lord Jesus’s ministry.
It is both a testimony and a thankfulness.
We are to continue until Jesus returns.
The Greek word proclaim is G2605 katangellō καταγγέλλω, which means:
(Baker Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words) The verb katangellō is one of several terms that describe the activity of “announcing” or “heralding” a message (cf. kērussō, “preach”). The particular focus of katangellō is on the extent of the announcement.”
(Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)) “The proclamation is more of acts than of ideas; Jesus has fulfilled what was expected (cf. Acts 4:2; 17:3; 13:38).”
V27 Therefore, whosoever will eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
Unworthily refers to a false convert, a person who is living in persistent sin, wrong attitudes about the Lord’s Supper, or having the idea of bland, dead ritual.
A stern warning to avoid such sins.
We need to examine ourselves.
V28 So then let each person examine himself, and after that let them eat from the bread and drink from the cup.
This was and still is the standard in Paul’s day and according to the teaching by the Apostles. Today, our authority is the written Scriptures. We don’t examine ourselves by some church, personal, or religious leader’s standards. We need to pray and ask God to forgive any sins we have committed. We can simply pray, “Father, somewhere, sometime I have sinned. Please, forgive me.”
Matthew Henry wrote: “(Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible) But fearful believers should not be discouraged from attending at this holy ordinance. The Holy Spirit never caused this scripture to be written to deter serious Christians from their duty, though the devil has often made this use of it. The apostle was addressing Christians, and warning them to beware of the temporal judgments with which God chastised his offending servants. And in the midst of judgment, God remembers mercy: he many times punishes those whom he loves. It is better to bear trouble in this world, than to be miserable for ever. The apostle points out the duty of those who come to the Lord’s table. Self-examination is necessary to right attendance at this holy ordinance. If we would thoroughly search ourselves, to condemn and set right what we find wrong, we should stop Divine judgments.”
V29 For one eating and drinking unworthily eats and drinks condemnation on himself, not differentiating the Lord’s body from common food.
A person does not lose their salvation but might lose God’s favor. He might need to chasten us. Common food would be considered unclean, defiled, and unholy but Jesus is clean, undefiled, and holy. The bread we eat and the wine we drink are not just common food for our bodies. It is a memorial of Jesus and His ministry.
V30 For this reason, many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
This is the Lord chastening brothers and sisters for their wrong attitude, desires, and life. See Proverbs 3:12, Psalm 119:75, and Hebrews 12:11.
We learn:
- The proper and improper ways of partaking of the Lord’s Supper.
- The Lord does watch are attitude and actions regarding the Lord’s Supper.
Questions:
- Do you ask forgiveness of your sins?
- Have you been chastened in your Christian life?