OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WE REMEMBER WHENEVER WE ATTEND THE LORDˋS TABLE

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 11 verses 17 - 34, speaks solemnly of the Lordˋs table where bread and wine are shared with the gathered believers to represent their shared faith in partaking of the body and blood of Christ by which our salvation is gained.

17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.

The Apostle Paul began with rebukes of the church of Corinth for two primary issues;

• Disunity among the members
• Dishonorably handling the Lord's table

Paul was especially appalled that believers were gathering together and treating the Lord's supper as an unruly festival with some being over-drunk while others remained hungry.

Paul prescribed the proper solemn occasion of sharing the Lord's table and warned them that inappropriate conduct surrounding the Lord's table could invoked judgement upon themselves and some were becoming sick and even dying.

23 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 the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

Paul summarized the proper practice of sharing the body and blood of Christ by instructing the believers not to come to share communion hungry such that eating to became satiated was the objective but rather to be patient and wait for each other to arrive and then solemnly breaking bread and drinking the cup together.

They should then examine themselves to ensure that their hearts and minds are properly aligned to the solemnity of the occasion of rememberance of the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus made for us by the laying down of His life.

Amen.

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