1 Corinthians 11:20-22
When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What Paul is calling out here is that the Corinthians were so caught up in their social and economic divisions during their gatherings that they were fundamentally missing the point of the Lord's Supper. Their meal had become about status and exclusion, rather than a sacred moment of unity in Christ, thereby negating its true purpose.
Paul is addressing a deep division and disorder within the Corinthian church, specifically how they are conducting their gatherings, particularly the Lord's Supper. Earlier in the chapter, he's been talking about appropriate conduct for men and women in worship. Now, he zeroes in on the fact that their communal meals have become so selfish and individualistic that they no longer reflect Christ or honor the communal nature of the Supper. This passage is part of a larger section where Paul corrects their behavior so that their gatherings truly edify the church and reflect God's love.
Paul calls out the Corinthian church for failing to truly partake in the Lord's Supper. What makes a meal 'the Lord's Supper'?
The Apostle Paul is addressing a serious issue in the Corinthian church. When they gathered to share a meal that was meant to commemorate Christ's sacrifice, they were acting in ways that were contrary to its very meaning.
It's About Unity, Not Division
The 'Lord's Supper' wasn't just a potluck; it was a sacred act of remembrance and fellowship, deeply rooted in Jesus' last meal with his disciples. It symbolized their shared identity in Christ and their unity as His body. However, the Corinthians were turning it into an occasion for social and economic division, with some feasting extravagantly while others went hungry.
A Reflection of Our Relationship with Christ
Paul argues that this behavior disqualified their meal from being the Lord's Supper. It wasn't about the bread and wine itself, but about the spirit in which they were shared. A true participation in the Lord's Supper requires a recognition of Christ's presence and a loving attitude toward all fellow believers.
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Imagine showing up for a shared meal only to find it already divided. That’s what was happening in Corinth, and it broke the sacredness of the occasion.
The context here is crucial. The Corinthians were holding communal meals, likely with a spiritual significance, but they were being marred by social stratification and gluttony.
Social Hierarchy Undermines Worship
Some were arriving early and consuming all the food and drink, leaving nothing or very little for others who arrived later. This created clear distinctions between the rich and the poor, the honored and the overlooked, within the very body of Christ. This isn't just bad manners; it's a rejection of the equality and love that Christ's sacrifice proclaimed.
Missing the Spirit of the Meal
Paul's sharp rebuke—'it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat'—is a powerful statement that their actions disqualified the event from being what it was intended to be. They were physically present, but spiritually and relationally absent from the true fellowship the Lord’s Supper signifies.
Understand the original words
kyriakon deipnon · Greek Noun Phrase
The ordinance instituted by Christ during his final meal with his disciples, representing His body and blood given for the atonement of sins, serving as a sign of the new covenant.
ekklēsia · Greek Noun
The assembly of believers, the body of Christ, or a specific local gathering of Christians; it refers to the people of God called out for His purpose.
kataischynete · Greek Verb
A state of being dishonored, shamed, or treated with contempt; often used in Scripture to describe the degradation of the poor or the violation of social/spiritual obligations.
The Corinthian church was struggling to grasp the spiritual significance of the Lord's Supper, turning a sacred commemoration into ordinary, and even disruptive, meals.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus institutes the Last Supper
During Passover, Jesus shares a final meal with his disciples, establishing the practice of the Lord's Supper as a memorial of his sacrifice.
c. AD 40s-50s
The church spreads to Corinth
Apostle Paul travels to Corinth, establishing a vibrant Christian community but also encountering significant social and religious challenges.
c. AD 50s
Paul writes his first letter to the Corinthians
Paul addresses divisions, theological misunderstandings, and practical issues within the Corinthian church based on reports he received.
c. AD 53-55— this verse
Paul writes 1 Corinthians
From Ephesus, Paul sends this letter to the believers in Corinth, aiming to correct their practices and deepen their understanding of Christian life and worship.
This passage speaks about the 'cup of blessing' and the 'bread' that believers share, highlighting the communal and spiritual significance of what they partake in during worship.
1 Corinthians 11:22This verse immediately follows, asking if they have 'contempt for the church of God,' directly linking their improper behavior during the meal to a disrespect for fellow believers and God's gathered people.
1 Corinthians 11:27-29Paul explains the serious consequences of partaking in the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner, emphasizing the need for discernment and a right heart attitude to avoid judgment.
Luke 22:19-20This passage records Jesus instituting the Last Supper, commanding his followers to 'do this in remembrance of me,' underscoring the memorial and covenantal nature of the meal that the Corinthian church was failing to honor.
What Paul is calling out here is that the Corinthians were so caught up in their social and economic divisions during their gatherings that they were fundamentally missing the point of the Lord's Supper. Their meal had become about status and exclusion, rather than a sacred moment of unity in Christ, thereby negating its true purpose.
Paul is addressing a deep division and disorder within the Corinthian church, specifically how they are conducting their gatherings, particularly the Lord's Supper. Earlier in the chapter, he's been talking about appropriate conduct for men and women in worship. Now, he zeroes in on the fact that their communal meals have become so selfish and individualistic that they no longer reflect Christ or honor the communal nature of the Supper. This passage is part of a larger section where Paul corrects their behavior so that their gatherings truly edify the church and reflect God's love.
Paul is addressing a deep division and disorder within the Corinthian church, specifically how they are conducting their gatherings, particularly the Lord's Supper. Earlier in the chapter, he's been talking about appropriate conduct for men and women in worship. Now, he zeroes in on the fact that their communal meals have become so selfish and individualistic that they no longer reflect Christ or honor the communal nature of the Supper. This passage is part of a larger section where Paul corrects their behavior so that their gatherings truly edify the church and reflect God's love.
"When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of…" — What Paul is calling out here is that the Corinthians were so caught up in their social and economic divisions during their gatherings that they were fundamentally missing the point of the Lord's Sup…
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