1 Corinthians 11:27-29
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just about personal feelings of worthiness; it warns that how we approach communion directly impacts our relationship to Jesus' sacrifice itself. Being "unworthy" here points to a disrespect or disregard for what the body and blood of the Lord represent—his sacred offering of himself. It's a serious reminder that our participation in this sacred meal has cosmic implications, making us accountable for how we honor it.
Paul is guiding the Corinthian church through how to properly conduct their gatherings, specifically addressing the Lord's Supper. He's just described how their current practice of celebrating it has become more like a common meal, leading to division and disrespect for Christ's sacrifice, and now he's warning about the serious consequences of approaching such a sacred act carelessly. This leads into his explanation of the proper way to partake, emphasizing remembrance of Jesus' body and blood.
The phrase 'unworthy manner' can sound intimidating. Does it mean we have to be perfect to come to the Lord's Table? Let's unpack what Paul means.
Paul isn't setting an impossible standard of sinless perfection. Instead, he's addressing the Corinthians' disruptive and selfish behavior during the Lord's Supper. They were creating divisions and showing no regard for one another, turning a sacred meal into a social free-for-all.
A Divided Community
Remember, the early church often shared a meal together before observing the Lord's Supper. The Corinthians were essentially arriving, eating their fill, and leaving others with nothing. This was a profound disrespect for fellow believers and, by extension, for the Lord they were meant to be remembering.
A Disregarded Sacrifice
To partake 'unworthily' meant to approach the memorial of Christ's sacrifice with a heart that didn't value His body broken and blood shed for all His people, including those they were excluding. It was a disregard for the very meaning of the sacrament.
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Paul says partaking 'unworthily' makes one 'guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.' What does this serious charge actually mean?
This isn't about a believer losing their salvation. Rather, it's about being held accountable for dishonoring the sacred elements that represent Christ's sacrifice.
Reverence for Representation
The bread and the cup are powerful symbols – memorials of Christ's ultimate act of love and atonement. To treat them carelessly, especially in the context of community division, is to treat the sacrifice itself with disrespect.
Accountability for the Church
Paul wants the Corinthians to understand the gravity of what they are doing. They are not just eating a meal; they are participating in a covenant remembrance. Acting in a way that tears down the community and disrespects the sacrifice makes them accountable for damaging the very representation of Christ's unified body and shed blood.
Understand the original words
enochos · Greek Adjective
An objective moral state of being liable for punishment or liable to a charge; it denotes accountability before God for an offense against His holiness.
anaxiōs · Greek Adverb
In this context, it refers to a lack of reverence, spiritual indifference, or a state of life that is inconsistent with the holiness of the event being celebrated; a failure to recognize the sacredness of the Lord's Supper.
dokimazō · Greek Verb
To test, scrutinize, or put to the proof; in a spiritual sense, it refers to self-reflection and inner assessment of one's relationship with God and the body of believers.
diakrinō · Greek Verb
To distinguish, judge, or differentiate between things; in this context, it refers to the spiritual ability to recognize the sacred nature of the Church as the Body of Christ in the context of the ordinance.
krima · Greek Noun
A legal or divine verdict, often implying the consequences of one's actions, whether disciplinary or retributive, coming from God.
Paul's strong warning stems from the very real problem of the Lord's Supper being celebrated in a way that caused division and dishonored Christ's sacrifice in the context of a socially fractured church.
c. AD 50-52
Paul Founds the Corinthian Church
The Apostle Paul spent about 18 months in Corinth establishing the Christian community.
c. AD 55— this verse
Paul Writes His First Letter to the Corinthians
Paul addresses numerous issues within the church, including divisions, immorality, and the proper observance of the Lord's Supper.
c. AD 55
Disunity and Social Strife in Corinth
The city of Corinth was known for its social stratification and the church reflected these divisions, impacting fellowship.
c. AD 55
Abuse of the Lord's Supper
Some believers were not waiting for others, eating and drinking in a way that expressed social superiority and disregard for the meaning of the meal.
This passage immediately precedes our verse and describes the institution of the Lord's Supper, setting the context for why approaching it worthily is so crucial.
1 Corinthians 10:16Paul talks about the cup of blessing and the bread we break, connecting them to our participation in the blood and body of Christ, highlighting the deep spiritual significance.
Exodus 12:14-15This Old Testament Passover command shows God's seriousness about remembering and properly observing a sacred meal instituted to commemorate deliverance, paralleling the solemnity of the Lord's Supper.
1 Corinthians 5:7-8Paul uses the imagery of unleavened bread and yeast to urge believers to live lives free from sin, likening this to keeping the Passover feast, which connects to the 'worthiness' mentioned in our verse.
This verse isn't just about personal feelings of worthiness; it warns that how we approach communion directly impacts our relationship to Jesus' sacrifice itself. Being "unworthy" here points to a disrespect or disregard for what the body and blood of the Lord represent—his sacred offering of himself. It's a serious reminder that our participation in this sacred meal has cosmic implications, making us accountable for how we honor it.
Paul is guiding the Corinthian church through how to properly conduct their gatherings, specifically addressing the Lord's Supper. He's just described how their current practice of celebrating it has become more like a common meal, leading to division and disrespect for Christ's sacrifice, and now he's warning about the serious consequences of approaching such a sacred act carelessly. This leads into his explanation of the proper way to partake, emphasizing remembrance of Jesus' body and blood.
Paul is guiding the Corinthian church through how to properly conduct their gatherings, specifically addressing the Lord's Supper. He's just described how their current practice of celebrating it has become more like a common meal, leading to division and disrespect for Christ's sacrifice, and now he's warning about the serious consequences of approaching such a sacred act carelessly. This leads into his explanation of the proper way to partake, emphasizing remembrance of Jesus' body and blood.
"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone w…" — This verse isn't just about personal feelings of worthiness; it warns that how we approach communion directly impacts our relationship to Jesus' sacrifice itself. Being "unworthy" here points to a di…
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