Unity And “The Lord’s Supper” (11:17-34)

Neal Pollard

In this paragraph, we have the verses probably most frequently read before we take communion each Sunday. While it does provide a good reminder, how often do we read it in context? As we know from reading through the letter to this point, Paul is writing to help a church struggling with unity on so many fronts. Those who struggle to be of the same mind and same judgment can even divide over the thing that should be the strongest uniting force–remembering the sacrifice of our Savior. Why, it’s the very heart of our Christianity! The cross is why our past is forgiven, why our present has meaning, and our future has hope. The Corinthians had divisions over this (18)!

The Lord’s Supper had lost its meaning (20). While how it lost meaning to them might seem foreign to us, we can struggle with it, too. What are we doing during this commemoration, and what should we be doing? 

WHAT THE SUPPER IS NOT (17-22)

It is not a whitewash for fellowship problems (17-19). Jesus taught in His ministry that interpersonal problems need to be dealt with before we offer acceptable worship (Mat. 5:23-24). It is pretentious to piously participate in this sacred remembrance when we won’t speak to a brother or have a long-standing grudge we refuse to resolve with a sister. There are times when God tells His people, “I don’t want your worship” (Isa. 1:11-15; Jer. 6:20; Amos 5:21-22; Mal. 1:10). Why did God refuse what He commanded? Because worship is not a substitute for unrighteous living. 

It is not a mindless activity (20-22). Paul is about to remind them of what the Lord’s Supper is. They needed that because they totally lost focus on why they were doing it. Their problem was they turned this symbolic remembrance into dinner on the grounds, a potluck except without sharing with everyone. Oh how we need our mind engaged in what this memorial is all about! What do we do with this precious time? How do we treat it, as common or sacred? He’s not condemning eating in a church building (they may have been meeting in a home, like the church at Rome did–see 16:19), but misusing the Lord’s Supper in their assemblies. It was a heart problem.

WHAT THE SUPPER IS (23-29)

It is a God-given remembrance (23-25). Jesus instituted this memorial on the night of His betrayal and arrest, the day before His crucifixion (23; Mat. 26:26-28). How important is this to God? It was on His mind right before His death on a night, ironically, He would fervently pray for His believers to be united (John 17). He wanted us to keep coming together and remembering what He did for us and what that does for us.

It is a periodic proclamation (26). We understand this from the phrase, “For as often as.” Acts 20:7 shows us how often “often” is–“On the first day of the week” (cf. 1 Cor. 16:2). But, instead of being “a mindless activity,” it is a recurring opportunity to “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” You are telling others of the basis of your hope and the source of your strength. You are saying, “This is so important to me that I could not miss it.” 

It is a time of self-examination (27-29).  Did the early church speak to each other during this time? Surprisingly, Scripture is silent about that. But one thing is for sure. They used this time to look within and examine themselves. So, my involvement in the Lord’s Supper is not just a time to look back at the cross, but to look inwardly at my own Christian life. Not only do I ask, “Am I thinking about the Lord right now?” I ask, “Am I living faithfully for the Lord each day?” Did you get the third dimension? “Am I judging the body rightly?” What does that mean? Certainly, it involves remembering the physical body of Jesus that suffered. But, Paul also ties the “one bread” to the idea that “we who are many are one body” (10:17). He is about to discuss the one body, the church, in light of spiritual gifts (12:12-27). Given the disunity of the Corinthian church, is Paul demanding that they see each other lovingly and charitably rather than contemptuously and resentfully? It would be hard to say dogmatically, but it should make us hesitate to come to this memorial with an improper view of any of our spiritual family!

WHAT THE SUPPER REVEALS (30-34)

We may conceal from the church our spiritual weakness, sickness, and slumber (30), but God knows and we, through honest self-examination, know. Yet, this is an eminently fixable problem! Judge yourself. Examine yourself. Discipline yourself. What a beautiful opportunity to humbly work on our hearts, look at our sins, and lean on His atoning sacrifice, and come away more determined to live more like Jesus. Consider the blessing of your spiritual family and determine to do more to help them live like Jesus. 

This Sunday, will you remember this during our time of communion? There may be crying babies, clanging, banging noises, a cell phone inadvertently ringing, someone with a nagging cough, even someone whispering nearby. Tune it out of your heart and ears. Look back to Calvary. Look into your life. Look around at the precious body of believers. Look ahead to His coming. Look up to the Lord, your source of strength. Look down on no one! This is the way to unite around the Lord’s Supper.