the Lord's Table
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1 Corinthians 11:23-29
1 Corinthians 11:23-29
Background & History of Corinth:
Corinth was a wealthy, cosmopolitan trade-center that connected the Peloponnese region or Southern most region and the Northern region of Greece.
This narrow body of land, referred to as an isthmus, not only connected two large regions of Greece, but also separated two bodies of water: the Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea.
Due to it’s Geographical location, it was able to serve as a center for travel and trade; as well as a gateway for importing and exporting goods throughout the region. The area attracted all types of commerce and collected tolls to trasnport such business through the area.
This illustrates to us that the area was well known for being a melting pot for all walks of life. Stretching back into ancient Greek History, the area of Corinth was regarded for their philosophy, art, wealth and luxurious temples erected for their Mythological gods.
Supposedly there was a massive temple erected for Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, which had one thousand slave girls who were used for worship and entertainment.
In the 2nd century before Christ, about 150 B.C., Corinth was attacked and conquered by the Roman Empire.
By the time Paul reaches Corinth in around A.D. 50, this city had yet again reached heights of fame and fortune, for now the massive Roman Empire had control of it for about 2 centuries and Julius Caesar had rebuilt the city.
It is important to look at this history of Corinth, as we see that there has been, much like anywhere in the ancient world, a plethora of cultures, disciplines of thought and religions. However, being a prolific trade route and epicenter for commerce, it was even much more so. It was full of mythological figures and pagan practices, which obviously gave birth to abundant sin and wickedness. Perhaps one of the best places for Paul to plant a church, right?
Looking at the reality of such a place may give us some insight to why the epistles to the Corinthians are more practical regarding theology than biblical theology; meaning that Paul is placing an emphasis on implementation of doctrine in the lives of those Corinthians as opposed to theoretical doctrine. Paul is trying to give them real tangible ways to practice and implement their daily faith instead of explaining theory, why or how it works. For an example, look at the difference between physically playing football and playing fantasy football. One is physically being played and experienced while the other is simply looking at the sport strategically as a third-party.
In Context:
In the beginning of his letter Paul is immediately addressing divisions in the church. In order for there to be divisions there must be varying ideas and agendas.
We can see that this ancient city has had a history of thinkers, but the problem is they have leaned on their own understanding and not God’s. Hence Paul addresses this in Chapter 1 Corinthians 1:18-20 “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”
Paul is exhorting the Corinthians regarding their basis of thought or wisdom. They are not, by worldly standards unintelligent, in fact it appears that their problem is they are relying too much on their worldly wisdom and not the wisdom of God, which Paul says is Christ (1:24).
From here Paul continues to speak about the wisdom of God recieved by the Holy Spirit, and in bulk, he addresses practical implementation of faith. How to walk and persevere in the wisdom of God. He touches on sexual immorality, believers suing each other in court, marital issues, and pagan practices mingled with God’s laws. Just as did the ancient Israelites, these Corinthian believers had allowed this overwhelming sin-culture to influence their community and spiritual purity.
So we have looked at the history of Corinth and Paul’s overarching concern for the Corinthian church. Lets look at Chapter 11.
Paul begins Chapter 11 by adressing modes of proper worship, beginning with drawing out the difference in function regarding men and women. Paul is quite complimentarian here, as he is careful to not be mistaken for claiming women are in any way inferior (v.11-12), but simply highlighting the difference in designed function, particular to modes of worship. There is a growing movement today, egalitarianism, that works so hard to claim the equality of men and women, that they superceed scripture and claim that men and women are equal in every way, essence and function. This is clearly not seen in scripture.
Paul then moves on to v.17-22 where he is admonishing the Corinthians for perverting the Lord’s Table. Some are going ahead and scarfing down their food without their brothers and sisters participation, others are neglected all together, and some are over indulging, particularly of the wine.
Instead of simply reading the steps of the ordinance, take this bread and take this cup, I wanted to focus on the preparation leading up to the ordinance. We can see Christ’s issuance of the initial Lord’s Table in all 3 of the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22. However, the only other place it is instituted is in 1 Corinthians 11, where Paul is not only retelling of the first Communion of the Church, but the verses surrounding the passage are full of instruction and warning in regards to how it should be practiced. This is the reason for my focus in 1 Corinthians this morning.
So, now that we have somewhat of a backdrop here, let us look at our selection of Scripture for today.
1 Corinthians 11:23-29
v.23- For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
Paul is confirming that the very source of instruction he gave to these Corinthians regarding the ordinace of the Lord’s Table was Christ Himself.
The very Jesus on the very eve of Him becoming the Christ through His inevitable crucifixion, instituted His commemorative instructions. This is the Jesus that was in the uppper room. This is the Jesus who was about to be betrayed and arrested. This is the Jesus who was about to be broken.
v.24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
Let us look at what the bread symbolizes: the body. While it is indeed His body that will be broken for our sin, Christ’s body is proof that God sent a substitution for our sin. The doctrine of substitutionary atonement is clearly seen here. The clearest way to understand this reality is to realize, when God looked down on the cross He saw our sin, and now when He looks at us He sees the sinless Jesus. John MacArthur puts it this way: The only way for God to maintain His complete holiness, his perfectness, to remain completely just is to punish all sin that has ever been committed. If even a single sin goes unpunished then God’s holiness, righteousness is compromised. That is why He had to send His Son. There must be a price paid for sin. And that penal substitution is found in Jesus Christ. The only way we can be reconciled with God. Blood had to be shed, for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
Here we can also see the teachings of transubstantiation refuted. How can the bread physically become the body and the wine physically become His blood, when He is standing right there holding the elements. It must be taken figuratively.
Another truth of this can be seen in Christ’s own words; do this in remembrance of me. The Lord’s Supper is to be a commemorative celebration, a continued memorial in honor of Christ’s body being broken and His blood being spilt for our transgressions. It is not to physically be a reoccurring sacrifice. This teaching of the Roman Catholic church goes against the fact that scripture emphatically states Christ died and was a once and for all sacrifice Hebrews 10:10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
v.25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Here we see Christ using the term covenant. This new divine promise from God is seen as not just another covenant apart from the covenant with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, but in fact a continuation and fulfillment of all covenants as seen later in 2 Cor. 1:20 “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” Christ is not only showing us that here is the promise of the ultimate high priest and savior, but it is the same one that has been foretold. The ultimate seam throughout the weaving of covenant history.
“in my blood” definitely refers to the redemptive work on the cross, but the truth is that the spilt blood, the atoning of the sacrificial lamb is what truly seals this final covenant.
v.26 For often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes
What does it mean to proclaim the Lord’s death? First, before you can proclaim His death, you have to proclaim the Lord, His life, His existence. Acknowledge who He is, where He comes from. This is exercising an essential part of the Gospel. To proclaim the Lord means you have publicly admitted Jesus is Lord, that He is the Son of God. Next, you are proclaiming His death. It is another piece to slavation, confessing that Jesus our Lord is such because He came from above into flesh, lived a sinless life and that his death was for our gain, on our behalf. We are affirming that God’s holy love and grace intersects the transgressions of humanity redemptively. God’s perfection meets our imperfection at the cross in order for Him to consecrate us to Himself. This is the truth of the Gospel that we are proclaiming. If you do not proclaim this, you do not take of the bread and cup.
until he comes... obviously when Christ returns He will need no one to proclaim Him, as His Power and Authority will be on full display. This also speaks to the fact that once He comes we will be proclaiming His return, His victory. While it is His death that we commemorate at the Table, His inevitable return solidifies our infinite glorification with Him. We will proclaim His glorified life beyond death, which has brought everlasting life to reality. We see these proclamations regarding profession of faith in Romans 10:9-10 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” We are beyond proclaiming His death and now proclaim His risen glory and return.
v.27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
the therefore in the sentence is introducing a consequnce. Anybody who does this unworthy therefore/will then be sinning against the very work that Christ accomplished on the cross. Do you see how serious this is? On one hand no person is worthy to take the bread and the cup, as we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). However Paul is saying here that the Lord’s Table, where we come to proclaim His truth, His love and sacrifice, His life and death, is a very solemn and holy occurence. To not take it seriously is a grave offense.
v.28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
Here we see a command to examine our true selves. It is a time to take inventory of our lives and allow the Holy Spirit to place a spiritual mirror in front of us, if you will. The origianl word for examine here is dokimazo, to test. It is often referring to the testing of metals. Such is seen in Malachi 3:3 “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.” We are called then to allow the conviction of the Holy Spirit and take an honest look at ALL of the ways we need be purified and refined in the midst of our Lord.
So there are two ways to examine ourselves. 1) We must profess faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. We must proclaim He is Lord. 2) We must examine our life from a sin perspective. How are we approaching the Table. Are we repentful and respectful? Or are our hearts hardened towards God, allowing sin to persist in our lives?
One pastor puts it this way, ”Christ died for your sins on the cross. His death for your life. It was your sin that put him there, and you dont want to come celebrate His death whild holding onto that very sin for which He died.”
In other words, the Lord’s Table is the ultimate place of purification not only for the individual believer, but for the Church corporately. It is a call of individual repentance and reflection, a call of corporate repentance and reflection. Purification of the believer and the Church. Just like precious metals we are to test ourselves with the intense heat of self reflection of the Spirit until we are of a pure and precious silver and gold.
v.29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgement on himself.
Remember that repetition is often used in scripture to draw attention to an important statement, oftentimes a warning. Here we see a warning continued from v.27. It also further explains the unworthy manner stated in v.27. To take it in an unworthy manner then also means to take it without discerning the body. We are reminded to take it correctly, to take it seriously, to take it honestly.