PROCLAMATION
“For
whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim The Lord’s death
until He comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of
The Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and
the blood of The Lord … For those who eat and drink without discerning the body
of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many
among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen
asleep.” 1 Corinthians 11:26-30 (NIV)
EXPLANATION
These words
were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of
God, to the believers in the church at Corinth. Paul begins this
chapter with a discussion regarding the covering of the head by men and women.
(1 Corinthians 11:2-16) Then he goes into a discussion regarding the
abuse of The Lord’s Supper. (1 Corinthians 11:17-22) He recounts
what he himself had received from The Lord regarding why believers were to
partake of The Lord’s Supper. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) He follows
this with a discussion regarding the unworthy taking of The Lord’s Supper
without discerning The Lord’s body and the consequences for doing so. (1
Corinthians 11:27-34)
APPLICATION
The Lord’s
Supper, or Holy Communion, is not to be taken lightly. This is
something which we should do reverently in remembrance of
Christ. When Christ served bread to the two believers that He met,
walked, and talked with on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection, their
eyes were opened, and they knew Him. (Luke 24:30-31) Likewise with
us it should be an eye opening and revealing experience. Those who
eat and drink The Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner bring judgment upon
themselves. Many people are weak and sick for doing this unworthily
and many people have died for this offense. (1 Corinthians
11:30) The Lord Jesus instituted this on the night He was betrayed.
(Matthew 26:26, Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19, and 1 Corinthians 11:24) It
is better for us not to partake of it than to do it in an unworthy manner.
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