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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