Title:   1 Corinthians 11:18-33  “The Lord’s Supper”

By Bob DeWaay

Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians was written to correct the situation of divisions in the body of Christ. The issue of the Lord’s Supper not only wrongly divided the body of Christ in Corinth, but has gotten more divisive and confused in through the many centuries of church history. To help us understand Paul’s intent we carefully expound each these verses. Paul’s reference to Jesus’ betrayal as described in Luke 22 shows that the Last Supper is the key to understanding the Lord’s Supper. Paul issues an ironic rebuke for those who have their own private meal which honors some and shames based on schisms that God never ordained. Thus their “supper” is not the Lord’s! The means anyone comes into fellowship with the redeemed is through Christ crucified. During the sermon, we refer to Jesus’ prediction of His betrayal (Luke 22:21-23) followed by a dispute as to “which one of them was regarded to be the greatest” (Luke 22:24).  Paul “handed over” the institution of the Lord’s Supper using the same Greek word which described the one (Judas) who handed over (betrayed) Jesus.  The giving of thanks (1 Corinthians 11:24) is blessing God the giver, not speaking words which change the very substance of bread or wine into something else. Jesus celebrated a Passover meal with His disciples. The judgment passages are also expounded in this sermon. The “discerning the Lord’s body” is not about communion elements but about the redeemed people who are part of the body of Christ. The Lord’s Supper reminds us about God’s mighty saving work through Jesus’ once for all shed blood and proclaims our hope in Him “until He comes.” What has happened through centuries of church history has sadly obscured the meaning of what is revealed in Scripture. We are not to guard “the table” from being defiled, we are to examine ourselves that we are trusting Christ and not abusing other members of the body of Christ.