Communion in 1 Corinthians 10:1-22

1 Corinthians 10:1–4 NIV

1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

While we have a greater salvation, being saved by Jesus through Jesus Himself, the ancient Hebrews were nonetheless saved. The ancient Hebrews were saved by Jesus through Moses, being “baptized into Moses in the cloud” (in which was God the Son) “and in the sea” (which was parted by the Holy Spirit). While we eat and drink of what is clearly the Body and Blood of Jesus, the ancient Hebrews also ate and drank. The ancient Hebrews partook of spiritual food, which was manna, and drank spiritual drink from that rock which was with them: Jesus Christ. Our Baptism is a superior baptism and our Communion is a superior communion beause our Covenant is a superior covenant. But theirs was nonetheless a baptism, a kind of communion, and a covenant.

1 Corinthians 10:5–10 NIV

5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

Though they had baptism, communion, and a covenant, God was nonetheless displeased and many of them were killed. These ancient Hebrews were killed because they set their hearts on evil things: “idolatry” (meaning both traditional ancient Near Eastern cultism and irreverence toward God), “sexual immorality,” “quarreling” (namely with God), and “grumbling.” These were indicative of a heart oriented away from God toward wickedness, that is to say, faithlessness. The ancient Hebrews did not trust or love God, despite the covenant and its ordinances. Certainly, good works without faith are done in vain.

1 Corinthians 10:11–13 NIV

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

These tragedies are recorded as examples for Christians, the people “on whom the culmination of the ages has come,” that is to say, those Christ has saved, the Spirit has filled, and the Father has adopted as sons and daughters. Because of our superior Covenant, we should be careful to remain firm in the faith and keep from falling. While many of the ancient Hebrews fell, their fall was from a shorter height; their covenant was a shadow of the one under which we now thrive. If we who have received the fullness of the truth should grieve God, we fall from a greater height than the Hebrews. Nevertheless, we have eternal assurances in Christ, especially that our temptations are common to human beings and that it is always possible to avoid sin.

1 Corinthians 10:14–17 NIV

14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.

Paul speaks to dear friends, not disgruntled strangers, and he speaks to sensible people, not the immature or unwise. Our Communion is a participation in the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ; “the bread that we break [is] a participation in the Body,” “the cup of thanksgiving [is] a participation in the Blood.” These are real “spiritual food” and real “spiritual drink,” not mere symbols or metaphors. Symbols and metaphors affect nothing really, but insofar as we pertake of the one loaf, “we, who are many, are one Body.” If the ancient Hebrews drank from Christ, our Communion is much more real and literal than theirs. We partake of the real, literal, though spiritual, Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:18–22 NIV

18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

The priests were those who ate the sacrifices, they were participants in the altar. Likewise, we are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood.” Our Communion is a participation in the altar and in the real, historical, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ. While the sacrifices of pagans are nothing, and idols are nothing, because they are sacrifices to demons, ours is a real, efficacious sacrifice of faith and obedience given to God through Jesus Christ. Consequently, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons, too.” Faith and obedience is to God alone, for we cannot serve two masters and our God is a jealous god.