Why Being Invited to the Lord's Table Is Good News 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

Whose invitation to share a meal with meant the most to you?

Was it a family member? Was it a friend? A high ranking employer? Or perhaps you had the gift of someone famous inviting you. Regardless their position, the reason it was special was because it demonstrated value to you. You were deemed important enough to come, even if you did nothing to deserve it. So what would it mean for you to be invited to share a meal with the God of the universe? That is what Paul has in mind when he penned these verses.

Read 1 Corinthians 11:23–34 “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, 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.” 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.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.”

We are going to see 2 importance truths why the table is good news for us.

1. The Table Is God’s Grace vs. 23-26

Paul had to remind the Corinth church of these truths because they had abused and forgotten why the Lord’s Table was so important. As Jesus brought His disciples in Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22–24; Luke 22:19-20 they were celebrating the Passover meal. It was their remembrance of God’s deliverance from Egypt. Just as there was a requirement of sacrifice for the people of Israel so that God’s judgment would pass over them, it is appropriate for Jesus to paint this new institution in the backdrop of that.

What is important to note is that Judas was not present for the institution of the Lord’s Supper.

“Importantly, the communion is not meant for sinless people, but for those with contrite hearts who trust in Christ for salvation.” John MacArthur Ordinary to Extraordinary: A Year Long Devotional to Discover What God Wants to Do With You (365 Daily Devotions)

How does the table display this grace?

a. It is a time of reflection vs. 24-25

The Lord’s table is a picture for us as a reflection of Christ’s work on the cross. The reason we can enjoy this table of grace is because of the sacrifice Jesus did for us.

“It conveys special sanctifying grace to Christians who eat and drink in faith because Jesus is spiritually present as his people fellowship with him and each other.” ESV Commentary

We are told to remember two times here because of the significance of what was done. What it took to get us to the table. It required Jesus’ life to be taken for us.

b. It is a time of celebration v. 26

What is being celebrated? We are celebrating the sanctifying work that is occuring but we also celebrate that Jesus is coming again.

It is a constant reminder for us about Christ’s promise and the regularity should never become common in our minds as something that we just do but should heighten us to the promise given.

It should also be the motivator for sharing the gospel truth with others.

Which then brings us to the second truth to remember.

2. The Table Is not to be Abused vs. 27-32

The grace demonstrated does not give freedom to live however we want.

a. There are consequences to our choices vs. 27-30

“An “unworthy manner” in this context refers to sinful attitudes and actions that foster division in the church, specifically how the rich marginalize the poor. More generally, “unworthy manner” refers to participating in the Lord’s Supper hypocritically — such as claiming to celebrate the church’s unity in Christ when one is fostering its disunity or claiming to be a Christian when one is not. This does not imply that Christians can make themselves “worthy” of the Lord’s Supper by confessing their sins immediately prior to celebrating it. No one is worthy. This is why the Lord’s Supper celebrates the gospel! But Christians must participate in a worthy manner by maintaining unity in the body.” ESV Commentary

v. 28 examining oneself refers whether sinful tensions exist between you and a fellow church member. There is reason to examine for any unconfessed sin but in the context of Paul’s writing it lays upon relationships within the church.

v. 29 There is debate about what the “body” is here. Are we talking about the body of Christ representing in the elements or are we talking about the body of Christ?

In context, there is a case being made for the local church, the body of Christ. We are to discern and evaluate our relationships among each member of the church. How are we living amongst each other. For the church of Corinth this was a major problem.

“[The church] is made up of natural enemies. What binds us together is not common education, common race, common income levels, common politics, common nationality, common accents, common jobs, or anything else of that sort. Christians come together because they have all been saved by Jesus Christ and owe him a common allegiance . . . they are a band of natural enemies who love one another for Jesus’ sake.” DA Carson

v. 30 We must be careful to make allusions to the fact that not every instance of sickness or death is evidence that God is judging a person for sin (e.g., the man born blind in John 9), but Paul does say some are.

b. There is introspection that is healthy vs. 31-32

v. 31 The judging is healthy for us. We are called to examine our walk and our walk with each other. The body that is talked about earlier.

v. 32 Hebrews 12:5–11 reminds us that discipline is different from punishment. Punishment is judgment, but discipline transforms character.

The Lord judges non-Christians differently than Christians. He disciplines His children so that they will not experience condemnation. So discipline in a way that God uses so that Christians will persevere. If he didn’t discipline us than the alternative is judgment and condemnation.

Romans 5:16 “And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.”

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Next Steps:

How does the table build confidence in you? Everyone is invited in Christ, but not everyone is worthy to eat from it. Not unless you’ve been saved through the sacrifice of Jesus.

Let’s start this calendar year with two things in mind:

Eternally grateful for the gift of Christ’s work in your life.

A desire to share this hope with someone this month.