What happens if someone partakes of the Lord's Supper unworthily?
Paul writes that whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Therefore each person must examine himself, looking at his own heart and attitude rather than judging others, because the Supper solemnly remembers Christ's death, shed blood, and resurrection until He returns.
Les explains that the Lord's Supper is to be a solemn experience, not an occasion for indulgence. Its purpose is self-reminding: Christ died, His blood was shed, and He arose from the dead. The Corinthians abused this beautiful picture by overeating and getting half drunk on too much wine, so Paul told them to do their eating and drinking at home and to treat the Lord's house and the Lord's Supper as a solemn occasion. Paul says that whenever they do this, they show the Lord's death until He comes, and the Lord's table will not stop until the Lord returns. In verse 27, the Apostle describes the attitude we should have as we partake: whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself. Les teaches that the secret to behavior at the communion service is not examining the next person or judging the person across the church, but looking at your own heart and your own attitude and asking, Am I right with the Lord?
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.