According to Paul, the Lord's Supper is a memorial of Christ's death, received directly from the Lord, and not to be confused with a social meal or a requirement for salvation.
Paul states that he received the practice directly from the Lord (1 Cor 11:23) and that it is to be done 'in remembrance' of Jesus (1 Cor 11:24-25). Les Feldick emphasizes that this is its true purpose—a memorial—and that it is separate from the potluck suppers that were causing divisions among the Corinthians. Furthermore, Les clarifies that it has nothing to do with salvation; the Corinthians were already believers despite their improper behavior.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 — This is Paul's direct instruction regarding the Lord's Supper, received from the Lord, and explaining its purpose as a memorial.
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul addresses the Corinthians' abuse of the Lord's Supper. He writes, "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." (1 Cor 11:23-26). This passage clearly identifies the purpose: to remember Jesus' death and proclaim it until He returns.
Les Feldick explains that Paul's teaching on the Lord's Supper came directly from the Lord, not from the Twelve or any human authority. This instruction was progressive revelation, as the disciples at the Last Supper did not understand it at the time because Jesus had not yet died. The Lord's table is a memorial of Christ's death, meant for believers to practice in the local church. Les clarifies that it is not a social meal—the Corinthians were turning it into a potluck supper where the wealthy excluded the poor, which Paul condemned. It is also not a means of salvation; the Corinthians were already saved, and their improper handling of the Lord's table did not affect their salvation.
No, the eleven disciples had no understanding of what Jesus was doing at the Last Passover. Jesus did not explain it because it had not happened yet. The Lord's table is a memorial of His death, so it could not be fully understood until after the crucifixion. Paul later received direct revelation from the Lord and explained it in 1 Corinthians 11.
Les Feldick points out that the Corinthians were combining a potluck supper with the Lord's table, causing divisions between the wealthy and the poor. Paul was shocked because they were filling their bellies and getting drunk, which is not what the Lord's table is for. A potluck supper is not wrong in itself—Les affirms fellowship meals are fine—but it must not be confused with the Lord's Supper, which is a simple memorial of bread and the cup.
No, practicing the Lord's table has nothing to do with securing or maintaining salvation. The Corinthians were already saved believers despite their improper behavior at the Lord's table. Failing to practice it properly does not affect one's salvation.
Potluck Abuse
Les shows that the Corinthians were turning the Lord's table into a potluck where wealthy believers excluded the poor, which Paul condemned as abuse.
Received from the Lord
Les emphasizes that Paul received his teaching on the Lord's Supper directly from the Lord, introducing it as a memorial of Christ's death.
Evening Meal Context
Les explains that the Corinthians were used to their main meal in the evening, so they held potluck suppers before the Lord's table, leading to excesses.
Simple Memorial
Les clarifies that the Lord's Supper is just a piece of bread and a cup, not enough to satisfy hunger or get drunk, showing it is not a social meal.
What the Bible Really Says About the Lord's Table — 1 Corinthians 10:16
They were suing each other in the pagan courts, and Paul says that�s not the way you do things when you�re a believer. So the whole book of I Corinthians is dealing basically with problems that were besetting the Corinthians church. Now we come to verse 16 concerning the Lord�s table.
Disciples' Lack of Understanding
Les notes that the disciples had no idea what the Last Supper meant, and Paul later explains it as a memorial.
The Three Temptations Everyone Faces — Eve to Jesus Explained
There was no criteria for how to practice it until here. Now Paul tells us what it's all about, and how it is to be practiced in the local church. Okay, now let's go on for whatever minute or two we've got left. So he says, "...the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread.
Corinthian Problems
Les describes that the Corinthians had big problems with the Lord's table, and Paul addresses these directly in his letter.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26: For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
This is the core passage where Paul defines the purpose of the Lord's Supper as a memorial of Christ's death.
No, Paul said he received it directly from the Lord (1 Cor 11:23). Les Feldick emphasizes that this was direct revelation, not from the Twelve or any human source.
No, the Lord's Supper is a memorial of Christ's death, and Paul condemned the Corinthians for turning it into a potluck where they got drunk and divided along class lines.
No, Les Feldick teaches that the Corinthians were saved despite their improper behavior, so the Lord's Supper has no bearing on salvation.
Watch the Teaching: Most People Miss This About the Lord's Supper — 1 Cor 11