The Corinthians abused the Lord's Supper through divisions, gluttony, drunkenness, and wrong attitudes, turning a solemn remembrance into a chaotic feast.
Rather than a unified, solemn act of remembrance, their gatherings were marked by separation along social and cultural lines, with the wealthy excluding the poor. They treated it as a common meal, indulging in food and wine to the point of excess, and harbored enmity and unresolved conflicts with one another. Paul rebuked them for these practices, saying they were not truly eating the Lord's Supper.
1 Corinthians 11:20-21 — Paul directly states that their coming together is not to eat the Lord's Supper because each one takes his own supper ahead of others, leading to hunger and drunkenness.
The Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthian church, explicitly states: "When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken" (1 Corinthians 11:20-21). He also notes that there were divisions among them, which he partially believes (1 Corinthians 11:18). Paul instructs them to examine themselves before partaking, warning that those who eat and drink unworthily bring judgment upon themselves, which is why many among them were weak and sickly, and many had died (1 Corinthians 11:27-30).
Les Feldick explains that the Corinthians had turned the Lord's Supper into a potluck supper, bringing their own food and wine, and separating themselves according to social status, with the wealthy excluding the poor. He notes that this practice evolved over time, not from Paul's original teaching, and led to excesses such as gluttony and drunkenness. Les emphasizes that the Lord's Supper is a solemn reminder of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and that partaking with wrong attitudes or unresolved conflicts was unacceptable. He also highlights that God was chastising the Corinthians through sickness and even death for their abuses.
The Corinthians were holding a potluck supper before the official Lord's Table, but this became a source of division. Wealthy members refused to share their good food and wine with the poor, saying, "you go have your own table." This contradicted the purpose of the church gathering and showed a disregard for unity and love.
The Corinthians evolved from Paul's original teaching into a practice that included eating a full meal and drinking wine to excess. They rationalized that a small piece of bread and a sip of wine couldn't sustain them, so they added food, leading to gluttony and drunkenness. This made it impossible for them to receive the solemn impact of the Lord's Supper.
Paul emphasized that God is a God of order, as seen in the orderly march of Israel and the prescribed temple worship. He told the Corinthians that if anyone was contentious, they had no such custom, and he called for proper conduct in the church.
God's Order in Worship
Les describes God's nature as a God of order, contrasting the Corinthians' chaotic practices with the orderly worship God expects.
Consequences of Abuse
Les explains that the Corinthians' wrong attitudes, including enmity toward others, led to God's chastisement through sickness and death.
Potluck Context
Les reveals that the Corinthians had a potluck supper before the Lord's Table, and they were abusing it, leading to Paul's rebuke.
Social Division
Les shows that the wealthy separated from the poor during the potluck, contradicting the church's purpose and shocking Paul.
Evolution of Abuse
Les explains that the Corinthians' practice evolved away from what Paul originally taught, leading to excesses and kooky ideas.
Solemn Purpose Forgotten
Les emphasizes that the Lord's Supper is a solemn reminder of Christ's death and resurrection, which the Corinthians lost sight of due to their indulgence.
Context of Problems
Les notes that the Corinthians had many issues, including going to law against each other, similar to the abuses at the Lord's Table.
Rationale for Potluck
Les explains that the Corinthians started bringing food because they felt the bread and wine were insufficient, but this led to excesses.
1 Corinthians 11:20-21: When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
This verse directly identifies the problem: their gathering was not a proper observance of the Lord's Supper because of selfishness and excess.
1 Corinthians 11:27-30: 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. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
Paul warns of the dire consequences of partaking unworthily, which the Corinthians were doing, resulting in divine discipline.
They were turning it into a potluck supper with social divisions, gluttony, and drunkenness, and they were harboring ill feelings toward one another. Paul rebuked them for not discerning the Lord's body and for making a mockery of a solemn occasion.
Yes, Paul said that because of their unworthy partaking, many among them were weak and sickly, and some had died. Les Feldick explains this as God's chastisement.
Les emphasizes that it should be a solemn experience of reminding yourself that Christ died, His blood was shed, and He arose from the dead. You must have the right mindset and examine yourself before partaking.
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