Daily Bread

Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper^(A)

¹⁷ In the following directives I have no praise for you,^(B) for your meetings do more harm than good. ¹⁸ In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions^(C) among you, and to some extent I believe it. ¹⁹ No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.^{(D) 20} So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, ²¹ for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers.^(E) As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. ²² Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God^(F) by humiliating those who have nothing?^(G) What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you?^(H) Certainly not in this matter!

²³ For I received from the Lord^(I) what I also passed on to you:^(J) The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body,^(K) which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant^(L) in my blood;^(M) do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.^(N)

²⁷ So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.^{(O) 28} Everyone ought to examine themselves^(P) before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. ²⁹ For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. ³⁰ That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.^{(Q) 31} But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.^{(R) 32} Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined^(S) so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.^(T)

³³ So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. ³⁴ Anyone who is hungry^(U) should eat something at home,^(V) so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come^(W) I will give further directions.