17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. (1 Corinthians 11:17-22 KJV)
Conduct at the Lord’s Supper
In this passage, the apostle sharply rebukes the Corinthians for serious disorders in their partaking of the Lord’s Supper. In the early church, this ordinance was often accompanied by a love feast, which gave rise to the abuses that Paul condemns here.
He begins his charge by saying, “Now in this that I declare to you I praise you not” (1 Corinthians 11:17). Though Paul was willing to commend when possible, such behavior in so sacred an ordinance required strong correction. They had turned what was meant for their spiritual good into something harmful. The Lord’s ordinances are designed to make us better; if they do not soften and change us, they will harden us instead.
He then identifies their faults. When they gathered, they fell into divisions and quarrels. Instead of joining together in unity to celebrate the ordinance, they argued among themselves. There can be schism even where there is no outward separation—when people attend the same church and sit at the same table of the Lord yet harbor resentment and uncharitable feelings toward one another. Paul had heard reports of their divisions and found them true. He adds that there must also be factions among them, so that those who are approved may be recognized (1 Corinthians 11:19). God allows such divisions so the faithful may be revealed through their steadfastness. The wisdom of God can even use the errors of some to highlight the sincerity of true believers.
He further charges them with disorder and irreverence: “For in eating, every one takes before the other his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunk” (1 Corinthians 11:21). Many of the wealthier Corinthians came early and consumed what they had brought, leaving nothing for the poor. Thus, some went hungry while others indulged to excess. This profaned a sacred ordinance and turned a holy meal into an occasion for selfishness. What was meant to express Christian unity became a display of division and pride.
Paul lays the blame squarely upon them. Their conduct destroyed the purpose of the Lord’s Supper. “This is not to eat the Lord’s Supper” (1 Corinthians 11:20). Though they ate the outward elements, they missed the true meaning; their actions contradicted the purpose of the ordinance.
Their behavior also showed contempt for the church: “Do you despise the church of God, and shame those who have nothing?” (1 Corinthians 11:22). If they wished to feast, they could do so at home. But to bring such selfish conduct into the Lord’s house, to exclude and humiliate the poor, was a gross abuse of the ordinance. The souls of the poor are as precious to Christ as those of the rich, for he died equally for both.
Ordinary meals may be managed in an ordinary way, but sacred feasts must be attended with reverence and love. It is a serious sin for Christians to treat fellow believers with contempt, especially at the Lord’s table, where all stand equally before the cross. Such behavior dishonors divine ordinances and provokes God’s displeasure. Therefore, we must take care that nothing in our conduct at the Lord’s table shows irreverence toward Christ or disregard for his people.