Studies in 1 Corinthians (36)

Concerning the Lord’s Supper (2)

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Previously

• Coming together

• The First Day of the Week• Concerns of division in

worship

Eating the Lord’s Supper (20-22)

• It was NOT a special service, cf. 1 Cor.16:1-2

• On the First day of the week –cf. Ac. 20:7

Eating the Lord’s Supper (20-22)

• Not intended to be a common meal. It consisted of unleavened bread and “fruit of the vine.”

• It was a memorial

Eating the Lord’s Supper (20-22)

• It was done when they came together as the church – 1 Cor. 11:33.Other acts of worship not limited to assembly or first day of the week.

What the Corinthians were doing (18-22)

• It was NOT the Lord’s Supper because it was not according to the pattern!

What the Corinthians were doing (18-22)

• They had turned it into a common meal

• Paul’s reaction, “Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?” (22)

• NOTE: Coming together as the church is NOT a social occasion!Rom. 14:17, edified in assemblies – 1 Cor. 14:26, 12

What the Corinthians were doing (18-22)

• They were not partaking together

• They were “despising the church of God and shame those who have nothing” (22)

• “Shall I praise you in this? I do NOT praise you!”

The Purpose of the Lord’s Supper (11:23-26)

• Paul returns to the origin of this memorial

•Matt. 26:226-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-23

• The occasion was the feast of unleavened bread (Passover)

The Purpose of the Lord’s Supper (11:23-26)

• The Passover commemorated the exodus out of Egypt on the night of the 10th plague.Exodus 12The feast was to take place from the 14th to 21st of the first month (Ex. 12:18-20)

The Purpose of the Lord’s Supper (11:23-26)

• The cup was offered “after supper” – not as part of the meal

The Purpose of the Lord’s Supper (11:23-26)

• Unleavened bread (11:24)It was what Jesus used (cf. Matt. 26:17-19, Luke 22:7-8, 14-16Will we follow His pattern?

•Also see 1 Cor. 5:7-8• “This is my body”

The Purpose of the Lord’s Supper (11:23-26)

• “The cup” (11:25)“Fruit of the vine” Matt. 26:27-29, Luke 22:18Why is wine (oi=nos, oinos) not mentioned?Consider that yeast is a leavening agent (removed during feast)

• “This cup the new covenant of My blood…” See Matt. 26:28

Why were they to partake?

• “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” (11:26)

• It commemorated what Jesus has done for us

Why were they to partake?

• “Proclaiming the Lord’s death” • We acknowledge belief in what

Jesus has done for us. We believe in His resurrection!It is a unique ceremony!

• Corinth had turned it into a common meal

How long do we partake?

• “…till He comes”• As long as this world is in

existence, we will partake of this memorial, following the pattern!

Is God pleased with our commemoration of

this memorial?