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Sharing in the Lord’s Supper
Paul explains that the Corinthians’ shared meal was being damaged by selfish behaviour. He reminds them what the Lord’s Supper means and urges them to gather in a way that honours Jesus and cares for one another.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This part of 1 Corinthians is written as correction. Paul says their assemblies are not helping but harming, because divisions and factions are present. He then repeats what he received about the Lord Jesus and applies it directly to how they eat and drink together.
1 Corinthians 11:17–34Main takeaway
The Lord’s Supper should be shared with remembrance of Jesus, careful self-examination, and practical regard for the whole church.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Their gatherings were going wrongPaul begins with strong correction. He does not praise them, because when they come together it is for the worse, not the better.
Explanation
Paul begins with strong correction. He does not praise them, because when they come together it is for the worse, not the better. He reports divisions and factions among them. Their behaviour at the meal shows that, although they assemble, what they are eating cannot truly be called the Lord’s Supper.
02Selfish eating shamed othersPaul names the problem clearly. People are rushing to eat their own food first, so one person remains hungry while another becomes drunk.
Explanation
Paul names the problem clearly. People are rushing to eat their own food first, so one person remains hungry while another becomes drunk. He asks whether they have houses for ordinary eating and drinking. By acting this way, they despise God’s assembly and shame people who do not have enough.
03Jesus gave the meal its meaningPaul turns to what he received and delivered. On the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said it was his body for them.
Explanation
Paul turns to what he received and delivered. On the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said it was his body for them. He also took the cup and called it the new covenant in his blood. They are to do this in memory of him.
04The supper proclaims the Lord’s deathEach time believers eat the bread and drink the cup, they proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Explanation
Each time believers eat the bread and drink the cup, they proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Because of that, Paul warns against eating and drinking in an unworthy way. He calls for self-examination and for discerning the Lord’s body, rather than treating the meal carelessly.
05So they must wait for one anotherPaul says judgment had already touched some among them, and he describes this as the Lord’s discipline, not final condemnation with the world.
Explanation
Paul says judgment had already touched some among them, and he describes this as the Lord’s discipline, not final condemnation with the world. His practical command is simple: when they come together to eat, they must wait for one another. If someone is hungry, that person should eat at home.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Paul say their coming together was ‘not for the better but for the worse’?
Look at the words about divisions, factions, hunger, drunkenness, and shaming those who do not have enough to see why the gathering was being harmed.
02What does Paul say the bread and the cup help believers remember and proclaim?
Notice the repeated phrase ‘in memory of me’ and the statement that eating and drinking proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
03What practical steps does Paul give for taking part rightly?
Find the commands about examining oneself, discerning, waiting for one another, and eating at home if someone is simply hungry.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 11:17–34
17But in giving you this command I don’t praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse.
18For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it.
19For there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you.
20When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.
21For in your eating each one takes his own supper first. One is hungry, and another is drunken.
22What, don’t you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God’s assembly and put them to shame who don’t have enough? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I don’t praise you.
23For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread.
24When he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.”
25In the same way he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me.”
26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy way eats and drinks judgment to himself if he doesn’t discern the Lord’s body.
30For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.
31For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn’t be judged.
32But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
33Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
34But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.