Hi, there’s a lot going on here, but the basic issue was disunity among members of the Body, and not just when partaking the Lord’s Supper.
Misinterpreting the Issue
I actually got into an argument once with a Lutheran minister about this passage. I was visiting family in Florida (who don’t attend church), and wanted to partake in The Lord’s Supper with a church nearby. But this one Lutheran church rejected my request, based on an incorrect interpretation of verse 30. See, they believed that it was saying that all the members of the church were becoming sick and dying off because of some other people in the body who were partaking in the Lord’s Supper with them that were not “worthy” of partaking with them. So in order for me to join them in the Lord’s Supper, I would have to first talk with them to be sure I believed everything they believed, and then go through classes and junk before I could. Well, just the fact that they not only misread this passage, but also based their beliefs on the misinterpretation of this passage, was enough for me to know that I already didn’t believe everything they did.
The Issue In the Early Church
If you read the passage beginning with verse 17, you’ll come to understand that the issue there was mentioned in verses 20–21: “when you come together, it’s not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you’re eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk.” See, back then, the Lord’s Supper was more of a potluck. So while the working class was still out on the job, the rich bosses would come to the house church early with their own food, and begin eating before the working class arrived. So not only was this a separation from the others, but by the time the workers arrived, most of the food was already gone. Plus, the early arrivers were using the wine, which was meant for communal partaking of the Lord’s Supper, to get drunk off of — totally misusing the elements.
Verses 23–26 explains how the Lord’s Supper was done by Jesus Himself, as well as what doing so means (v.26). On that note, The Lord’s Supper is also often called “Communion”, which is related to the word “Community” (as in the Body of Christ), and “Eucharist”, which includes the word “Charis” — “Grace” in Greek (so whenever early believers partook in the Eucharist, they couldn’t do so without communing in grace). I’ll be using these words interchangeably throughout my answer.
Partaking The Lord’s Supper Unworthily
Now verse 27 starts off with a “So then” (or therefore), showing that it’s all connected, and what he says here is in response to what Paul had just finished saying: “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be “held accountable” (not “guilty”) of sinning against the Body and blood of the Lord” (because as Paul said in v. 26, whoever takes communion proclaims the Lord’s death until He comes. So if anybody take communion in a way that causes division (or self-centeredness), then they’re to be held accountable for sinning against the Body of Christ, as well as the blood of the Lord.
:28 – “Everyone ought to prove themselves (not “examine”, but truly show God’s approval) before they eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”
:29 – “For those who eat and drink without discerning the Body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.”
Why do they bring judgment on themselves? Because the Lord’s Supper, as I mentioned above, is only possible in community. If you’re eating and drinking everything by yourself, as they were doing (mentioned in :17–22), then you’re dividing yourself from the others (like what Peter did with the others when he told Jesus that though the others may abandon Him, he never will, or as Adam did with Eve when confronted by God about eating the forbidden fruit).
The Lord’s Supper and One Body
I once heard in seminary that in the early church, when they met in houses, everybody in one house church would partake with a loaf of bread. Then once they did, somebody would then take that loaf of bread to the next house church so that they too may partake of the same loaf, then bring to the next house, etc. Because they believed that strongly in partaking as the full Body of Christ, together, with one loaf of bread. So what these guys in v:20–22 were doing was like eating the loaf before they could take it to the next house (figuratively-speaking). And as members of the Body of Christ, we’re to be united as one, as Christ and the Father are One. And Paul summarizes this beginning with v. 33 – “So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. Those who are hungry we should eat something at home so that when you meet together, it may not result in judgment.”
The Correct Interpretation of Verse 30
Now, to continue with verse 30, “That’s why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we’re judged in this way by the Lord, we’re being disciplined so that we won’t be finally condemned with the world.”
The Lutheran church I was talking with translated this like a contagious airborne virus that infects everyone else in the room. But that’s not Paul’s saying here. Instead, he’s suggesting that those who have been causing the divisions are being affected not only spiritually, but also physically. Also, again, the issue is the people who were eating and drinking in an unworthy manner. Sure, it affects the community, but God’s judgment is only upon those who are causing the divisions—they will be held accountable for doing such.
Joining The Lord’s Supper Worthily
The Lord’s Supper is supposed to be about Jesus, not food. But their covenant with each other was being dismantled by the people eating and drinking in an unworthy manner—Christ was neither the center of their lives, nor their communing. He needs to be. Otherwise, it’s just a potluck.
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