Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 Corinthians 11:28

"But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup." — 1 Corinthians 11:28 (ASV)

And so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

Let him come as a true believer, as sincere; if not perfect, yet true; if not all he ought to be, yet in Christ; if not all he wants to be, yet still on the way to it, by being in Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life.

But let a man examine himself,

Let a man look himself up and down, as a lawyer cross-questions a witness, as a man examines money to see whether it has the true ring of gold about it; or not: "Let a man examine himself."

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

Paul does not say, "Let a man examine himself, and then not eat or drink at the communion." The examination should lead him to repentance, and to faith, and should then bring him to the table of fellowship in the right state of mind and heart. The examination is not a door to shut him out from the ordinance, but a door at which he may pause awhile, to see whether he is in a right condition to enter; and if he is not, he should seek to be made so, and then enter.