Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 Corinthians 11:28-29

"But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body." — 1 Corinthians 11:28-29 (ASV)

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eats and drinks unworthily, –

We are all unworthy to come to the table of our Lord; who among us can possibly be thought to be worthy to come to such a feast as this? But the apostle is writing concerning those who came there carelessly, or without thought, or with a wrong motive.

Years ago, you know, nobody could hold certain government or municipal offices without taking what was called "the sacrament." That was making the Lord's supper a picklock to office; that was indeed to eat and drink it unworthily.

Those who come merely for the sake of getting alms, or out of custom or formality, but leave their hearts behind them, eat and drink unworthily, and shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, – as guilty as they were who actually crucified the Saviour.

For he that eats and drinks unworthily –

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

"Judgment" or "condemnation" is the word in the original, not "damnation." That is not a fair translation, nor does it express the truth. He who eats and drinks unworthily condemns himself in so doing; he comes under judgment for that act. This is the kind of judgment that falls upon Christians if they come unworthily to the Lord's table: