Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

"For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord`s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 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. For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, wait one for another. If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; that your coming together be not unto judgment. And the rest will I set in order whensoever I come." — 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 (ASV)

The apostle describes the sacred ordinance, which he knew by revelation from Christ. Regarding the visible signs, these are the bread and wine. What is eaten is called bread, even though it is also said to be the body of the Lord. This plainly shows that the apostle did not mean that the bread was changed into flesh. St. Matthew tells us our Lord told them all to drink of the cup (Matthew 26:27), as if, by this expression, He intended to ensure that no believer would be deprived of the cup.

The things signified by these outward signs are Christ's body and blood—His body broken and His blood shed—along with all the benefits that flow from His death and sacrifice. Our Savior's actions were: taking the bread and cup, giving thanks, breaking the bread, and giving both. The actions of the communicants were: to take the bread and eat, to take the cup and drink, and to do both in remembrance of Christ. But the outward acts are not the whole, or the principal part, of what is to be done at this holy ordinance.

Those who partake of it are to take Him as their Lord and Life, yield themselves to Him, and live on Him. Here is an account of the purposes of this ordinance. It is to be done in remembrance of Christ, to keep His dying for us fresh in our minds, and also to remember Christ pleading for us at God's right hand by virtue of His death. It is not merely in remembrance of Christ—of what He has done and suffered—but to celebrate His grace in our redemption.

We declare His death to be our life, the source of all our comforts and hopes. And we glory in such a declaration; we proclaim His death and plead it as our accepted sacrifice and ransom. The Lord's Supper is not an ordinance to be observed merely for a time, but is to be continued. The apostle presents to the Corinthians the danger of receiving it with an unsuitable disposition, or of maintaining a covenant with sin and death while professing to renew and confirm the covenant with God.

No doubt such people incur great guilt and thus make themselves liable to spiritual judgments. But fearful believers should not be discouraged from attending this holy ordinance. The Holy Spirit never caused this scripture to be written to deter serious Christians from their duty, although the devil has often made this use of it. The apostle was addressing Christians and warning them to beware of the temporal judgments with which God chastised His offending servants.

And in the midst of judgment, God remembers mercy: He often punishes those whom He loves. It is better to bear trouble in this world than to be miserable forever.

The apostle points out the duty of those who come to the Lord's table. Self-examination is necessary for proper attendance at this holy ordinance.

If we would thoroughly examine ourselves, to condemn and correct what we find wrong, we would prevent Divine judgments. The apostle concludes with a caution against the irregularities of which the Corinthians were guilty at the Lord's table. Let everyone take care that they do not assemble for God's worship in such a way as to provoke Him and bring down vengeance on themselves.