1 Corinthians 11

The Explanation

Paul writes a letter to the church in Corinth. The Christians there come together every week, but something is going wrong when they gather. Paul has heard stories about it, and he does not like what he hears.

First he writes about how men and women should behave in the church service. In that time, it was a sign of respect for a woman to have her head covered when she prayed. It showed something about order and about honoring one another. Paul explains that God has given people a certain order: God is above Christ, Christ is above every person, and within a marriage the husband has a special responsibility. But Paul is careful to add: a man and a woman need each other. They are not more or less than each other. Everything comes from God.

Then Paul comes to the real problem. When the Corinthians gather for the Lord's Supper, it is a mess. In that time, they held a full meal together, with bread and wine. But some were bringing lots of food and eating it all themselves before the others arrived. The rich ate until they were full, and the poor, who had little, stood there with empty stomachs. Some even drank too much wine. Paul is angry about this. He says: "It is not the Lord's supper that you eat." They were doing something holy, but they were making it selfish.

Then Paul reminds them of what the Lord's Supper really is. He tells them the story of the last evening of Jesus. In the night that Jesus was betrayed, He took bread, broke it, and said: "This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me." Then He took the cup and said: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood." A covenant is a solemn promise between God and people. Jesus made a new promise with His own blood.

Paul says: whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup without thinking about what it means, does something wrong. Everyone should look at himself first, honestly. When you come together, wait for one another. Do not turn a holy meal into a party for yourself.

What Does This Mean?

This chapter is about how you treat God and how you treat other people, and that those two things belong together. You cannot say "I love Jesus" and at the same time ignore the person next to you who has nothing to eat. In the church you are not on your own. You are part of something bigger.

The Lord's Supper is not just a bit of bread and a sip of wine. It is a sign that points back to the cross, and forward to the day Jesus comes again. Paul says: as often as you do this, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. You are telling a story, without words.

The Common Thread

The whole chapter leads to one moment: Jesus at the table with His disciples, the night before He died. His body was broken. His blood was poured out. That is the heart of the Bible.

The word covenant comes back here. Long ago God made a covenant with Abraham and with Moses. Now Jesus makes a new covenant. Not with the blood of animals, but with His own blood. Everything Paul writes about behaving well in church only makes sense because of what Jesus did first. He gave Himself. So we can also give something up for each other.

For You

You are probably not going to a church meal with poor and rich people this week. But the question underneath is still yours. Do you look around? Do you see the child who is always alone at recess? Do you take the biggest piece for yourself, or do you wait until others have some too?

And when you are in church and see the bread and wine, know that it is not just a habit. Jesus is saying: I did this for you. Think about it. Look inside yourself honestly. And then join in.

Talk About It

Why do you think Paul got so angry that the rich ate everything up before the poor arrived? What does this say about what a church should be?

Jesus said, "Do this in memory of me." What do you think about when you see the bread and wine?

Praying Together

Lord Jesus, thank You that You gave Your body and blood for us. Help me to remember what You did. Help me to see the people around me and not just think about myself. Teach me to belong to Your family. Amen.