The Lord’s Supper: A Holy Remembrance and Humble Examination
"Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 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. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." — 1 Corinthians 11:27-32 (KJB)
The ordinance of the Lord’s Supper is a sacred observance established for the purpose of remembrance. It is not a mere ritual or a social tradition, but a spiritual act where believers look backward to the cross and forward to His return. According to the King James Bible, we do this to "shew the Lord's death till he come." The bread represents His body, broken for us, and the cup represents the New Testament in His blood. By partaking, we are publicly testifying that our life and salvation are found entirely in the finished work of Jesus Christ. This is the "why" of the ordinance: to keep the sacrifice of Christ at the forefront of the believer’s mind and the church’s mission.
The setting for this ordinance is any gathering of believers where the Lord is honored. While often observed in a formal church service, the power of the ordinance lies not in the architecture of a building, but in the humble hearts of those gathered. Whether the assembly is large or small, formal or informal, the requirement remains the same: it must be a gathering characterized by unity and a recognition of the Lord's presence. When believers come together to eat this bread and drink this cup, they are acting as "one body," and therefore their hearts must be aligned with the holiness of the One they are remembering.
Paul’s warning in 1 Corinthians 11:29 is not about eternal condemnation but about God’s temporal discipline of His children. The word translated “damnation” is better understood as “judgment,” and the context makes clear that this judgment may take the form of weakness, sickness, or even physical death (“sleep”). This is corrective in nature, not condemning, much like 1 Corinthians 5:5 where the flesh is destroyed but the spirit remains saved. Believers in Christ are eternally secure, yet if they approach the Lord’s Supper carelessly or selfishly, God may intervene to preserve the purity of His church. Still, this chastening is entirely avoidable. Paul provides the safeguard in verse 31: “If we judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” God’s desire is not to chasten but for us to examine ourselves in light of His Word, acknowledge our selfishness or lack of charity, and correct it. When we rightly judge ourselves, the Lord has no need to step in with discipline to protect His Body.
The true preparation for the Lord’s Table is inward, a matter of discerning the Body of Christ and valuing the unity of His people. Before sharing the bread, the believer is called to examine his heart in light of God’s Word, recognizing whether selfishness, division, or disregard for others has crept in. This self‑judgment is not about proving moral worthiness, but about aligning our motives with the holiness and unity of Christ’s Body. When we humbly acknowledge and correct attitudes that dishonor the fellowship, we remove the need for God’s corrective discipline. His desire is not to chasten but to see His children walk in maturity, esteeming one another and reflecting the grace that secures us in Christ.
To see this in practice, picture a symphony orchestra preparing for a performance. Each musician has a unique part to play, but the beauty of the music depends on everyone listening to one another and following the conductor’s lead. Suppose the violinist enters with pride, determined to play louder than the rest, ignoring the harmony of the ensemble. The result is discord, and the conductor may need to stop the rehearsal to correct the imbalance.
But if that violinist pauses, recognizes their attitude, and chooses instead to blend with the group, the orchestra produces a unified sound that honors the composer’s intent. In the same way, when believers gather for the Lord’s Supper, the focus is not on individual display but on discerning the Body of Christ. By judging ourselves—checking our motives, setting aside pride, and esteeming others—we preserve the unity and holiness of the fellowship. When we fail to do so, the Lord may step in with discipline to protect the harmony of His church.
