Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

What is the Lord’s Supper? According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Lord’s Supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, his death is shewed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace.

The Apostle Paul rehearsed the doctrine of the Lord’s Supper for the Corinthian Church so that it may strengthen their spiritual life when it is observed with understanding. He has counselled them to refrain from their wanton feasting in the church of God that brings dishonour to God’s Name. He recounted the solemn occasion when our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper. It was on the night of the Passover in which Judas Iscariot would betray Him.

Some of the Corinthian Christians were coming together for a time of feasting in the church bringing food and drinking and there was also drunkenness. The food they brought were not shared with others and neglecting the needs of others in the church, thus despising the church of God, these ones selfishly enjoyed their wanton feasting. And in the midst of all the revelry, the Lord’s Supper was served.

The Apostle Paul believes that the divisions in the church came a result of heresies, departures from the fundamentals of the Christian faith. He also observed how there were those who were not the cause of divisions within the body. These are “they which are approved”, those whose behaviour were exemplary during the time of heresy. These were not entangled in the web of heretical departures but were steadfast in their faith, refusing the persuasion of the gainsayers. These proved themselves spiritual mature and true.

The Apostle Paul has been informed by brethren from the house of Chloe of the division in the church of Corinth where rival cliques are formed threatening the unity and peace of the body. These cliques claim to have the Apostle Paul, Apollos, Cephas or Peter and Christ as their leaders. As far as the Apostle Paul is concerned, he has not supported the formation of such a clique in his name. He expressed surprise! He spent one and half year in Corinth to establish the new believers in the faith and teach the Word of God to them. He did not recall teaching them to do any of such contentious behaviour. He urges them to stop devouring one another by such imaginary factions that divide the believers. It genders confusion and robs the peace in the church. Such behaviour is not of God. Such prideful misuse of their leaders’ name and Christ’s Name is most deplorable, transgressing the first three commandments.

William MacDonald said well, “As in the preceding discussion on womanly excesses in worship, Paul had no commendation (but cf. v. 2) for the Corinthians when it came to their practice of the Lord’s Supper. In fact, an experience meant to build up the church was actually having the opposite effect: your meetings do more harm than good.”