Jesus made a new covenant with anyone who would believe in him (25). When he did, he changed the Passover meal so that I could remember him and what he did for me through his suffering and death. The bread symbolizes his body broken. The wine symbolizes his blood poured out. He told us when his people repeated his new Passover, which we call the Lord’s Supper (20b), to do this in remembrance of him. (24)
The Lord’s Supper for the early church was an entire meal. Later, because of abuses revealed in this chapter, all food and drink were removed except the bread and wine (unfermented). Paul rebuked the Corinthian congregation for the abuses of the Lord’s Supper, for they were harmful (17).
The divisions, mentioned earlier in the letter (1:10-17; 3:3-9; 6:1-8), were also exercised during the Lord’s Supper (19). The wealthy who obviously supplied most of the food, if not all, humiliated those who had nothing (22). Some ate a lot, others remained hungry, others got drunk (21).
Paul says that I ought to examine myself before I eat the bread and drink from the cup. I am to discern the body of Christ, for I may be sinning against the Lord’s body and blood (27-28). Some were sick, weak, and fallen asleep (physically died) under the Lord’s discipline (30).
I do not want to be disciplined by my Lord. The discipline of the Lord is as a Father to a son, and the Father’s hand is strong. His plan and desire is that I be mature, made like his Son, Jesus. The fear of the Lord is good. Love for the Lord is better. Lord, forgive my wayward, weak heart.
