1 Corinthians 11:17-34
17 “In the following directives I have no praise for you, for
your meetings do more harm than good.
18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a
church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.
19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of
you have GOD’s
approval.
20 So then, when you come together, it is not the LORD’s Supper you
eat,
21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own
private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets
drunk.
22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in?
Or
do you despise the church of GOD by humiliating those who have nothing? What
shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
23 For I received from THE LORD what I also passed on to you: THE LORD JESUS, on
the night HE was betrayed, took bread,
24 and when HE had given thanks, HE broke it and said,
‘This
is MY body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of ME.’
25 In the same way, after supper HE took the
cup, saying,
‘This
cup is the new covenant in MY blood;
do
this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of ME.’
26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink
this cup, you proclaim the LORD’s death until HE comes.
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of THE LORD in
an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of THE LORD.
28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the
bread and drink from the cup.
29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of CHRIST eat and drink
judgment on themselves.
30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you
have fallen asleep.
31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would
not come under such judgment.
32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by THE LORD, we are
being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you
should all eat together.
34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so
that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And
when I come I will give further directions.”
