Bible Reading Challenge #30
1 Corinthians 11:17–22
17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
Over the first eleven chapters, Paul has addressed many serious issues in the Corinthian church—immorality, idolatry, and improper worship. But now he pivots to perhaps the most frustrating of them all: the abuse of the Lord’s Supper.
Paul essentially says, “Yes, you’re gathering—but it’s not for good. Your gatherings are actually doing more harm than good.” Instead of building unity, they were exposing and enlarging inequality.
What was happening?
The divide between the “haves” and “have-nots” was mostly along economic lines. The church was made up largely of hardworking, poorer believers who clung to Jesus in hope, despite their difficult circumstances and even persecution. These “have-nots” had no official day off under the Roman calendar, so they arrived at the Lord’s Supper late—tired and hungry—only to find that the wealthy members had already eaten their fill and, in some cases, gotten drunk.
The wealthy, with leisure time and resources, did not wait for their brothers and sisters. They indulged while the food was hot, consuming so much that nothing was left for others. Meanwhile, the working class showed up to scraps—and shame.
Paul’s anger was not simply about the food or drink. It was about their self-centered attitude. Their selfishness turned something sacred into something sinful.
On a personal note: I am grateful that this is not the spirit I see in our church family. While I know of many churches that struggle with these same kinds of divisions, thanks be to God that at FBCFB there is a genuine spirit of unity, fellowship, and encouragement. I especially want to celebrate the women of our church who have been catalysts in creating and protecting this kind of culture. My prayer is that God would continue to bless us with this spirit—and grow it among our entire congregation.
