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The main thing about the main thing: There was a problem among the early group of disciples in Corinth. It continues among believers today.

We need to be careful. We need to examine ourselves and not look at others as missing God’s goal. We need to avoid being a hypocrite. Jesus detests that. I know it is true.

As a result of the unfairness and gluttony surrounding communion, Paul says they were not really even eating the Messiah’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20). The people were not treating communion as a sacred ordinance instituted by Jesus.

Instead of reminding people of Jesus’ sacrifice, communion became a means of self-gratification, furthering the divisions among the Corinthian the disciples. After describing the situation and explaining what communion should be, Paul writes,

So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Messiah in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Messiah. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of the Messiah eat and drink judgment on themselves

(1 Corinthians 11:27–29)

Self Examination — Does  lack of it lead to pride and self-delusion?

  • 1 Corinthians 11:28–29  — But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.
  • Matthew 7:5  — “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
  • John 8:7  — But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
  • Romans 2:1–4  — Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

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