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1 Corinthians 11:33
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“So then, my brothers,
when you come together to eat, wait for each other.”
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Let’s look at the context. Read
11:17-22.
1. Why would Paul have to
tell the Corinthians to “wait for each other,” and why did it
matter?
2. (verse 17) Paul is
disgusted with the services held by the Corinthians. When they come
together to worship and especially when they come together for
communion they are harming each other and bringing dishonor to
Christ. What a condemnation: “your meetings do more harm than
good.” It would be better if they gave up meeting altogether,
rather than continuing to meet in the manner in which they are.
3. (verse 18) Paul has heard
that there are divisions among them. This does not refer to the
divisions over teachers addressed in the first few chapters of 1
Corinthians. Rather it refers to divisions into classes. The
Corinthians probably met in a number of house churches. Larger
homes of the wealthy could accommodate about 50 people. It may be
that the wealthy would meet in one room, the working class in
another, and the slaves in yet another room of the house. There was
segregation in the church. Does that ever happen today?
4. (verse 19) The different
groups have stooped to the foolish notion that one group may be more
approved by God than another group.
5. (verse 20) Paul tells
them plainly, that you are not eating the Lord’s Supper when you act
this way. As Christians they are united to Christ and therefore to
each other, but they are disregarding this and have instead set up a
hierarchy amongst themselves.
6. (verse 21) Two things are
happening here that reveal an identity of the Corinthians with the
world and a lack of spiritual transformation. They eat without
waiting. The wealthy did not have jobs, so they could get a head
start on the meal. The working class would get there next, and the
slaves would get there after most of the food was gone. The wealthy
were being gluttons and the slaves, who had the least to begin with,
were going without. Additionally, many of the secular clubs in
Corinth would have fellowship meals, but the food was apportioned to
the members in quantities based on the person’s social status.
Again, the ones that needed it the least, got the most. Oh, how too
often it is hard to differentiate us Christians from the world.
This should never be the case. The wealthy Corinthian Christians
could have shown their Christian love, by providing for those who
were unable to provide adequately for themselves.
7. (verse 22) “Don’t you
have homes to eat and drink in?” If you want to be selfish, then
just eat at home, because your conduct is bringing discredit to
Christ. He then explains to them the proper meaning of Communion in
verses 23-26 and the consequences of mistreating this meal in verses
27-32.
The right thing to do is to celebrate
communion, but to remember the love Christ has for His church and to
show that love to one another by waiting for each other when coming
together to eat. Make sure those who need the food most get an
adequate chance to eat. This attitude of sharing among believers
applies in any service or fellowship gathering.
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