1 Corinthians 11:29 – Discriminating the body

For he who is eating and drinking unworthily is eating and drinking judgement to himself, not discriminating the body of the Lord.

The celebration of the joint meal in Corinth was a shameless display. That was a symptom while the cause was that “the body was not discriminated.” What did Paul mean by that? He had told them that the one bread refers to the one body that believers form together (10:16). In Corinth people stared blindly at food and drink without understanding its meaning.

The spiritual meaning of bread and cup is still unknown today. The church practice is focused on the external (a ritual) and ‘the old humanity’. ‘Am I worthy to participate?’ No one is happy about such a question … Is that actually not ‘eating unworthily’ as well? Wouldn’t we rejoice at a banquet ?! A feast because of the victory over death and the new life in Christ? Isn’t it called ‘the cup of the blessing’ for nothing?

Discriminating the body is much more than an intellectual insight. It means triumph, joy and unity. This discernment is a source of power. It was this vitalizing elixir that the Corinthians had lost …

Delen: