How does 1 Corinthians 11:20 address the proper conduct during the Lord's Supper?

The Context in Corinth

• The first-century church met for a common meal that flowed into the Lord’s Supper.

• Wealthier believers arrived early, ate lavishly, and left only scraps for late-arriving laborers (vv.17-22).

• Their selfish behavior fractured the fellowship, so Paul states bluntly in 11:20, “So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat”.

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Why Their Gathering Was “Not the Lord’s Supper”

Paul’s single sentence exposes four problems:

1. Wrong focus – personal appetite, not Christ’s sacrifice (v.21).

2. Social division – humiliating those who had nothing (v.22).

3. Loss of unity – gatherings marked by “divisions” and “factions” (v.18-19).

4. Empty ritual – outward form without inward reverence (v.27).

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Core Principles for Proper Conduct

• Remember Christ, not self (Luke 22:19-20).

• Maintain one body, one loaf (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).

• Wait for one another, share generously (1 Corinthians 11:33-34).

• Examine the heart before partaking (1 Corinthians 11:28-29).

• Approach with grateful awe (Hebrews 12:28).

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Cross-References That Reinforce These Principles

• Acts 2:42 – “They devoted themselves to…the breaking of bread and to prayer” (fellowship + worship).

• Philippians 2:3-4 – “In humility value others above yourselves” (attitude for the table).

• Galatians 3:28 – “You are all one in Christ Jesus” (social barriers erased).

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Practical Takeaways for Today

• Schedule the Supper so every believer can attend; avoid settings that favor some over others.

• Keep the elements simple; extravagance can shift attention from Christ.

• Encourage a moment of silent self-examination before distribution.

• Emphasize common faith and shared forgiveness; consider reading 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 aloud each time.

• Foster fellowship meals, but separate them from the ordinance to prevent confusion.

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Summing Up

1 Corinthians 11:20 warns that the Lord’s Supper loses its meaning whenever selfishness, division, or irreverence dominate a gathering. The remedy is a Christ-centered, others-oriented, reverent approach that honors the unity of His body and the gravity of His sacrifice.