How does 1 Corinthians 11:21 connect with Jesus' teachings on love and service? The issue in Corinth “For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal; while one remains hungry, another gets drunk.” (1 Corinthians 11:21) • Believers gathered for what should have been a unifying meal, yet the wealthy ate first and in abundance. • The poor arrived to an empty table—no food, no fellowship, no honor. • Paul calls this behavior sinful because it fractures the very body Christ created to be one (1 Corinthians 11:22, 27-29). Jesus’ model of love and service • John 13:14-15 — “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” • Matthew 20:28 — “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” • Luke 22:27 — “I am among you as the One who serves.” • John 13:34-35 — “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” How 1 Corinthians 11:21 lines up with Jesus’ words • Self-centered eating vs. foot-washing humility – Corinth: believers seize the best for themselves. – Jesus: the Master bends to wash dirty feet, putting others first. • Neglect of the hungry vs. feeding the hungry – Corinth: some go hungry in the very house of God. – Jesus: “I was hungry and you gave Me food” (Matthew 25:35-40). • Display of social status vs. leveling love – Corinth: rich and poor are visibly divided at the table. – Jesus: “When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind” (Luke 14:13-14). • Drunken excess vs. sacrificial giving – Corinth: overindulgence dishonors Christ’s sacrifice memorialized in Communion. – Jesus: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Why Paul reacts so strongly • The Lord’s Supper proclaims Christ’s self-giving love (1 Corinthians 11:26). Turning it into a selfish feast denies the gospel’s core. • Love is never abstract; it shows up in how believers handle food, money, and time (1 John 3:17-18). • To partake “in an unworthy manner” invites judgment because it mocks both Christ’s body on the cross and His body, the church (1 Corinthians 11:29-30). Practical takeaways for today • Examine gatherings: do they elevate status or showcase servant-hearted unity? • Prioritize the vulnerable: ensure no one is left out—physically, emotionally, or spiritually. • Approach Communion—and every shared meal—with gratitude and mindful generosity. • Serve first, eat later: look for feet to wash, plates to fill, burdens to lift. • Remember that every caring act toward fellow believers is service rendered to Christ Himself (Matthew 25:40). |
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