What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 11:21? For as you eat Paul writes, “For as you eat,” pinpointing the very moment believers come together for the Lord’s Supper. The gathering itself is not the problem; it is what happens during it. Scripture repeatedly treats shared meals as sacred spaces that bind God’s people together—see Acts 2:46, “They broke bread from house to house and partook of food with glad and sincere hearts.” The Lord’s Table should mirror such unity. each of you goes ahead The phrase uncovers a heart issue: impatience and self-interest. Instead of waiting for one another, each person rushes to satisfy personal appetite. Compare Romans 15:1, “We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.” The Lord’s Supper was never meant to be a race to the first plate; it is a testimony of mutual care. without sharing his meal Failing to share contradicts the gospel’s call to generous fellowship. Acts 4:32 notes, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own.” When believers hoard, they misrepresent Christ, who “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45). While one remains hungry Real, physical needs went unmet right in the middle of a worship setting. James 2:15-16 echoes Paul’s concern: “If one of you says to him, ‘Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,’ but does nothing… what good is that?” The Lord’s Table should eliminate hunger, not expose it. another gets drunk At the same table where some had nothing, others indulged to excess. This contrasts sharply with Ephesians 5:18, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion.” Drunkenness not only dulls discernment; it mocks the sacrificial blood symbolized by the cup. summary Verse 21 exposes a fractured fellowship: hurried self-gratification, unwillingness to share, neglect of the needy, and indulgent excess. Paul’s remedy is implicit—return to Christ-centered love that waits, shares, feeds, and exercises self-control. In doing so, the Lord’s Supper once again proclaims “one bread, one body” (1 Corinthians 10:17) and honors the Lord it remembers. |
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