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Consider —

I. WHAT THIS SACRAMENT IS. "The cup of the Lord" — "the table of the Lord."

1. We have many observances which, however profitable, are of man's appointment only. But this owes its origin to our Divine Lord. And this circumstance ought to make us view it with the greatest reverence. Christ spreads this table and presides at it.

2. The Lord who instituted it commanded it as a memorial of Himself. And the fact in our Lord's history of which we are to be put peculiarly in mind is His love for lost sinners as displayed in His sufferings and death upon the Cross (1 Corinthians 11:26). Apart from Him this sacrament has no meaning whatsoever.

II. THE SPIRITUAL PRIVILEGES ENJOYED BY THOSE WHO PROPERLY RECEIVE THIS SACRAMENT. It is not bread and wine alone which true communicants receive, but that which is signified by the bread and wine — even the benefits of Christ's body crucified, the merits of His dying blood (ver. 16).

III. WHAT IS IT WHICH WILL HINDER A MAN FROM ENJOYING SUCH PRIVILEGES?

1. Paul is evidently referring to festivals in honour of heathen gods (Daniel 5:4). The Christians, it appears, were often asked to join these; and, believing that an idol was nothing in the world, they drew from thence the inference that such a course was harmless. Now St. Paul reminds them that though in truth "an idol was nothing in the world," yet what the heathens offered to their idols they offered in fact to evil spirits (ver. 20). "And I would not," says he, "that ye should have fellowship with devils." Then, by way of giving them a weighty reason against continuing to attend those ungodly celebrations, he tells them how impossible it was that they could get any benefit from the Lord's Supper whilst they did so.

2. Satan has a wide temple, has spread a large table and has provided deep cups overflowing with deadly wine. At this table every man sits who lives in the practice of sin. The brutish drunkard — is it not the devil's cup which bereaves him of his reason and fills his mouth with riot and with blasphemy? The gluttonous man — is it not at the devil's table that he sits when he makes such a besotted use of the bounties of God's providence? The covetous man that is making gain his god, the lover of worldly pleasure and praise, the selfish, the proud, the passionate, the liar, the hypocrite — all are Satan's guests. Now, can such drink the Lord's cup, eat the Lord's bread, i.e., receive the spiritual blessings of this sacrament?

IV. HOW WE TO COME TO THIS SACRAMENT SO AS TO ENJOY ITS PRIVILEGES? If we cannot drink the Lord's cup or partake of the Lord's table whilst we partake of Satan's, then the right way of coming to this ordinance is by dashing Satan's cup away from us — by rising from his table with an intention, under grace, of sitting down to it no more.

(A. Roberts. M.A.)

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KJV: Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

WEB: Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don't those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?