Sharing in the Lord’s Supper

(Matthew 26:20–30, Mark 14:17–26, Luke 22:14–23)

17 In the [following] instructions I have no praise to offer, because your gatherings do more harm than good. 18 First of all, I hear that [when] you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved.

20 Now then, [when] you come together it is not [the] Lord’s Supper you eat. 21 For as you eat, each [of you] goes ahead without sharing his meal.[fn] While [one] remains hungry, [another] gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have [your own] homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? No, I will not!

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and said, “This is My body, which [is] for you;[fn] do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way after supper [He took] the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink [it], in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink [this] cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the[fn] body and blood of the Lord. 28 Each one must examine himself [before] he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body[fn] eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you [are] weak and sick, and a number [of you] have fallen asleep.

31 Now if we judged ourselves {properly}, we would not come under judgment. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

33 So, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you come together [it will not result] in judgment. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.