he apostle, after an exhortation to follow him, (1) corrects
some abuses. (2-16) Also contentions, divisions, and disorderly
celebrations of the Lord's supper. (17-22) He reminds them of
the nature and design of its institution. (23-26) And directs
how to attend upon it in a due manner. (27-34)
Verse 1: The first verse of this chapter seems properly to be the
close to the last. The apostle not only preached such doctrine
as they ought to believe, but led such a life as they ought to
live. Yet Christ being our perfect example, the actions and
conduct of men, as related in the Scriptures, should be followed
only so far as they are like to his.
Verses 2-16: Here begin particulars respecting the public assemblies,
ch. (1Co 14). In the abundance of spiritual gifts bestowed on
the Corinthians, some abuses had crept in; but as Christ did the
will, and sought the honour of God, so the Christian should avow
his subjection to Christ, doing his will and seeking his glory.
We should, even in our dress and habit, avoid every thing that
may dishonour Christ. The woman was made subject to man, because
made for his help and comfort. And she should do nothing, in
Christian assemblies, which looked like a claim of being equal.
She ought to have "power," that is, a veil, on her head, because
of the angels. Their presence should keep Christians from all
that is wrong while in the worship of God. Nevertheless, the man
and the woman were made for one another. They were to be mutual
comforts and blessings, not one a slave, and the other a tyrant.
God has so settled matters, both in the kingdom of providence
and that of grace, that the authority and subjection of each
party should be for mutual help and benefit. It was the common
usage of the churches, for women to appear in public assemblies,
and join in public worship, veiled; and it was right that they
should do so. The Christian religion sanctions national customs
wherever these are not against the great principles of truth and
holiness; affected singularities receive no countenance from any
thing in the Bible.
Verses 17-22: The apostle rebukes the disorders in their partaking of
the Lord's supper. The ordinances of Christ, if they do not make
us better, will be apt to make us worse. If the use of them does
not mend, it will harden. Upon coming together, they fell into
divisions, schisms. Christians may separate from each other's
communion, yet be charitable one towards another; they may
continue in the same communion, yet be uncharitable. This last
is schism, rather than the former. There is a careless and
irregular eating of the Lord's supper, which adds to guilt. Many
rich Corinthians seem to have acted very wrong at the Lord's
table, or at the love-feasts, which took place at the same time
as the supper. The rich despised the poor, and ate and drank up
the provisions they brought, before the poor were allowed to
partake; thus some wanted, while others had more than enough.
What should have been a bond of mutual love and affection, was
made an instrument of discord and disunion. We should be careful
that nothing in our behaviour at the Lord's table, appears to
make light of that sacred institution. The Lord's supper is not
now made an occasion for gluttony or revelling, but is it not
often made the support of self-righteous pride, or a cloak for
hypocrisy? Let us never rest in the outward forms of worship;
but look to our hearts.
Verses 23-34: The apostle describes the sacred ordinance, of which he
had the knowledge by revelation from Christ. As to the visible
signs, these are the bread and wine. What is eaten is called
bread, though at the same time it is said to be the body of the
Lord, plainly showing that the apostle did not mean that the
bread was changed into flesh. St. Matthew tells us, our Lord bid
them all drink of the cup, ch. (Mt 26:27), as if he would, by
this expression, provide against any believer being deprived of
the cup. The things signified by these outward signs, are
Christ's body and blood, his body broken, his blood shed,
together with all the benefits which flow from his death and
sacrifice. Our Saviour's actions were, taking the bread and cup,
giving thanks, breaking the bread, and giving both the one and
the other. The actions of the communicants were, to take the
bread and eat, to take the cup and drink, and to do both in
remembrance of Christ. But the outward acts are not the whole,
or the principal part, of what is to be done at this holy
ordinance. Those who partake of it, are to take him as their
Lord and Life, yield themselves up to him, and live upon him.
Here is an account of the ends of this ordinance. It is to be
done in remembrance of Christ, to keep fresh in our minds his
dying for us, as well as to remember Christ pleading for us, in
virtue of his death, at God's right hand. It is not merely in
remembrance of Christ, of what he has done and suffered; but to
celebrate his grace in our redemption. We declare his death to
be our life, the spring of all our comforts and hopes. And we
glory in such a declaration; we show forth his death, and plead
it as our accepted sacrifice and ransom. The Lord's supper is
not an ordinance to be observed merely for a time, but to be
continued. The apostle lays before the Corinthians the danger of
receiving it with an unsuitable temper of mind; or keeping up
the covenant with sin and death, while professing to renew and
confirm the covenant with God. No doubt such incur great guilt,
and so render themselves liable to spiritual judgements. But
fearful believers should not be discouraged from attending at
this holy ordinance. The Holy Spirit never caused this scripture
to be written to deter serious Christians from their duty,
though the devil has often made this use of it. The apostle was
addressing Christians, and warning them to beware of the
temporal judgements with which God chastised his offending
servants. And in the midst of judgement, God remembers mercy: he
many times punishes those whom he loves. It is better to bear
trouble in this world, than to be miserable for ever. The
apostle points our the duty of those who come to the Lord's
table. Self-examination is necessary to right attendance at this
holy ordinance. If we would thoroughly search ourselves, to
condemn and set right what we find wrong, we should stop Divine
judgements. The apostle closes all with a caution against the
irregularities of which the Corinthians were guilty at the
Lord's table. Let all look to it, that they do not come together
to God's worship, so as to provoke him, and bring down vengeance
on themselves.
he apostle, after an exhortation to follow him, (1) corrects
some abuses. (2-16) Also contentions, divisions, and disorderly
celebrations of the Lord's supper. (17-22) He reminds them of
the nature and design of its institution. (23-26) And directs
how to attend upon it in a due manner. (27-34)