`temperance' should read `self-control'), which should be on the `tree' of our lives,

bringing glory to the Lord.

A new section dealing with spiritual gifts commences with the next chapter, and to

this we will address ourselves in our next study.

After reprimanding the Corinthian assembly for their abuses of the agape, the shared

love-feast, the Apostle Paul adds to the solemnity of his warning by recalling the words

and acts of the Lord Jesus when He instituted the New Covenant Supper under the

shadow of Calvary. This occupies 11: 23-30.  There is no need to debate whether the

Apostle received the facts in unbroken tradition from the Twelve, or whether he received

it from the Lord without any mediation. In view of his strong language in Gal. 1:, where

he discounts any human origin in his knowledge of the Gospel, having received it directly

from the risen Lord Himself, we see no good reason why it is not so in this particular

The facts of the ritual are in accordance with the Gospel records. We have already

seen its direct link with the Passover, both being memorial feasts, one looking forward to

the real deliverance at the Cross by the real Passover Lamb ("Christ our Passover is

sacrificed for us", 5: 7), and the other looking back in faith to the same great act. Paul

reinforces his warning by impressing on them that to partake of this ritual feast

unworthily, that is with the moral failings of selfishness and gluttony rampant among

them, was to eat and drink God's judgment to themselves rather than to receive His

blessings (verses 27-29).

This judgment was already evident in their midst:

We have already pointed out that this Divine discipline was typical of the Acts period,

where the possibility of the earthly kingdom was still in view. It is not typical of this age

of grace where grace is reigning and direct judgment is held back. While this is a fact,

we would point out that the normal consequences of sowing to the flesh or the spirit

remain unchanged (Gal. 6: 7-9).

This section of the epistle ends with the Apostle exhorting the believers at Corinth to

wait for one another (33). It is obvious that there was no spiritual hierarchy in the

Corinthian set-up who could have forced obedience of the rank and file. They were not

told to wait for their leaders to arrive, but each to wait for the other, thus bringing

responsibility to all. Any undue hunger should be first satisfied at home (34), so that

their conduct might be worthy, and the painful experience of the Lord's judgment