THE TABLE OF THE LORD AN UNWORTHY MANNER Those eating the bread and drinking the cup in an unworthy manner become guilty of profaning or desecrating the body and blood of Jesus. In the words of Hebrews, such is one "who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace" (Heb 10:29). I have known individuals who felt they were unworthy to partake of this table. That is not the meaning of the text. Actually, our unworthiness is what qualifies us to partake of the table. Our need of a Savior, and our dependency upon Him, make us worthy participants. EATING AND DRINKING JUDGMENT TO HIMSELF What a solemn warning! No believer should take this activity lightly. Eve and Adam were condemned because they ate! Jesus is at this table, and He is there to bless or to judge. No one who sits at this table will be excluded from His eye. A blessing will be brought to those who remember Him. Judgment will be the lot of those who do not. -- Tomorrow:
"Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils" -- 1 Corinthians 10:21
The unworthiness is found in the "manner," not the person. Those guilty of this sin come perfunctorily to this table. To them, it is simply what is done by professed believers. Their heart is not in the ordinance. They are not confessing to their acceptance of and reliance upon Jesus. They are not contemplating the remission of their sins or the hope of glory. The last thing in their mind is the consideration of a returning Lord. Such have eaten and drank in an unworthy manner! I will tell you that this circumstance is altogether too common among the very people emphasizing the ordinance!
The purpose for this judgment underscores the solemnity of the occasion; "that we should not be condemned with the world" (1 Cor 11:32). Will God actually condemn "with the world" those professed believers who despise His Son? Indeed He will! However, He does not desire to condemn them. That is why He judges them. What is more, it is not a blessing to be so judged. That is why we are admonished to "judge ourselves that we be not judged" (1 Cor 11:31).
And what type of judgment will be ministered to thoughtless participants at this table? The Corinthians provide an example of people judged for their conduct at the table of the Lord. "That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died" (1 Cor 11:30). Myriad of believers have never been apprised of the seriousness of this ordinance. Due consideration of this text will constrain more thoughtful observance. I am persuaded that a society bowing the knee to science needs to hear this word from the King.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I seek grace to approach the Lord's table with a sensitive and thankful heart.