Explaining Bread and Wine [antikvár]

1 Do This in Remembrance of Me "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks. He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 NKJV) The reports that Paul is receiving from Corinth are not good. There are reports of immorality, believers are going to court against one another and meetings are often in total disorder. As part of that disorder, when the church comes together for the Lord's supper, the communion or the 'breaking of bread' which they ironically call the 'love feast'; believers who have plenty are looking after themselves, eating and drinking in an orgy of self-indulgence (there are even reports of some being drunk). They do not share their abundance with others who are needy and the poor look on humiliated and ashamed. Paul's reply is one of anger and rebuke. "What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you." Before we sit back and congratulate ourselves that this doesn't happen in our churches, let us ask ourselves are we really any nearer to what Jesus meant when He gave such clear instructions concerning the Lord's Supper? Wj i