The elders of Grace Bible Chapel determined years ago that we would celebrate the Lord’s Table each week as we meet for worship. We do this not only out of respect for our Lord, but for the need to keep His glorious purchase of our sins ever before us. We are told by Christ Himself that we are to worship in truth and in spirit. The focal point of all worship is the Lord Himself. His cross is the greatest event of all history and the focal point of our gratitude.

Often when we partake of the Lord’s Table, we go to 1 Corinthian’s 11:23 and the verses that follow for our reading where Paul gives written instructions to the church concerning His Table. The church at Corinth had many problems which Paul addressed. One of their very serious problems was their unholy approach to the Lord’s Table. Paul states, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26). What does this mean? The word for proclaim means to declare, show, or promulgate. The idea is to focus solely on our glorious Lord with particular emphasis on what He did for sinners. He alone is worthy of worship. The focus is similar in idea to the words of Paul written earlier; “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). It is a time for exclusively and uniquely exalting Him in love and appreciation. This is therefore an ordinance of the church that is to be done continuously, “until He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26b). The Lord’s Table links His two comings for us. It honors our Lord by our expression of faith in His death on the cross while we wait expectantly for His coming again.

Paul does not leave his explanation there. He goes on to remind the Corinthians of the special importance of this worship not only to us, but also to God. Paul says, “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:27). This is one of the most striking warnings in Scripture. In our day of so much casual thinking, the tendency is just to approach many things as going through the motions. This easy thinking can be brought even to this sacred Table. What does Paul mean by an unworthy manner? A careful study of the context tells us that he means we participate in the Table without the proper regard of worship for what the Lord has done on behalf of sinners. It is a person with the wrong heart and a wrong motive. As with the ordinance of baptism, the Table of the Lord is for Christians only. Any person not truly knowing Christ through true conversion cannot be appropriately thankful or appreciative of what He has done.

But it goes further. The word “unworthy” is a word that at its root means, to weigh, as a matter on the scales of justice. We dare not undervalue Christ. Remember the words of Paul, “That He might come to have first place in everything” (Col. 1:18). When we don’t come to the table and value Him as He should be valued, we are, “Guilty of the body and the blood” in the same manner as those who physically cried out crucify Him. This is such a sobering warning that we should always approach the Table with the utmost care and concern.

To come to His Table correctly requires personal soul-searching. No one can do this for the person. “But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly” (1 Cor. 11:28-29). We each must address our Lord in a proper spirit of conviction with confessed sin, and genuine love. To further emphasize the significance of this warning, Paul says, “For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep” (1 Cor. 11:30). Paul is saying that God has brought the chastening of illness and even premature death to some who have approached His table in this unworthy manner.

Beloved, we cannot approach His Table with irreverence in any form. Instead, it should be our delight to use the opportunity to privately pour our hearts out in proper confession and love for His glorious sacrifice on our behalf. God does not require perfection of us, but neither will He tolerate insolence. He has told us what He requires. We are to be “humble, contrite of spirit, and tremble at His Word” (Is. 66:2), and that Word is our Lord Jesus (John 1:1). He requires from us a contrite heart and worshipful joy, not dread! Our attention should always be fully upon Him who alone is worthy. Coming to Him at His Table correctly, is not only commanded, but is pleasing to Him and is our privilege. We come in joyful worship and thanksgiving.