1 Corinthians 11

1 Corinthians 11:1

If chapters 10 and 11 were divided most logically, this verse would be at the end of chapter 10. After ending his discussion of Christian liberty, Paul simply says, “If you want to know what to dojust follow me.” Paul’s is a statement I pray we can make increasingly our own when our kids are confused, our neighbors are questioning, or newer Christians are wondering about what they should do. I’m so impressed with the work the Lord did in our brother Paul, work that enabled him to say to an entire city, “Do what I do, and you’ll do well.”

1 Corinthians 11:2

In chapter 7, Paul answered the Corinthians’ questions about marriage. In chapters 8-10, he addressed their questions concerning liberty. Here in chapter 11, he’ll discuss church order with regard to women (verses 1Co_11:2-16) and Communion (verses 1Co_11:17-24). Paul commended the church at Corinth for the fact that they were observing the ordinances he had taught them when he was with them five years earlier.

1 Corinthians 11:3

After commending them, however, Paul goes on to tell the Corinthians that some adjustments were necessary… The place of women in the church is not a question of superiority or inferiority, but is based upon humility and liberty. How do I know? Read on. Jesus willingly, voluntarily, gladly submitted to the authority of the Father. Does this mean He was inferior to the Father? No. Philippians 2 makes it clear that He chose to humble Himself. So, too, the woman who chooses to submit to the authority of her husband does so not out of inferiority, but of humility.

1 Corinthians 11:4

To this day, Jewish rabbis teach that, because Moses covered his face after he met with God on Mount Sinai (Exo_34:33), the wearing of a hat, yarmulke, or prayer shawl is a sign of humility before the Lord. In 2 Corinthians 3, however, Paul says it was to hide the fact that the reflection of God’s glory was fading from his countenance that caused Moses to cover his face. “You’re free from this requirement,” said Paul. “So come as you are.”

1 Corinthians 11:5

There are those who say women should never share prophecy or pray in the assembly. Paul would disagree. A woman can pray and prophesy, and is encouraged to do sobut she is to have her head covered. Why? An understanding of the culture is helpful here, for in the Corinthian culture, women wore veils to differentiate themselves from the prostitutes whose heads were shaved as a sign of their service to Aphrodite. Thus, a woman who exercised her liberty in Christ by praying or prophesying with her head uncovered caused confusion in the congregation and dishonor to her husband.

1 Corinthians 11:7

The woman is the gloryor literally, the outshining, the reflectionof the man. Husband, if you think your wife is out to lunch or off the wall, if you’re disappointed in her, tired of her, down on her, or mad at herguess what. She is simply reflecting you.

1 Corinthians 11:8

Dear married sister, seeing yourself not as your husband’s “compete-r,” but as his “completer,” is where you will find your greatest fulfillment.

1 Corinthians 11:10

In newer translations, the word “power” is correctly rendered “covering.” In the Corinthian culture, covering one’s head spoke of modesty. In addition, Paul says it is for the sake of the angels that women were to cover their heads. Why? Angels are hypersensitive about things being done in order. Why? They saw one-third of their company cast out of heaven after one of them said, “I want to do my own thing. I want to be like God” (see Isa_14:14). Therefore, the covering on the head of a woman who is praying or prophesying in the congregation is a sign to the angels that she is not out of order, but that she does so under the authority of her husband.

1 Corinthians 11:11

From the side of man, woman was made. From the woman, however, man is born. Both are of God. Both are vital to His body.

1 Corinthians 11:13

If a guy combs his hair by the hour, it’s not necessarily a sinit’s just dumb. On the other hand, if a woman has long hair, it’s a sign of her covering.

1 Corinthians 11:16

In other words, Paul is saying, “If this discussion concerning head covering causes problems or division, it’s not worth becoming legalistic.” The key to good theology is to note how many times a particular subject is dealt with in Scripture. As opposed to subjects like the finished work of the Cross and the importance of love, this is the only time the subject of head covering is seen in all of Scripture, and thus should be given proportionate attention.

1 Corinthians 11:17

Having concluded his discussion of issues related to women in the church, Paul moves on to talk about Communion in the church. In verse 1Co_11:2, concerning the ordinances in general, Paul had said, “I praise you, brethren…” Here in verse 1Co_11:17, concerning the Lord’s Supper specifically, he says, “I praise you not…”

1 Corinthians 11:18

The first problem Paul mentions with regard to Communion is the same problem he addressed at the very outset of his letter: division. Even in celebrating the Lord’s Supper, the Corinthian church was splintered into factions.

1 Corinthians 11:20

Catch the scene: Paul had spent eighteen months in the Corinthian community, teaching the Corinthian believers daily. But in the course of the five years he had been absent from them, something had happened. The agape feastwhich Paul had established as a time when believers would share their meals in a common place and where they would partake of the Lord’s Supper togetherhad become nothing more than a drunken party. I find Paul’s assessment extremely interesting, for in manyif not mostchurches today, Communion is a very somber, sad experience. I suggest that the reason for this is due to the emphasis placed upon the process of Jesus’ death rather than on the purpose for His death. Is this what Jesus intended? I suggest Jesus’ intent for us is not so much that we remember His pain, but that we are amazed at our gainthat because of the finished work of the Cross, we’re miraculously, gloriously totally free from the power and penalty of sin.

1 Corinthians 11:23

In order that we might remember Him, Jesus didn’t ask for a monument to be erected or a holiday to be established. He asked that a meal be enjoyed. Spotting Zacchaeus in a tree, Jesus said, “Come down. I’m coming over to eat with you” (see Luk_19:5). To the disciples out on the Sea of Galilee, He said, “Come and dine” (see Joh_21:12). “He’s a glutton,” His enemies said of Him (see Mat_11:19). “He eats with sinners,” scoffed His critics (see Luk_7:34). Get the picture? The Lord is into eating! That’s why, describing the coming kingdom, He says through the prophet Isaiah, “Let your soul delight itself in fatness!” (Isa_55:2). Therefore, it should not be surprising to us that He would say, “To remember Me, break bread, drink the fruit of the vine, and share a meal together.”

1 Corinthians 11:27

On the basis of this passage, many think they are unworthy to partake of Communion if they are struggling with a certain sin or wrestling with a particular temptation. Yet this reasoning would be equivalent to a doctor saying to a sick person, “Get well, and then come and see me,” a loan officer saying to a poor person, “You need a loan? Get some money, and then I can help you”; or, a cook saying to someone who is hungry, “Starving? Gain some weight, and I’ll give you a meal.” The Lord’s table is the very place for the person struggling with sin, wrestling with temptation, or caught up in carnality, for it is there that he can say, “Lord, I desperately need You in my life. I eat of Your body and I drink of Your blood, knowing I am forgiven. Thank You, Lord. I celebrate what You did for me.” “Because you don’t value the Lord’s Supper,” said Paul, “there are people in your midst who are weak, folks who are sick, some who have even died because they haven’t understood the potency or the vitality inherent in Communion.” Too often, Communion is nothing more than a meaningless tradition or ritual. Thus, many remain in a state of spiritual weakness because they don’t give worth to or value the place of Communion. Ours is the first generation in history that does not emphasize Communion. One cannot read the Book of Acts or church history without a very real awareness that the Lord’s Supper was central to the life of the congregation. Today, however, some go months, even years without Communion because it’s not important to them. And because of this failure to give it worth, people are dying physically, emotionally, and spiritually in ways they need not be, failing to discern the power of the broken body, the cleansing of the shed blood. Hippopotami have been known to travel two thousand miles in search of a single meal. Hungry and dry, they have traveled virtually across the continent of Africa in search of food. We go through dry times spiritually, yet we won’t come to church to partake of Communion. We won’t take twenty minutes to sit down with our family and say, “We need to eat of the Lord’s body and drink of His blood together.” We get weaker and skinnier and have less heft spiritually whenever we fail to make Communion an essential part of our spiritual life.

1 Corinthians 11:31

Paul strongly admonishes the Corinthian church to approach the Lord’s Supper in the manner he had taught them when he was in their midst five years previouslythat they would neither feel condemned by it, ignore it, nor treat it so lightly that it became nothing more than a drunken party. “This is what I want you to do in remembering Me,” Jesus said. “This is how you honor Me. You need vitalityand it is at My table that I make it available to you most readily.”