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1 Corinthians 11 – Why Called “The Lord’s Supper”?
Why is the Lord’s supper called the “Lord’s supper”? To answer we must first see the context. The expression occurs one time in an extraordinary situation oozing both:
1. Selfishness
2. Shamefulness
“When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.” (ESV 1 Corinthians 11:20-22)
1. The term is not a title, but an association.
2. Paul uses the phrase in contrast to the Corinthians “own supper/meal”. Their own meal did two things: 1) focused on satiating the appetite, and 2) shamed the poor. Therefore “Lord’s” is contrasted to “your own” and “supper” is used non-literally, possibly sarcastically, to shame those who are shaming others.
3. What kind of “supper” is the Lord’s? It is one where the sharing is found not in the amount of food consumed, but in the rich sharing with the poor. This imitates Jesus sharing his body and blood. The context is the “Have’s” were to share the bread and fruit of the vine with the “Have-Not’s”.
The term “Lord’s supper” is rich in spiritual brotherhood and allegiance which Jesus shared with us. When we share together – the meaning of “communion” – what are we sharing?
1. Jesus’s body and blood
2. Jesus’s example of helping the needy among us.
3. The emblems of unleavened bread and fruit of the vine.
4. Being the body, eating the body, of Jesus’s body.
All this is found in why this spiritual meal is called the Lord’s supper, because that name denounces:
1. Selfishness
2. Shamefulness
And promotes true sacrifice.
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