What does it mean to take communion unworthily (1 Corinthians 11:27)?

Answer

The concept of partaking in communion unworthily originates from a teaching by the apostle Paul to the believers in the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 11:17-34). Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper, is a form of worship intended to commemorate Christ’s sacrifice and demonstrate the love and unity among members of the body of Christ. However, in the case of the Corinthians, it was accentuating the divisions among them. Consequently, some individuals in the Corinthian church were participating in communion “in an unworthy manner” (verse 27). Their public worship gatherings were causing more harm than good (verse 17).

Communion should be a way to honor Christ, yet Paul strongly criticized the Corinthians’ behavior: “So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!” (1 Corinthians 11:20-22).

The communion services of the Corinthians had become tainted with selfishness, drunkenness, and discrimination against the poor. The participants were failing to honor God or uplift one another during their gatherings.

In the early days of the church, Christians observed the Lord’s Supper through communal meals «And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, », (Acts 2:46). Paul pointed out that the Corinthians were showing favoritism towards the wealthy and giving them special treatment.

Some individuals in the Corinthian church were indulging themselves but ignoring the needs of the poor. While some went hungry, others became intoxicated. The Corinthians were openly overeating and discriminating against the less fortunate during their church gatherings. Paul rebuked their behavior, stating that by doing so, they were showing contempt for the church of God «What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. », (1 Corinthians 11:22).

Paul then instructed the Corinthians on the proper way to observe communion, emphasizing that the main focus of the ritual is to commemorate Christ’s sacrifice and proclaim His redemptive work (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Essentially, when outsiders witness a united group of believers sharing a meal to remember Christ’s body and blood, the essence of the gospel is made visible. Paul hoped that by reminding them of the Lord’s clear instructions, the Corinthians would correct their inappropriate conduct.

Following his explanation of the significance of communion, Paul warned, “So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord” «Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. », (1 Corinthians 11:27, NLT). The phrase “in an unworthy manner” could indicate, in general, holding onto unconfessed sins while participating in the Lord’s Supper. Confessing sins is a helpful practice to prepare one’s heart for worship; indeed, we are instructed to “examine” ourselves before partaking in communion (verse 28). However, Paul likely had a more specific issue in mind.

Of his mind.

The “unworthy manner” Paul had in mind was most likely a failure to express the love and unity of the body of Christ—the issue he had just addressed. Those who selfishly promoted divisions in the church were guilty of a serious offense. They were dishonoring the very purpose of communion, which is to honor and remember the Lord’s work of salvation on the cross.
Those who partake of communion in an unworthy manner are “guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord” «Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. », (1 Corinthians 11:27). That is, they are showing irreverence or contempt for that which is meant to represent the body and blood of Christ. They are not “discerning the body of Christ” (verse 28), which means they are acting indifferently toward communion, as if it were just another meal.

Paul went on to teach the Corinthians how they could avoid taking communion unworthily—by examining their motives and actions and ensuring they aligned with the significance of the Lord’s Supper «But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. », (1 Corinthians 11:28). They were to perform this self-examination in preparation for eating and drinking to avoid bringing God’s discipline upon themselves (verses 29–31).

Paul emphasized that the Lord’s Supper should be a time of celebration for the church in which Christians focus on honoring Jesus, exhibiting unity, and proclaiming the gospel of Christ’s salvation. The focus should be on others, and not on oneself. In this way, believers avoid taking communion unworthily.