Paul writes from Ephesus to remind Corinthian Christians that they cannot sit at two tables at the same time. “You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21). Worshipers at the latter table may not realize they are worshiping demons (cf. Deuteronomy 32:17). Yet, since their worship does not go to the true God, it must be going to His enemies, the demons. That is why Christians leave pagan ways and no longer eat the food offered to false gods (1 Corinthians 10:14,21; 8:7-13; Acts 15:20,29; Revelation 2:14). Christians eat, in a spiritual sense, of Christ’s body and blood (John 6:32-63). That continual spiritual feast finds special expression in the earthly bread and drink of the Lord’s Table.
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16)
“The bread that we break” is a simple bread, most likely a flat bread made without yeast. Jews used this “unleavened bread” in their Passover Feast (Exodus 12:1-20). Jesus shared His final Passover with His closest followers. That meal was prepared on “the first day of Unleavened Bread” (Matthew 26:17-29).
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is My body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:23-24).
The Passover’s unleavened bread reminded Jews how quickly they left Egypt. (There was no time to make bread in the normal way that uses yeast to make the bread rise. Instead the Jews had to make their Passover bread without any rising agent. Thus the baked bread was harder and flatter.) The whole Passover meal reminded Jews that God kept them safe from the angel of death by killing a lamb and spreading its blood over their doors. Now Jesus gives a new meaning to the unleavened bread. Since Jesus is “our Passover Lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7), the bread now reminds us that His body became the sacrifice to take away our sins (Matthew 26:26; John 1:29,36; Hebrews 10:10; Revelation 5:6-12).
“The cup of thanksgiving” from the old Passover also receives a new meaning. The Old Testament itself did not specify a drink. But Jews commonly used grape drink, which they called “fruit [or produce] of the vine.” Jesus now gives to this “cup” – meaning, this grape drink – a special purpose.
And He took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the Covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:27-29).
Matthew 26 took place before Jesus bled on the cross. Jesus knew, therefore, that His disciples could not take His words too literally. As He used the present tense, saying, “This is My blood… which is poured out,” they could see that His blood was not being “poured out” into the cup, or anywhere else. That literal bleeding came later. So the idea of this drink turning into blood is not found in the Bible. Nor does the Bible teach that we receive forgiveness by drinking grape juice or wine. Rather, the grape drink reminds us of Christ, whose blood brings us forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5).
In the same way also He took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:25-26).
To eat at the Lord’s Table is to enjoy close fellowship with Him and with all His family around the Table. Jesus promises to be with His people always (Matthew 28:20). In this spiritual sense, He meets with us when we gather in His name (Matthew 18:20 cf. 1 Corinthians 5:4). Thus Jesus sits at the head of His Table and drinks “anew” – in a new way – with those who are in His kingdom (Matthew 26:29; Colossians 1:13). Our fleshly bodies drink the product of crushed grapes, and our spirits participate in the “blood of the Covenant.” “Covenant” means “agreement.” In effect we all are saying with Jesus, “We are in agreement. This meal we share together shows that we are fully united.”
Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread (1 Corinthians 10:17).
The Corinthian congregation might have used one loaf while their numbers were small. If their numbers grew to thousands (like Acts 2:41; 4:4), they would have used many loaves. So Paul’s focus is not strictly on ‘one loaf’ or ‘one cup,’ but on the unity declared by sharing the same food and drink. The opposite of this loaf or cup is food that honors demons.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons (1 Corinthians 10:21).
Christian faith does not mix with other faiths. Those who try to sit at the tables of other religions simply remove themselves from Jesus’ Table. Again, an earthly ‘table’ is not the main focus. Though this meal is placed on something, and has physical food and drink, it is primarily a feast of the heart. What if a person physically eats and drinks, but his heart is not right? Paul answers him, “It is not the Lord’s Supper you eat” (1 Corinthians 11:20). The Lord’s Table is another way of saying the Lord’s Supper, that special meal where the Lord reigns and can comfortably remain. His Table is spiritually reserved just for those who leave the tables of their idols, including the idol of selfishness (1 Corinthians 11:21,27-30; Colossians 3:5). This Table is so important that Christians “devote” themselves to it.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). That verse does not refer to ordinary meals at home, although such meals play their part in fellowship (Acts 2:46). Rather, “the breaking of bread” in Acts 2:42 was something worthy of special devotion. It refers to the Lord’s Supper which Jesus commands all His family to eat and drink (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20). People “devote” themselves to something by giving it regular and careful attention. Thus we find both in Scripture and in the early history of the church that Christians met each Sunday for the purpose of sharing the Lord’s Supper. “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread” (Acts 20:7). We too should devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to prayer, and to the breaking of bread!
What if people turn such regularity into an empty ritual? What if willful sinners eat the unleavened bread? God is not fooled. He smells the sourness of their sin. He sees the holes bubbling up from their insincerity. He leads in removing such “old yeast” (1 Corinthians 5:1-7), and He warns the rest of us to live in a way that matches the bread’s true meaning.
Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8).
Thus Paul keeps emphasizing this spiritual reality: Christian faith cannot mix with worldly ways. Only those who are sincerely converted to Christ enjoy this Festival and sit at this Table.