March 18, 2022
Central Truth
How we live matters! We are called to faithfulness, but the choice is up to us.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife 1 11:3 Greek gun. This term may refer to a woman or a wife, depending on the context is her husband, 2 11:3 Greek anr. This term may refer to a man or a husband, depending on the context and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife 3 11:5 In verses 513, the Greek word gun is translated wife in verses that deal with wearing a veil, a sign of being married in first-century culture who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. 7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 4 11:10 Or messengers, that is, people sent to observe and report 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 5 11:18 Or I believe a certain report 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 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.
23 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, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for 6 11:24 Some manuscripts broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 7 11:24 Or as my memorial; also verse 25 25 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.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 8 11:30 Greek have fallen asleep (as in 15:6, 20) 31 But if we judged 9 11:31 Or discerned ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined 10 11:32 Or when we are judged we are being disciplined by the Lord so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
33 So then, my brothers, 11 11:33 Or brothers and sisters when you come together to eat, wait for 12 11:33 Or share with one another— 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.
We have a five-year-old daughter Goldie, and it is usually an adventure when we request her help around the house. We might ask her to go grab something simple from another room, but instead of that item we are just as likely to get a Barbie wearing a homemade costume, a special unicorn sticker she wants to put on our face, or a glass of homemade "lemonade" she concocted in the kitchen . . . often everything but what we asked for!
Paul is very specific in 1 Corinthians 11 regarding some important areas of worship and life where the Corinthians were missing the mark. Paul is clear in each section—he explains how they're missing the mark and then describes what faithfulness looks like.
Paul emphasizes his message by pointing to his own life as an example of faithfulness that they are to follow. And Paul is clear–it's not because of Paul himself that he should be imitated, but because Paul is imitating Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1) and delivering what he received from Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23). Paul is a faithful servant, and he is challenging the Corinthians to be faithful as well.
It's understandable, and sometimes even cute, when a five-year-old gets distracted and does what she wants instead of what she's asked to do.
It's unacceptable and always a big deal when followers of Jesus choose their own way and don't faithfully follow what Christ calls them to do. Paul even describes the harsh consequences that the Corinthians were enduring because of their unfaithfulness (1 Corinthians 11:32).
This chapter has some interpretive challenges. If they're confusing to you, I encourage you to dig into these verses with your community. What is explicitly clear is the importance of the true message of the gospel and the fidelity of how we remember Christ's sacrifice in the Lord's Supper.
Let us continue to live our lives in a way so that we can say "imitate me, as I imitate Christ." My prayer is that we continue to spur one another on as we seek, like Paul, to be faithful servants of Christ!
1. In what ways might you be serving God in an unworthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:27)? What would faithfulness in this area look like in your life?
2. How long has it been since you've examined yourself (1 Corinthians 11:28) by asking the Spirit to open your eyes to any blind spots in your life?
3. How long has it been since you've asked your community group about any areas that might be blind spots in your life?
4. What is one step you will commit to this morning? What step will you take right now—send an email, write a text, schedule a time to process with friends, etc.—to make sure you follow through?