There have been many interpretations of just what qualifies as “unworthily.” A severe interpretation would suggest that any deed or thought in a person’s life that has not been confessed and repented of would make that individual unworthy. Since the Scripture says “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23), very few people would ever qualify as worthy to partake of communion. Plus, this would make our relationship with the Lord in communion dependent on our performance, and this is contrary to the very act of atonement that the Lord’s Supper reminds us of.
It is most likely that what makes people worthy or unworthy is whether or not they have been born again (see note 2 at John 3:3). This would also be totally consistent with the doctrine of grace that Paul constantly preached (see note 2 at Romans 3:22 and note 11 at Romans 4:8).
There were unbelievers among the true Christians, just as Jesus prophesied (see note 1 at Matthew 13:37), and this still exists today. It is a dangerous offense for an unbeliever to take the Lord’s Supper (see note 2 at Luke 22:19).
People who profess salvation through partaking of communion yet do not possess it, because true faith is not present, become guilty of the body and blood of the Lord (this verse). Those people will not be able to claim ignorance when they stand before God. The Lord’s Supper clearly preaches the Gospel.
Therefore, when taking communion, the people should examine themselves (see note 9 at 1 Corinthians 11:28) to see whether or not they are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). It is an individual evaluation that ministers are not authorized to make for others, but ministers should make Paul’s warnings here in 1 Corinthians 11 known to others when administering communion.
Note 8 at 1 Corinthians 11:27:
This warning about being “guilty of the body and blood of the Lord” has caused fear in the hearts of many believers. They fear that if they aren’t just right when they partake of communion, they may be damned (1 Corinthians 11:29). This is inconsistent with all of Paul’s other teachings about relationship with the Lord through grace (see notes 1 and 2 at Romans 5:1, note 15 at Romans 5:8, and note 16 at Romans 5:9).
We Christians do not partake of the Lord’s Supper unworthily, even if we have sin in our lives (see note 7 at this verse). If we truly worship the Lord through communion, we have to do that in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), and our born-again spirits are perfect (see note 3 at Matthew 26:41 and note 11 at Romans 4:8), regardless of how our flesh is (see note 3 at Romans 7:18). The apparent problems with this verse are removed when “unworthily” is interpreted as referring to those who are not born again (see note 2 at John 3:3).
Paul was saying that those who are not saved yet partake of communion are professing a lie (see note 5 at 1 Corinthians 11:26). As Jesus said, “If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth” (John 9:41). Judgment is easier on those who are ignorant (see note 5 at Luke 12:48), but those who take communion cannot claim ignorance. If they partake of the Lord’s Supper “unworthily” (i.e., not born again), those people become without excuse. They are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
Bible commentary
