Disorder at the Lord's Supper

17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

Other Translations of 1 Corinthians 11:17

New International Version

Disorder at the Lord's Supper

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.

English Standard Version

Disorder at the Lord's Supper

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.

The Message

Disorder at the Lord's Supper

17 Regarding this next item, I'm not at all pleased. I am getting the picture that when you meet together it brings out your worst side instead of your best!

New King James Version

Disorder at the Lord's Supper

17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.

New Living Translation

Disorder at the Lord's Supper

17 But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:17

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:17-22

(Read 1 Corinthians 11:17-22)

The apostle rebukes the disorders in their partaking of the Lord's supper. The ordinances of Christ, if they do not make us better, will be apt to make us worse. If the use of them does not mend, it will harden. Upon coming together, they fell into divisions, schisms. Christians may separate from each other's communion, yet be charitable one towards another; they may continue in the same communion, yet be uncharitable. This last is schism, rather than the former. There is a careless and irregular eating of the Lord's supper, which adds to guilt. Many rich Corinthians seem to have acted very wrong at the Lord's table, or at the love-feasts, which took place at the same time as the supper. The rich despised the poor, and ate and drank up the provisions they brought, before the poor were allowed to partake; thus some wanted, while others had more than enough. What should have been a bond of mutual love and affection, was made an instrument of discord and disunion. We should be careful that nothing in our behaviour at the Lord's table, appears to make light of that sacred institution. The Lord's supper is not now made an occasion for gluttony or revelling, but is it not often made the support of self-righteous pride, or a cloak for hypocrisy? Let us never rest in the outward forms of worship; but look to our hearts.