守聖餐的態度
哥林多前書十一章23至32節
23我當日傳給你們的,原是從主領受的,就是主耶穌被賣的那一夜,拿起餅來,
24祝謝了,就擘開,說:這是我的身體,為你們捨(有古卷:擘開)的,你們應當如此行,為的是記念我。
25飯後,也照樣拿起杯來,說:這杯是用我的血所立的新約,你們每逢喝的時候,要如此行,為的是記念我。
26你們每逢吃這餅,喝這杯,是表明主的死,直等到他來。
27所以,無論何人,不按理吃主的餅,喝主的杯,就是干犯主的身、主的血了。
28人應當自己省察,然後吃這餅、喝這杯。
29因為人吃喝,若不分辨是主的身體,就是吃喝自己的罪了。
30因此,在你們中間有好些軟弱的與患病的,死(原文是睡)的也不少。
31我們若是先分辨自己,就不至於受審。
32我們受審的時候,乃是被主懲治,免得我們和世人一同定罪。
信息分享
當主耶穌在離世之前,在樓房上與門徒守逾越節,將餅和酒分給門徒的時候,保羅並沒有參與的機會。他對聖餐的認識,也不是從其他使徒口中得知的,因為他在經文中直言「原是從主領受的」。
耶穌當時做了些甚麼呢?他拿起餅來,擘開了,說:「這是我的身體,為你們捨的,你們當如此行,為的是記念我。」祂為餅祝謝──這不單表示祂為了餅而感謝神,更是為到祂能將身體奉獻給神,而獻上感恩。我們經常為到神所賜予的一切而感謝神;但我們有否想過,我們能夠把某些東西奉獻給祂,也是出於祂的恩典,所以要向祂感恩呢?
然後,祂拿起杯來,再次祝謝。祂為了赦免我們的罪而流出祂的寶血。這血是神與我們之間所立新約的標記。無論從時間的角度或立約的性質而言,它都是新的;祂是神所賜下的恩典之約,而非舊約的律法。
保羅提醒我們要以怎樣的態度來守聖餐?就是要省察自己,看看自己有沒有在甚麼地方得罪主?與其他信徒的相交生活又如何?有沒有過表裡一致的信仰生活?守聖餐的態度是否正確?
當我們藉著神的話,以及聖靈在我們心中提醒,去檢視自己之後,若發現有任何做得不對的地方,就必須向主認罪。然後,才可藉著吃那餅、喝那杯來記念主。保羅沒有要求我們,若發現自己有任何過失,便停止領聖餐;反之,他要我們先行省察,然後才領聖餐(28節)。
反思:
主啊,求你幫助我時刻都以守聖餐的態度來過活,凡事以你作為榜樣,過討你喜悅的生活。
HOW TO COME TO THE LORD'S TABLE
1 Corinthians 11:23-32
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
Message
Paul wasn't present when the Lord first gave the bread and the cup to the disciples in the Upper Room. Nor had the apostles told him about it. Notice what he says 'I have received of the Lord'.
What did Jesus do? He took the bread and broke it saying, 'Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you'. He gave thanks for it-he gave thanks not only for the bread, but that he had a body to give to God in sacrifice. We often thank God for what he has done for us. Do we thank him that we have something we can give to him?
Then he took the cup and again gave thanks. He was giving his life's blood for the forgiveness of our sins. It was a seal on a new covenant between God and us. It was new in point of time; it was new in its nature; it was grace and not law; it was new in its provision.
Paul adds a warning about how we should come to the Lord's Table. He says we need to examine ourselves and see first if we are right with the Lord. Am I in fellowship with my fellow believers? Am I consistent in my life? Am I right in my attitude to this table?
Having looked at myself with the help of the mirror of the Word of God and the ministry of the Spirit in my heart; I should then confess to the Lord anything' that needs to be confessed. Having done that, I should go ahead and eat and drink in remembrance of Christ. Paul does not say stay away from the table. He tells us to examine ourselves and then having done so to eat and drink (v.28).
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Lord help me to see Christ and the life he wants me to live as I remember him at this table.

