1 Corinthians 11:21

For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

1 Corinthians 11:21 (KJV)

Context

Paul addresses the Corinthians’ conduct during the communal meal that accompanied the Lord’s Supper. Instead of waiting for one another, each person was taking his own supper ahead of the others. The Greek word προλαμβάνει (prolambanei) means to take beforehand, showing that individuals were not gathering as one body but satisfying themselves first.

Meaning

The verse exposes a sharp division: while some ate greedily and even became drunk, others went hungry. This selfishness contradicted the purpose of the Lord’s Supper, which is to commemorate Christ’s sacrifice and to express love, unity, and selflessness among believers. Paul rebukes this behavior, urging the church to wait for one another and to partake with respect and consideration for the hungry.

Biblical connections

Paul’s question in 1 Corinthians 11:22, “Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in?” reinforces that such private eating belonged at home, not in the gathered assembly. The failure to discern the Lord’s body—the church—turned the meal into a private occasion rather than shared fellowship.

Application

This passage reminds us that our conduct in worship matters. It calls us to examine our attitudes, avoid focusing only on personal desire, and be considerate of others. When we practice the Lord’s Supper with humility and mutual care, it becomes a true expression of Christ’s love. When the community behaves selfishly, it becomes a reproach, betraying the testimony of the gospel.

Reflection

Let us approach the table with reverence, remembering the sacrifice of Christ and honoring one another in fellowship.