The Lord’s Supper | Let’s Who Really Need to ‘Examine Themselves’

Examine Yourself Before Taking The Lord’s Supper | The Real Meaning

There are some terrible teachings out there that Christians need to do a deep review of their past sins before partaking in the Lord’s Supper. The idea is that you need to examine your current status with God because you risk bringing the judgment of God upon yourself because you take the Lord’s Supper with any unrepentant sin.

In this video, we’re going to explain one Corinthians 11:28–29. We’re going to see that the examination is something very different than what many of you have been taught. We will see that this verse should never lead someone away from celebrating the Lord’s Supper.

The Religious Deception: Religion says ‘if you have any sin that you have not confessed and fully repented of before taking the Lord’s Supper, then it can end with God making you sick or killing you’. It says you better examine yourself before you participate in the ceremony or risk God’s vengeance.

The Truth From a Grace Perspective: In this video, we discover that this letter is really addressing an audience of believers that are taking advantage of their freedom in Christ. They are getting drunk and eating all the food before the poor can partake in the Lord’s Supper and remembering what Christ did for them. He had His body broken for their sin. He had His blood shed for their sin. He paid (past tense) for their sin and they are to do this in remembrance of that. But, this is not about God making Christians sick or killing them if they have unrepentant sin in their lives, but rather it’s about people that are not really honoring the Lords super, but instead are using it as a reason to get drunk and eat, and as such are getting sick from drinking too much and others (people, not God) are judging them for their behavior.  

The Lord’s Supper – Is God Going to GET YOU if You Take It in an Unworthy Manner?

In 1 Corinthians 11, we find some heavy verses—verses often twisted by church leaders to stir up fear, as if God is poised to unleash wrath if you take communion the “wrong way” or with some “unconfessed sin.”

Vs 27 – “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”

Vs 28 – “A person must examine himself.”

Vs 29 – “The one who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself.”

Vs 30 – “For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number are asleep.”

Vs 32 – “But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord…”

It’s easy to see how someone could read this and panic. But then we remember:

1 John 4:18 – “There is NO fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is NOT perfected in love”

So how do we unpack these verses without the fear narrative? Let’s dive in.

What Was Actually Happening in Corinth?

Here’s the context: Wealthier church members were arriving early, gorging on food, and drinking so much wine they were getting drunk—even passing out. Meanwhile, others who traveled far were arriving only to find no food left and people sloppy drunk.

This wasn’t about forgetting to confess your sins—it was about bad behavior that disrespected the gathering and embarrassed the body of Christ.

Let’s Revisit the Scary Verses with Context:

Vs 28 – “Examine yourself”

This doesn’t mean dig up every sin you’ve ever committed before you take communion. Communion is a reminder that Jesus already took care of your sin—once and for all.

Vs 29 – “Eats and drinks judgment”

People see the word “judgment” and assume it’s coming from God. But it’s clearly social judgment—from the people arriving to a chaotic scene of gluttony and drunkenness.

Vs 30 – “Many are weak and sick, and some are asleep”

This isn’t divine punishment hurled at them from God—it’s the physical consequence of over-drinking and poor behavior. Literal sickness. Literal people passing out.

Vs 32 – “Disciplined by the Lord”

Important distinction: Discipline is not Punishment.

God’s discipline is loving training for future living—not retribution for past sins.

Remember:

John 3:18 – “Whoever believes is NOT judged…”

Romans 8:1 – “There is NO condemnation for those in Christ…”

Paul Gives a Practical Solution. All we have to do is read the last two verses.

Paul doesn’t threaten them with wrath—he gives clear, logical instructions:

1 Corinthians 11:33–34 –

“So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, WAIT FOR ONE ANOTHER. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home…”

No Fear. Just Jesus.

There is not one verse in Scripture where God threatens believers in Christ. If you ever read a verse that fills you with fear, pause. You’re probably missing the context. Throw a verse at me if you no one that concerns you, and let’s talk about it.

Some will say, “That sounds like a license to sin.” I say the opposite.

If I believe I’m just a dirty sinner barely hanging on, I’ll Live out that identity in my life. But if I know I’ve been forgiven, justified, and made new, I’m far more likely to live out that identity. . And to be clear, I have plenty of flaws and plenty to work on, and this post is not about justifying my weaknesses.

The Lord’s Supper isn’t a fear-fest—it’s a celebration of what Jesus already accomplished. So let’s stop scaring the congregation and start reminding them of the finished work of Christ.

Agree? Disagree? Share your thoughts below