(1) It is a great sadness, the realisation that millions of persons young and old alike have not known all the meaning of the observance of the Lord's evening meal. Even among Bible students there are many that can remember word for word what is written about this meal yet the life-giving teachings are often missed or perhaps misunderstood.

The bread, it is just bread. The wine, it is just wine. But what they symbolise is of the utmost importance. To be reminded of gathering together year after year solely as a tradition, are observances that are good for nothing. Neither Jesus nor his brothers are ritualistic. In fact, Jesus himself  spoke of the sort of people that hold fast to many traditions. He said: "This people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far removed from me".

To get a little closer to the understanding of Paul's words to the Corinthian congregation. read 1 Corinthians 11:17-22. To this congregation he said of this meal that they could not eat it, meaning partake of it, even though anointed Christians were present in the congregation. Why? Because they were a divided congregation, and the Lords' evening meal symbolises, or represents, Christian unity.

What was brought to Paul's attention was disunity. There were members there who were comparatively well off, while their brothers were so hungry that they went to this meal as they would any other, to satisfy their hunger. Others also proved they despised the congregation of God by even arriving in a state of intoxication. They thus brought shame upon those in want as well as themselves. If they were truly of God's congregation there certainly would not be any selfishness among them causing some of their brothers to go hungry.

Any congregation in that condition is greatly divided. There should be unity, with no one lacking in any of the sufficiencies for supporting life. Further, and not to misunderstand what is meant, if there is anyone among you finding out (and there should be) among your brothers and sisters those who really are in need, and who does not seek help for them, but gives them only their voice of economic experience, that one is meddling and not walking orderly in the faith, and will certainly end up gossiping. Congregational provision should be available to all those in need.

There is nothing wrong with being well off, except when your brothers and sisters are, through no fault of their own, in need of, and continue to be in need of, sufficient food or shelter or covering or spirituality or love. (Read verse 27). "Consequently whoever eats the loaf or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily" by disregarding genuine needs when it is in one's power to help, "would be guilty respecting the body and the blood of the Lord". Would these things also apply to those Christians who only observe? Yes of course. (Matt 25:45,46). Otherwise, what or why would they be observing? For it is only bread, and it is only wine.

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