So . . . what’s up with the whole head covering thing? We need to keep in focus that this is not a male/female thing. How do I know? Because of the tallith. What’s a tallith? I’m glad you asked. A tallith is head covering worn by Jewish men when they pray.
Paul was a Jewish man. So was Jesus. I bet they both covered their heads when they prayed.
So what’s Paul getting at here? I think he is reflecting what he said toward the end of chapter 9 – “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” He is responding within the culture of these Corinthian Christians. Jewish men prayed with their heads covered. In Greek culture free men prayed uncovered. Both were a sign of respect. As the Psalmist says in Psalm 51:16-17, “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” True worship and prayer flows from the heart, and does not depend on our outward form. As Jesus says, God desires us to worship in spirit and in truth.
So where should our hearts be? In humility and in Jesus’ forgiveness. “All things are from God.” We recognize that when we pray with humble confidence that God hears us, loves us and responds to our prayers.
However, Paul is not pleased with the Corinthians because of what they are doing when they celebrate the Lord’s Supper together. He says that there are people who don’t get anything, and others who get drunk! Can you imagine that?
This passage gives us the most detail on what is happening when we come together to celebrate this gift God has given us. It is a section we do well to pay close attention to for two reasons: (1) because of the preciousness of the gift God gives here – Jesus’ body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins, and (2) because of the judgment that can result from misusing this gift – he says, “That is why many of you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.” That’s a euphemism for, “they died.”
This gift God gives is very precious, indeed! When we gather at the communion rail God Himself feeds us with Jesus’ body and blood. That sounds weird, but it is real. In a sacramental mystery we receive Jesus’ body and blood for the forgiveness of sins in, with and under the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper. How does that happen? I don’t rightly know, but I believe Jesus’ words – “this is . . . my body/my blood.” The Word of God does what it says, and if the voice that said, “Let there be light . . . ,” says, “This is my body,” then we should take Him at His Word. What an inscrutable gift! Jesus, the Lamb of God, feeds us with the sacrifice that caused God’s wrath to pass over us, and has left us forgiven, renewed, born again, and alive in Him.
What it the right way to receive the Lord’s Supper? I love the way Luther answers this question in the Small Catechism. He says, “that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: ‘Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.’”
What happens during Communion is all about forgiveness and the effect of forgiveness in our lives. Forgiveness removes our sins and restores us to unity with God so we receive His gifts which strengthen our faith and empower us to lead holy lives. Forgiveness also removes the barriers between us as people so that we receive unity with one another as we profess our faith together, declaring by our eating and drinking that we believe Jesus saved us by His death, but He has also risen and given us eternal life, and we will one day live in His glory.
Remember, this gift is, “for you.”
Paul was a Jewish man. So was Jesus. I bet they both covered their heads when they prayed.
So what’s Paul getting at here? I think he is reflecting what he said toward the end of chapter 9 – “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” He is responding within the culture of these Corinthian Christians. Jewish men prayed with their heads covered. In Greek culture free men prayed uncovered. Both were a sign of respect. As the Psalmist says in Psalm 51:16-17, “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” True worship and prayer flows from the heart, and does not depend on our outward form. As Jesus says, God desires us to worship in spirit and in truth.
So where should our hearts be? In humility and in Jesus’ forgiveness. “All things are from God.” We recognize that when we pray with humble confidence that God hears us, loves us and responds to our prayers.
However, Paul is not pleased with the Corinthians because of what they are doing when they celebrate the Lord’s Supper together. He says that there are people who don’t get anything, and others who get drunk! Can you imagine that?
This passage gives us the most detail on what is happening when we come together to celebrate this gift God has given us. It is a section we do well to pay close attention to for two reasons: (1) because of the preciousness of the gift God gives here – Jesus’ body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins, and (2) because of the judgment that can result from misusing this gift – he says, “That is why many of you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.” That’s a euphemism for, “they died.”
This gift God gives is very precious, indeed! When we gather at the communion rail God Himself feeds us with Jesus’ body and blood. That sounds weird, but it is real. In a sacramental mystery we receive Jesus’ body and blood for the forgiveness of sins in, with and under the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper. How does that happen? I don’t rightly know, but I believe Jesus’ words – “this is . . . my body/my blood.” The Word of God does what it says, and if the voice that said, “Let there be light . . . ,” says, “This is my body,” then we should take Him at His Word. What an inscrutable gift! Jesus, the Lamb of God, feeds us with the sacrifice that caused God’s wrath to pass over us, and has left us forgiven, renewed, born again, and alive in Him.
What it the right way to receive the Lord’s Supper? I love the way Luther answers this question in the Small Catechism. He says, “that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: ‘Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.’”
What happens during Communion is all about forgiveness and the effect of forgiveness in our lives. Forgiveness removes our sins and restores us to unity with God so we receive His gifts which strengthen our faith and empower us to lead holy lives. Forgiveness also removes the barriers between us as people so that we receive unity with one another as we profess our faith together, declaring by our eating and drinking that we believe Jesus saved us by His death, but He has also risen and given us eternal life, and we will one day live in His glory.
Remember, this gift is, “for you.”
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