Passover in an Unworthy Manner

A look at what it means to take the Passover unworthily and to profane the body and blood of the Lord.

The Passover commemorates Jesus' death and our deliverance from sin. It is the most solemn and sacred occasion of the year. Jesus gave us an example and a command: "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take eat; this is My body.' Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins'" (Matthew 26:26-28 [26] And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
[27] And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
[28] For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

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We are to do this each year as Christ did, on Passover, taking the bread and the wine in remembrance of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:24-26 [24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
[25] After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
[26] For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

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An Unworthy Manner?

But then Paul adds, "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
See All..., Revised Standard Version).

Webster's Dictionary describes profane as "with irreverence or contempt." This scripture is not speaking about the Church member being worthy or unworthy to take it. It is speaking of the manner in which we do it. Satan will try to deceive us by sending us a message that we are unworthy to observe the Passover. Do not be deceived. None of us of ourselves can ever be worthy of God's grace and love. But Christ willingly sacrificed His life that we may be considered worthy. If you are baptized and have God's Holy Spirit, you are worthy and commanded to keep it.

We know that Jesus gave His life that we might be forgiven of sin. He took a terrible beating that we might be healed (Isaiah 53:4-5 [4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
[5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

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We are to discern "the body." "For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself" (1 Corinthians 11:29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
See All..., RSV). We are to give proper reverence to Jesus for the sacrifice of His body.

Body Also Represents the Church

Remember that Jesus' body also represents the Church (Colossians 1:24Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
See All...; Romans 12:5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
See All...). "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:12-13 [12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
[13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

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As members of Christ's Body, how are we to treat each other? Christ gave us this commandment: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (John 13:34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
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So how do we treat each other? Christ hates those who sow discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
See All...). Before the Passover is a good time to examine ourselves: Is there hatred or division among us? Is there a member of the Church you do not love? "If any one says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar, for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also" (1 John 4:20-21 [20] If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
[21] And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

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Christ tells us to judge or examine ourselves. Is there someone in the Church we have something against? Are we hating and devouring each other? If so, we not only sin against each other, but we also sin against the very Body of Christ, as the Church is Christ's Body, made up of the called out ones—those who have His Holy Spirit.

We are not to speak evil of one another. "Do not speak evil against one another, brethren. He that speaks evil against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law . . . But who are you that you judge your neighbor?" (James 4:11-12 [11] Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
[12] There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

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If we don't love each other, we break the law and sin against Christ (1 Corinthians 8:12But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
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In Summary

So we see that Christ tells us not to take the Passover in an unworthy manner—to have proper reverence for Christ's body and shed blood.

We are to judge and examine ourselves. We are not to judge each other or hold grievances against each other, for in so doing we sin against Christ and His Body, the Church.

Remember Christ died for us—He shed His blood that we might have forgiveness for our sins, and He justified us with God the Father. If we have sinned, this is the time to repent of those sins, especially those sins against each other (Matthew 18:15-17 [15] Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
[16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
[17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

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Christ says we are to judge ourselves or we will bring judgment upon ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:29-31 [29] For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
[30] For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
[31] For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

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What happens when we bring judgment upon ourselves? Who judges?

"But when we are judged by the Lord, we are chastened so that we may not be condemned along with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
See All..., RSV). "That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died" (1 Corinthians 11:30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
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As we can see, taking the Passover unworthily and sinning against Christ's Body (Church) can bring on serious consequences. But even in punishment, Christ loves us so much that He saves us through punishment from being condemned along with the world. UN