Is 1 Corinthians 5:8 speaking about the Lord's supper ?

Mayflower · #1 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 02:11 AM

Is 1 Corinthians 5:8 speaking about the Lord's supper ::

"...Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth..."

North Jersey Baptist · #2 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 05:17 AM

Ralph,

In context Paul is writing about an immoral relationship in the church. Paul has judged the sin and the individual and instructed the Corinthians to purge out the "old leaven" so that the lump (the body) may be pure. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is also called the Passover. In verse seven Paul calls Christ, "our Passover." That brings us to the verse in question (verse 8) where Paul tells the Cornithians, "Therefore let us celebrate the feast..." Christ has passed over our sins by his sacrifice on the cross. As part of his body we are to purge the old leaven, the old deeds. Is this representative of the Lord's Supper? Certainly there is an aspect of this passage that can be applied to the Lord's Supper, but I don't believe that is where Paul intended to go with it.

Matthew Henry writes:

Quote:

The reason with which this advice is enforced: For Christ our passover is sacrificed for us, v. 7. This is the great doctrine of the gospel. The Jews, after they had killed the passover, kept the feast of unleavened bread. So must we; not for seven days only, but all our days. We should die with our Saviour to sin, be planted into the likeness of his death by mortifying sin, and into the likeness of his resurrection by rising again to newness of life, and that internal and external. We must have new hearts and new lives. Note, The whole life of a Christian must be a feast of unleavened bread. His common conversation and his religious performances must be holy. He must purge out the old leaven, and keep the feast of unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. He must be without guilt in his conduct towards God and man. And the more there is of sincerity in our own profession, the less shall we censure that of others. Note, On the whole, The sacrifice of our Redeemer is the strongest argument with a gracious heart for purity and sincerity. How sincere a regard did he show to our welfare, in dying for us! and how terrible a proof was his death of the detestable nature of sin, and God's displeasure against it! Heinous evil, that could not be expiated but with the blood of the Son of God! And shall a Christian love the murderer of his Lord? God forbid.