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).

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).

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 11:27, 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).

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 11:29, 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 1:24; Romans 12:5). "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, RSV).

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 13:34, RSV).

So how do we treat each other? Christ hates those who sow discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:19). 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, RSV).

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, RSV).

If we don't love each other, we break the law and sin against Christ (1 Corinthians 8:12).

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).

Christ says we are to judge ourselves or we will bring judgment upon ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:29-31).

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 11:32, RSV). "That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died" (1 Corinthians 11:30, RSV).

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