Verse 1 is connected with chapter 10. The apostle was seeking that no one might be stumbled by his walk and exhorts them to be diligent in the same way.
Verses 2, 3. He gives them credit for keeping the instructions he had given to them, and then brings before them God’s order in creation—the woman’s head is the man; the man’s head Christ. Christ’s head is God.
In the apostle’s day, as now, the world goes on its way, following its own customs, which are continually changing. God’s order never changes, and Christians should find a way to observe God’s order, and specially in approaching God in prayer or in prophesying. We do not get women commissioned to preach or to teach in public in the things of God. There are many ways in which the woman can serve the Lord according to God’s order in His word. God has magnified His Word above all His name (Psa. 138:22I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. (Psalm 138:2)).
It seems easier for the man to obey (verse 4) than it is for the woman to obey (verse 5), and the apostle explains the position of each. The man was created, the image and glory of God. The woman was taken from his side to be an helpmeet for him. She is the glory of the man, and her hair marked the difference—it was given her for a covering. In putting something on her hair, marks the submission of her mind to God’s order, and is a lesson to the angels. They learn object-lessons through us (1 Cor. 4:9; 11:109For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. (1 Corinthians 4:9)
10For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. (1 Corinthians 11:10); Eph. 3:1010To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, (Ephesians 3:10)). In Ephesians 5, the husband and wife are taken to figure Christ and the church.
The repentant sinner in Luke 7; and the worshipping saint in John 12, both laid their hair (glory, verse 15) at Jesus’ feet. The world’s customs or fashions are apt to lead us away, but our souls should be exercised to do honor to God’s instructions. Even in religious meetings of many denominations of Christendom, these instructions are neglected. The apostle concludes this subject by saying, “But if any man seem to be contentious, we (the apostles) have no such custom, neither the assemblies of God.”
Verses 17-22. The apostle heard or the condition in which their meetings were, and he speaks with sorrow, especially of the one meeting when they were gathered together to break bread in remembrance of the Lord in His death, and this leads him to give needed instruction about this for all time, comparing the present-day usages. We cannot but own how sadly Christendom has departed from what is written.
There was no such thing then as a minister set over a congregation to order everything as he pleased. This is better seen in chapter 14. To set up such, choosing their own teachers, is spoken against in 2 Timothy 4:3, 43For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:3‑4); and this is what we see now. It is called the deeds of the Nicolaitanes in Revelation 2:66But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (Revelation 2:6), and their doctrine, in verse 15, which thing the Lord says, “I hate.”
The apostle could not praise them, but the opposite, for their coming together was not for the better, but for the worse; for first of all he had heard that they were divided in their hearts, and this formed them into schools or parties; but it made manifest some who were approved in their ways, and did not go on with such behavior, for their coming together was not to eat the Lord’s supper. Some were eating their own supper before others did, and one would be hungry, and others carousing It was shaming God’s assembly, and shaming the poor who had no house to eat in. What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this point? I praise you not. Then the apostle unfolds in all its simplicity, and solemn godly dignity, the way it was instituted at the first, and sets it in its own important and solitary blessedness, apart from all other meetings or meals of their own.
Verses 23-26. The apostle tells us where he got this revelation, and who it came from. He was not with the disciples when Jesus was on earth. He had it from the Lord in heaven, and this gives it increased weight for us to see that it is not neglected.
“I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night on which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it and said, ‘Take, eat, this is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me.’ After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood: this do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of Me: for as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come.’”
This should have been precious to their redeemed souls, and make them think of Him, who loved them and gave Himself for them. And in like manner it is set before us to keep us in mind of how our blessed Savior suffered in our stead. We might well thank God, that out of all the sad failure of the Corinthians, He gives us this lasting proof that God the Father delights to have us worshiping in His presence, and the presence of our Lord Jesus, and though the church outwardly is so sadly broken up, yet the privilege remains for even the two or three, as well as larger numbers, if gathered to the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20); John 4:2323But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (John 4:23), and like the disciples in Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7)), we can have the weekly remembrance of Him. Not to bring blessing to our souls, though that is increased where the soul enters into it, but to think of our blessed Lord, and gratify His heart, and be in communion with Him. Paul adds to what the Lord said to Him.
“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death, till He come.” There in it is a witness that the Lord died in this world, was lifted up, put out, and that he will come again. So we go on remembering Him and waiting for Him, and the moment He takes us up, will be the closing of the day of grace and salvation.
Verses 27, 28. Then the danger is stated that whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. The persons are worthy, being true children of God but their manner of doing it was unworthy. So each was to examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup; he is not told to stay away. The word is not damnation in verse 29. There is no condemnation to the believer, but it is bringing judgment or chastening on himself because he was not discerning the Lord’s body; he did not connect his eating and drinking with the death of Christ: it had become an ordinance or form to him.
Verse 30. So some were weak and sickly among them and many had fallen asleep. No doubt they went to be with the Lord, but it was chastisement.
Verses 31, 32. They were to judge their own ways and correct them, then the Lord would not need to chastise them. When the Christians are judged, they are chastened from the Lord. When the world is judged, they are condemned forever.
So now (verses 33, 34) when they came together all were to come at the same time; and if any needed a meal, it was to be taken at a different time, so that nothing might interfere with the object of the gathering, and all should be done decently and in order, with due soberness and solemnity.