【双语灵修】圣桌礼仪：分辨是主的身体 Table Manners: Discerning The Body

音频 （11月20日）

“人吃喝，若不分辨是主的身体，就是吃喝自己的罪了。” - 林前 11:29

保罗需要处理哥林多教会一个重要的问题：有些教会会友狼吞虎咽地吃圣餐的饼，甚至喝酒喝得酩酊大醉，没有留下任何饼或酒与其他人分享。

这些初信基督的会友，需要明白这不是主所喜悦的。祂希望他们能以感恩和敬虔的心来领受饼和酒。我们应当记着，耶稣称这饼和酒为祂的“身体”和“血”，祂是为祂的教会将祂的生命作为祭物献上了。

以色列民在旷野收取吗哪时，他们被吩咐不要多收或少收，只要按照他们所需要的份量收取（出埃及记 16:16-18）。保罗希望哥林多教会也这样做：从神慷慨的供应中收取他们所需要的，此外也慷慨地供应别人的需要。

如果不这样做的话，他们就是不“分辨是主的身体”、在吃喝“自己的罪”了。换句话说，当人没有谦卑地思想饼和酒的意义（基督赐下恩典、献上祂自己的生命来偿清我们的罪债）时，他们就是在轻蔑这份恩典、也同时轻蔑了赐恩典的神，他们是在“干犯主的身，主的血”了。

所以，我们来到圣餐桌前时，愿我们谦卑地接受基督我们的救主的恩典，又愿我们怀着感恩的心领受主餐。

祷告

主基督，求你帮助我们去反思，你为我们所付出的牺牲是何等美好和有意义。求你赐我们谦卑和喜乐的心来领受这份恩典。奉你的名祈求，阿们。

哥林多前书 11:17-29

17我现今吩咐你们的话，不是称赞你们，因为你们聚会不是受益，乃是招损。
18第一，我听说你们聚会的时候彼此分门别类，我也稍微地信这话。
19在你们中间不免有分门结党的事，好叫那些有经验的人显明出来。
20你们聚会的时候，算不得吃主的晚餐，
21因为吃的时候，各人先吃自己的饭，甚至这个饥饿，那个酒醉。
22你们要吃喝，难道没有家吗？还是藐视神的教会，叫那没有的羞愧呢？我向你们可怎么说呢？可因此称赞你们吗？我不称赞！
23我当日传给你们的，原是从主领受的，就是主耶稣被卖的那一夜，拿起饼来，
24祝谢了，就掰开，说：“这是我的身体，为你们舍的。你们应当如此行，为的是记念我。”
25饭后，也照样拿起杯来，说：“这杯是用我的血所立的新约。你们每逢喝的时候，要如此行，为的是记念我。”
26你们每逢吃这饼、喝这杯，是表明主的死，直等到他来。
27所以，无论何人，不按理吃主的饼、喝主的杯，就是干犯主的身、主的血了。
28人应当自己省察，然后吃这饼、喝这杯。
29因为人吃喝，若不分辨是主的身体，就是吃喝自己的罪了。

Table Manners: Discerning The Body

"Those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves." - 1 Corinthians 11:29

A major problem the apostle Paul had to deal with in the Corinthian church was this: some members of the church were gorging themselves on the communion bread and getting drunk on the wine, and they were leaving others without any bread or wine to share!

These new believers in Christ needed to learn that this was not what the Lord desired. He wanted them to take the bread and wine with thankfulness and reverence. After all, Jesus called these elements his "body" and his "blood," and then he offered his life as a sacrifice for his church.

When the Israelites received manna in the desert, they were told to gather not too much or too little, but just what they needed (Exodus 16:16-18). Paul wanted the same for the Corinthian church: receive what you need from God's generosity and, in turn, be generous to others.

Otherwise, said Paul, they were not "discerning the body of Christ," and they were eating and drinking "judgment on themselves." In other words, when people do not humbly reflect on the meaning of the bread and wine (Christ's gracious gift of himself to pay for all our sins), they disrespect both the gift and the giver, "sinning against the body and blood of the Lord."

So when we come to the table, may we humbly acknowledge the gift of Christ our Savior, and may we be thankful.

Prayer

Lord Christ, help us to reflect on the meaning and beauty of your sacrifice for us. Give us humility and joy. In your name, Amen.