At the Lord’s Table – Let a Man Examine Himself

Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup…

As we prepare to take the “emblems” week by week, we usually hear our presiding brother read out these words to us. How seriously do we take them?

Meaning of “examine”

The original word Paul used for “examine” in I Corinthians 11:28 he used quite often in his letters in a number of different contexts. He wrote about the “trial of affliction” (II Cor. 8:2). He wrote that God “trieth our hearts” (I Thess. 2:4). He reminded the Corinthians that the fire of the last judgement will “try” every man’s work of what sort it is” (I Cor. 3:13). He urged the Roman believers to carefully “prove” what God’s will s before doing anything at all (Rom. 12:2).

Clearly this self-examination is not something we can disregard. Especially as Paul’s meaning is: “Let a man examine himself, am. after that let him eat.”

You may say, “But isn’t God the judge?” and quote Paul himself: “I judge not mine own self’ (I Cor. 4:3).

That is different. That is the final assessment, our worthiness or unworthiness to enter the Kingdom. We have no authority to make that assessment.

Checking up on ourselves

But we do have a conscience. The word in I Corinthians 11:28 has nothing to do with a courthouse or any ultimate decision. It has to do with the kinds of tests any of us can make, and do make every day. We are interviewed for a job. We are put on probation. We have to check on ourselves all the while if we are not to find ourselves outside the door after a few days. That’s what Paul means.

It’s like being sent to do a job in the country, and going through a check list before we set out. Have we got everything? Am I properly equipped for the job? Have I got spare cash? However many hours an airline captain has in his log book, he dare not skimp his check list.

The foolish virgins of Jesus’ parable never “examined themselves.” If they had gone through their check list, they would never have run out of oil. The foolish ones were, no doubt, just as beautiful as the wise ones, but deep down something was wrong. There was a careless approach to the truth, a lack of real concern. The difference was, when the call came, one set was ready. The other set could only say, “We’re getting ready.”

Advance preparation

When the presiding brother calls us to the Lord’s table, are we ready or only getting ready? Let us not just be getting ready, but be ready, for our redemption draweth nigh. Let’s be quite clear what Paul meant: we are not just to rush to this holy table and take the bread and wine as if it is like any other event of the week. It is special — extra-special. We are to prepare ourselves so that we can have peace and contentment within our own selves as we eat and drink.

Examine, partake

And notice Paul didn’t write: let us examine ourselves and then make up our minds whether we should eat or not! He does not let us off the hook so easily as that! He wrote: let us examine ourselves and after that let us eat and drink. There is a big difference.

So when we do that little test before the emblems come around, what does it show? Old quarrels still unresolved? Old grudges half buried? Old habits partially given up? We can come here Sunday after Sunday and have no love for our brethren, and no desire to serve. We can easily pass the cup to a brother whom we despise in our heart, and let us be very sure that such a thing is drinking condemnation to ourselves (I Cor. 11:29).

The standard

The standard we use for the test is God’s law. God’s law is perfect and converts the soul. No other way will work.

We may have to say, “God be merciful to me, a sinner” as the publican did, but we cannot simply say: “0 God, You are the Judge,” and leave it at that. It is a divine requirement that we exercise our conscience and our free will, and choose to be ready.