To get the proper context, let’s read 1 Corinthians 11:20-22, “WHEN YE COME TOGETHER therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.” 

“When ye come together.”  Let’s go back and read that same expression in verse 18 which says, “For first of all, WHEN YE COME TOGETHER in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.”  Twice in this portion, the apostle reprimands the Corinthian assembly on their coming together.  In verse 18, he rebukes them for the divisions they had allowed to come between them.  This does not mean they had completely separated themselves from each other and created separate church groups, but divisions and cliques within had developed where some were included, but others were not.  His second rebuke illustrates the division where this behavior manifested itself in an obvious way.

Although they had outwardly come together to remember the Lord, or to eat the Lord’s supper, their behavior showed their evil intents and this meeting completely lost its true meaning.  This was not a time of sharing together as their hearts and minds were joined together to honor the Lord’s request to be remembered as He requested in the upper room with His disciples.  We read in Luke 22:19-20, “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”  No, in this gathering, some ate too much, some drank too much, and some were left hungry.  Selfishness and party spirit were noticeable and shameful in this gathering.  No wonder, the Apostle Paul condemned them for such behavior. 

Historically, we know in the early days of the church, the saints would come together to observe the Lord’s Supper and would have a meal together first, or a love feast, as it was called.  As divisions developed among them, the ‘love’ was lost in the feast.  No longer was it a time of sharing before eating the Lord’s Supper together, it was a time of greed, of over-indulgence, and abuse.  How could they possibly go on to honor the Lord when some were drunk, and some were hungry?  Such disgrace!

In the next few verses (23-32), Paul teaches them, and us, the true meaning and the seriousness of this Remembrance Feast.  I encourage all our readers to read and meditate upon this precious meeting and allow the Lord to impress upon you how important this is to the Lord and how it should be honored.

Finally, Paul once again mentions “WHEN YE COME TOGETHER” in verses 33-34, “Wherefore, my brethren, WHEN YE COME TOGETHER to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.”  Paul seeks to draw these ‘brethren’ back into the proper relationship with each other.  They should tarry, or wait, upon one another.  If their only purpose in coming together was to eat, then just do that at home so they would not be acting dishonorably.  (CC)  (698.2)