20260603 [새벽묵상] 주의 몸된 공동체를 살피라 Care for the Body of Christ (고전/1Cor 11:27~34)

11:27 그러므로 누구든지 주의 떡이나 잔을 합당하지 않게 먹고 마시는 자는 주의 몸과 피에 대하여 죄를 짓는 것이니라

11:28 사람이 자기를 살피고 그 후에야 이 떡을 먹고 이 잔을 마실지니

11:29 주의 몸을 분별하지 못하고 먹고 마시는 자는 자기의 죄를 먹고 마시는 것이니라

11:30 그러므로 너희 중에 약한 자와 병든 자가 많고 잠자는 자도 적지 아니하니

11:31 우리가 우리를 살폈으면 판단을 받지 아니하려니와

11:32 우리가 판단을 받는 것은 주께 징계를 받는 것이니 이는 우리로 세상과 함께 정죄함을 받지 않게 하려 하심이라

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

11:33 그런즉 내 형제들아 먹으러 모일 때에 서로 기다리라

11:34 만일 누구든지 시장하거든 집에서 먹을지니 이는 너희의 모임이 판단 받는 모임이 되지 않게 하려 함이라 그밖의 일들은 내가 언제든지 갈 때에 바로잡으리라

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come I will give further directions.

                  어제 말씀에서 바울 사도는 고린도교회를 꾸짖었습니다. 우리를 위하여 자신의 살과 피를 내어주신 예수님의 희생을 기념하는 성만찬을 그들은 잘못 이해하고 있었기 때문입니다. 그들에게 성만찬은 그들만의 만찬이었습니다. 교회 안에서 부유한 사람들끼리 친목을 다지고 가난한 사람들을 그들 가운데서 분리해내는 장치로서 사용했던 것이지요. 그래서 바울은 성만찬의 진정한 의미, 예수님의 이타적인 사랑을 가르치고 그들 또한 그런 마음으로 성만찬에 참여해야 한다고 독려합니다. 서로가 서로를 살피고 그들이 주님 안에서 한 몸임을 기억해야 하는 것입니다. 오늘은 ‘주의 몸된 공동체를 살피라’ 라는 제목으로 말씀을 전하기 원합니다.

[Introduction: The Misuse of a Sacred Feast]

In yesterday’s passage, the Apostle Paul sharply rebuked the Corinthian church. They had completely misunderstood the true meaning of the Lord’s Supper, which was established to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus—He who gave His flesh and blood for us. For them, the Lord’s Supper had deteriorated into a private banquet. It became a tool for the wealthy to socialize and network, effectively segregating the poor from the community.

Therefore, Paul teaches them the real meaning of Communion—the selfless love of Jesus—and urges them to participate with that same heart. They must look out for one another and remember that they are one body in the Lord. Today, I want to share a message titled: “Care for the Body of Christ.”

                  먼저는 성만찬에 합당한 방식으로 참여해야 합니다. 27절에서 바울은 한 명제를 제시합니다. 함께 한번 읽어보겠습니다. “그러므로 누구든지 주의 떡이나 잔을 합당하지 않게 먹고 마시는 자는 주의 몸과 피에 대하여 죄를 짓는 것이니라.” 자, 합당하지 않게 성만찬에 참여하는 것이 죄를 짓는 것이라면 분명 합당한 방법이 있다는 것이겠지요. 여기서 말하는 합당하다는 말은 ‘명예를 가져오는 방식으로’ 라는 말로 성찬에 참여할 때에 예수님의 떡과 잔을 명예롭고 존귀하게 하는 적절한 방식이 있다는 것을 암시하고 있습니다. 그 방법이 무엇일까요? 바울은 28-29절에서 그 방식이 무엇인지를 설명합니다. 28절, “사람이 자기를 살피고” 자 여기서 자기를 살핀다는 말은 무슨 말일까요? 우리가 보통 오늘의 본문을 성찬식 할 때 많이 읽습니다. 제가 전에 섬기던 교회도 매달 성찬식을 했었는데 항상 이 본문을 읽고, 묵상하고, 그 뒤에 성찬에 참여했던 기억이 있습니다. 그래서 보통 ‘자기를 살핀다’ 라는 말을 우리는 성찬에 참여하기 전에 우리 안에 고백하지 않은 죄가 있지는 않은지 돌아보고 회개해야 한다는 말씀으로 이해를 하지요. 그 해석도 맞는 해석입니다. 하지만 좀 더 문맥과 상황에 맞는 해석을 한다면 이 말씀은 이들이 성찬에 참여하는 것이 자신과 자신들의 파벌을 위한 것이 아니라 공동체를 위한 것인지 돌아보라는 말씀입니다. 왜냐하면 나머지 말씀이 이렇게 번역이 되기 때문에 그렇습니다. “그리고 그렇게, 즉 그런 마음가짐으로 그 떡을 먹고 그 잔을 마셔라.” 모두가 그 떡과 그 잔, 즉 예수님이라고 하는 그 하나의 떡과 하나의 잔으로부터 먹고 마신다는 것이지요. 이들이 서로 재력의 차이, 신분의 차이, 지식의 차이 등등을 가지고 있다고 하더라도 모두가 예수님 안에서 ‘한 몸’이라는 사실을 네가 기억하고 있느냐, 너는 그 몸을 위하고 있느냐 살피라는 것입니다. 29절입니다. 함께 읽겠습니다. “주의 몸을 분별하지 못하고 먹고 마시는 자는 자기의 죄를 먹고 마시는 것이라.” 주의 몸이란 무엇을 가르키는 말이겠습니까? 바로 주의 몸된 교회, 공동체를 말하는 것입니다. 즉, 성찬에 참여하기 전에 주의 몸을 분별해야 한다는 것입니다. 나와 내가 속한 파벌, 나와 친한 사람들이 주의 몸인지, 아니면 교회 공동체 전체가 주의 몸인지 분별해야 한다는 것이지요. 그렇지 않으면 죄를 먹고 마시는 것이라고 합니다. 어제 말씀에 바울이 이들을 꾸짖으며 했던 말이 있지요. 22절, “너희가 하나님의 교회를 업신여기고 빈궁한 자들을 부끄럽게 하느냐” 어제 함께 나누었듯이 나는 내가 아끼는 사람들과 음식을 나누고 교제하였을 뿐인데 이것이 바로 하나님의 교회를 업신여기고 나의 교제권 밖에 있는 사람들을 부끄럽게 하는 죄를 짓는 것이라는 것입니다.

[1. Examine Yourself: Are You Discerning the Body? (v. 27-29)]

First, we must participate in the Lord's Supper in a worthy manner. In verse 27, Paul presents a serious warning: “So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.” If participating in an unworthy manner is a sin, it implies there is a correct, worthy way to partake.

The phrase "in a worthy manner" here carries the nuance of "acting in a way that brings honor." It means there is a proper attitude that honors and reveres the bread and the cup of Jesus.

What is that way? Paul explains in verses 28–29. Verse 28 says, “Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.” What does it mean to "examine oneself"? We often read this verse right before Holy Communion. In many churches, we use this moment to silently reflect on our lives, confessing personal, hidden sins before taking the elements. While that is a valid application, looking closely at the original context reveals a deeper meaning.

Paul is telling them to examine whether their participation in Communion is serving their own selfish interests and factions, or whether it is serving the whole community. The text implies: “And so—with that community-minded heart—eat the bread and drink the cup.”

Everyone is eating from the same bread and drinking from the same cup, which represents Jesus. Paul is asking: "Are you remembering that despite your differences in wealth, status, and education, you are one body in Jesus? Are you looking out for that body?"

Verse 29 underscores this: “For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.” What does “the body of Christ” refer to here? It refers to the church, the community. We must discern the body before partaking. We must ask ourselves: "Do I view only my close friends and my specific clique as the body, or do I view the entire church community as the body of Christ?" Failing to do this means eating and drinking judgment.

Remember Paul's sting from verse 22: “Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing?” You might think you are simply sharing food and enjoying fellowship with people you like, but if it excludes and humiliates those outside your circle, it becomes a sin that despises the church of God.

                  그 결과가 무엇입니까? 30절입니다. 이 죄의 결과로 바울은 교회 안에 몸이 약한 사람과 병든 사람이 많고 죽은 사람도 적지 않다고 합니다. 이 말은 다른말로 하면, 교회 안에 서로 자신과 가까운 사람들끼리만 모여서 파벌을 이루며 다른 이들을 배려하지 않았던 사람들이 그만큼 많았다는 말이기도 합니다. 오죽하면 31절에서 만약 우리가 우리 스스로를 살폈다면, 즉, 우리가 주의 몸된 공동체를 온전히 살피고 있는지 우리 자신을 판단했다면, 우리가 이런 하나님의 판단을 받지 않았을 것이라고 말하고 있지요. 고린도교회에 임한 질병과 죽음이 바로 이들이 예수님의 몸된 교회를 살펴야 할 성만찬을 자신들의 만찬으로 오용한 결과라는 것입니다. 자 여기까지 보면 참담하기 이를데 없습니다. 이미 이들은 자신들이 초래한 심판 가운데에 있는 것 같습니다. 바울도 이들을 꾸짖는 마당이니 도저히 회복이 불가능할 것 처럼 보이지요. 그러나 바울은 여기서 역설적인 희망을 말합니다. 32절, “그러나 우리가 판단을 받을 때에 우리는 주님으로부터 훈육을 받는 것이다” 라고 말합니다. 마치 아직 올바른 일을 판단하지 못하는 어린아이가 부모에게 훈육을 받는 것처럼 말입니다. 그리고 그 목적을 이렇게 설명합니다. “이는 우리가 세상과 함께 정죄함을 받지 않게 하려 하심이라” 하나님께서 우리가 길을 잘못들었을 때에 우리를 훈육하시는 것은 우리를 심판하시려 하심이 아니라 오히려 우리의 길을 고치시게 하셔서 우리가 세상과 함께 심판받지 않도록 하기 위함이라는 것입니다. 이것은 하나님께서 우리에게 주시는 신호인 것이지요. 그러므로 우리는 어떻게 해야 합니까? 33절 함께 읽겠습니다. “그런즉 내 형제들아 먹으러 모일 때에 서로 기다리라.” 바울은 방금전까지 꾸짖었던 고린도 교회 성도들을 내 형제라고 부릅니다. 그리고 그들이 바로잡아야 할 것을 말해주지요. 성찬을 먹으러 모일 때에 서로를 배려하고 내가 친한 사람 뿐만 아니라 나와 먼 사람도 돌아보고 살펴서 못 먹은 사람은 없는지 아직 안 온 사람은 없는지 배려하라는 것입니다. 만약 도저히 배가 고파서 기다릴 수가 없으면 집에가서 먹음으로 혹여나 교회를 살피지 않음으로 인한 심판을 피하라는 것입니다. 이것이 무엇입니까? 주의 몸된 교회를 살피는 것입니다.

[2. The Paradox of Restoration Through Discipline (v. 30-34)]

What are the consequences of this sin? Verse 30 reveals a sobering reality: “That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.” This tells us how widespread this selfish behavior was. So many were forming exclusive cliques without any regard for others. Verse 31 notes that if we would truly evaluate ourselves—judging whether we are properly caring for the Lord's community—we would not come under such judgment. The sickness and death in the Corinthian church were the tragic results of misusing a sacred meal meant for unity into a selfish party.

At this point, the situation looks utterly bleak. The church seems to be falling apart under divine judgment, and with Paul’s harsh rebuke, restoration feels impossible. However, Paul offers a beautiful, paradoxical hope in verse 32: “Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.”

The word "judged" here actually means "parental discipline" (paideia). It is like a parent correcting a young child who doesn't know any better. When God disciplines us when we lose our way, His purpose is not to destroy us. Rather, it is a sign of His grace to correct our path so that we do not end up condemned alongside the world. It is God’s warning signal.

How then should we respond? Let's read verse 33 together: “So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, welcome one another.” (Or, "wait for each other.") Notice that Paul warmly addresses the very people he just rebuked as "my brothers and sisters." He gives them a practical solution: When you gather for Communion, look out for one another. See if anyone is missing, or if anyone hasn't been able to eat. Show consideration. If someone is too hungry to wait, they should eat at home first (v. 34), so they don't bring judgment on themselves by neglecting the body. This is what it means to care for the church.

                  말씀을 맺습니다. 본문의 소재는 성찬식으로 인한 분쟁이었습니다. 그러나 바울이 말하고자 했던것은 비단 성찬식만이 아니었습니다. 예수님의 그 살과 그 피를 마시며 그리스도와 한 몸이 된 교회. 그렇다면 우리는 서로 다르더라도 때로는 이해할 수 없을지라도 한 몸으로서 서로를 살펴야 하는 것입니다. 만약 아직도 나의 식구들만을 챙기고 있었다면 지금이 기회일지 모릅니다. 하나님의 훈육이 임하기 전에 공동체를 돌아보시며 주님의 몸을 분별하는 여러분 되시기를 주님의 이름으로 축원합니다.

[Conclusion: Discerning the Whole Body]

The immediate issue in this text was a conflict over a fellowship meal. However, Paul’s message goes far beyond the logistics of Communion. The Church is a community that has become one body with Christ by partaking of His flesh and blood. Therefore, even if we are different, and even if we occasionally misunderstand one another, we must look out for each other as one body.

If you have only been looking out for your immediate "family" or your comfortable circle of friends, today is your opportunity to change. Before God has to bring heavy discipline, let us look around at the entire community, discern the true body of Christ, and extend our hearts to those on the margins.

Let us pray.