Cheryl Schatz

Dave,

I agree with your point and the command to love one another and to love God are the universal commands that are broken when one does not discern the body.

So for the record, Paul does repeat his warning:

1 Corinthians 11:27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.

and…

1 Corinthians 11:29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.

The law of love means that one should wait on your brother in order to have true communion.

If for example you remember that you have offended your brother you are to go to him to clear up the offense:

Matthew5:23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
Matthew 5:24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

The reason to leave everything and go and be reconciled to your brother? Because the purpose of communion is so that we can be bonded together with our common salvation in the death and resurrection of Jesus. If your brother is offended and is not coming to church because you have offended him, it isn’t safe to think that as long as you are okay then you can take communion. We are to bring our brother with us so that he too is free to share in the communion with us. It is the law of love and acted out in the love feast as the body of Christ.

But it is great to know that even though 1 Cor. 11:27 is an example of the law of love, Paul once again practiced repetition so that we can be sure to understand.