In addressing the Corinthian believers, the apostle Paul emphasizes the gravity of their conduct during congregational meals, warning that eating and drinking in an unworthy manner brings judgment upon oneself by not discerning the body, as stated in I Corinthians 11:29. This phrase, "not discerning the body," carries multiple significant meanings. Firstly, it relates to the confusion among some members about whether their meals were the Passover, diminishing the distinctiveness of the bread and wine through frequent repetition, thus failing to honor the unique sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Secondly, it pertains to the physical, tortured body of Christ, underscoring that without a conscious acknowledgment of personal sins that necessitated His suffering, the significance of His crucifixion is lost. Thirdly, "the body" refers to the spiritual Body of believers, the church, indicating that partaking of the bread symbolizes becoming part of this spiritual community in Christ. To discern the body in this context means to distinguish and show partiality to the spiritual Body as a whole, rather than making distinctions among its members. Paul cautions the Corinthians against esteeming some individuals while despising others within the Body, as such behavior fails to treat all brethren, for whom Christ died, with the highest respect, thereby risking judgment when observing the Passover.

In Paul's instructions to the Corinthian church on observing Passover, he emphasizes the gravity of our approach to taking it. He illustrates that we become spiritually unified with whatever we partake of, stating that when we individually partake of the cup of blessing and the bread at Passover, we become one with Jesus Christ. Moreover, since the whole church partakes of these symbols, everyone becomes one with Him, making the Lord's body a collective noun composed of those whom the Father called and are now in fellowship with Christ through symbolically sharing in His blood and His body. Paul warns that whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. This warning comes in the context of congregational behavior where some were self-centered, despising and shaming others. Observing the Passover in such an unworthy way makes an offender guilty of Christ's body and blood. Therefore, Paul instructs church members to examine themselves and evaluate their spiritual state before partaking of the Passover, ensuring they do not mistreat those for whom Christ died.

The apostle Paul warns the Corinthians in I Corinthians 11:29 that, during the Passover, they risked eating and drinking judgment to themselves by not discerning the spiritual Body of Christ as a whole. By esteeming some members and despising others, they were implying that Christ's blood was worth more for certain parts of the Body than for others. Paul emphasizes in I Corinthians 11:27-29 that failing to properly discern the whole Body in their conduct throughout the year placed them in grave danger, as they could not fully value and appreciate Christ's sacrifice during the Passover. In not recognizing the God-given worth of all others in Christ, they were diminishing Christ Himself, as Paul notes in I Corinthians 8:12 that sinning against the brethren is sinning against Christ. This improper discernment led to judgment, including sickness and premature death among many, as described in I Corinthians 11:30, due to their partiality within the Body of believers. If they failed to judge themselves regarding the value they placed on all parts of His spiritual Body, as stated in I Corinthians 11:31, and God deemed it necessary to judge them, partaking of Christ's sacrifice would not bring healing but the opposite. Opposing Christ by despising parts of His Body turns His sacrifice into a curse rather than a blessing, with His stripes indicting rather than healing. However, Paul clarifies in I Corinthians 11:32 that when God judges for not discerning the Body, it is for their benefit, to prevent condemnation with the world. It is impossible to value the shed blood of the Savior at Passover while devaluing parts of His spiritual Body throughout the year. During the Passover, we must remember that just as we are in fellowship with Jesus Christ through symbolically partaking of His sacrifice, we are also in fellowship with His spiritual Body, obligated to value all its members as He does through His redemption.

In addressing the issues within the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul highlights a critical failure in discerning the worth of other members of the spiritual Body of Christ. In I Corinthians 11:27-29, he warns that whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, emphasizing the need for self-examination before partaking. He points out that eating and drinking unworthily brings judgment upon oneself by not discerning the Lord's body, meaning failing to properly value both Christ's sacrifice and fellow believers. Paul explains that the Corinthians showed partiality and treated Christ's sacrifice with irreverence by not giving due preference to Him or to their brethren. He underscores that valuing our Savior's sacrifice properly leads to valuing those for whom He died, and conversely, undervaluing fellow Christians severely undervalues His sacrifice. In I Corinthians 10:24, Paul provides the solution, urging that no one seek his own good, but each one the well-being of others, calling for a sacrificial attitude that places the needs of brethren before personal desires. This approach fosters unity within the church and heals personal rifts by honoring and loving one another as Christ does.

Spiritual autoimmunity, the misidentification of other parts of the Body of Christ as enemies or the harboring of suspicion toward them, is afflicting various quarters of God's church, leading to tumult and inefficiency within the whole Body. This condition often reveals itself through boastful comparisons between different ministers or groups, insinuations that another member is less spiritual or less converted due to differing affiliations, or leaders prohibiting fellowship with members of other organizations simply for their distinct approaches or administrations. As in the human body, where the immune system can attack vital organs when no real enemies are present, members of Christ's Body, blind to their spiritual state, may presume moral superiority and readily identify enemies in those who merely disagree with them. The cure for this spiritual malady, though challenging to apply, is to focus more on the Head, Jesus Christ, and less on the offending parts. Let Him judge who belongs to His Body, who is suited for each role, and what the Body should be doing. Beseech Him for the vision to see things as He does, including our own spiritual condition. When the Body is in spiritual health, working in harmony without attacking itself, then Jesus Christ is glorified.