If God"s people do not judge their own sins themselves, God will judge them. This judgment may involve physical illness or even, in extreme cases, premature physical death (cf. Acts 5; 1 John 5:16). [source][source][source]
Context Summary
1 Corinthians 11:23-34 - Observing The Lord's Supper
There was much disorder in the Corinthian church, because the love-feast, which preceded the Holy Supper, was the scene of riot and conviviality, of ostentation and jealousy. In the love-feast of the early Church each brought his own supply of food, which was put into a common stock and shared by all alike; but at Corinth each family or group retained their own provisions, and a great distinction was thus made between rich and poor. This caused much heart-burning and was unworthy of Christians.
Note that the Apostle received the words of institution by direct revelation. The Lord's Supper is intended not only to commemorate the supreme act of Calvary, but to enable us spiritually to incorporate into ourselves the very life and death of Jesus, so that we may truly be crucified with Him and nevertheless live. "That I may know Him and the fellowship of His sufferings." We are liable to condemnation if we do not recognize the Body of Christ-that is, the Church-the unity of which is disturbed and obscured when there is dissension. If we judge ourselves, we escape the judgment and chastisement of the Almighty. [source]
Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 11
1He reproves them, because in holy assemblies, 4their men prayed with their heads covered, 6and women with their heads uncovered; 17and because generally their meetings were not for the better, but for the worse; 21as, namely, in profaning with their own feast the Lord's supper 25Lastly, he calls them to the first institution thereof
Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 11:31
But if we discerned ourselves [ει δε εαυτους διεκρινομεν] This condition of the second class, determined as unfulfilled, assumes that they had not been judging themselves discriminatingly, else they would not be judged Note distinction in the two verbs. [source]
We would judge [διεκρίνομεν] An illustration of the confusion in rendering referred to under 1 Corinthians 11:29. This is the same word as discerning in 1 Corinthians 11:29, but the A.V. recognizes no distinction between it, and judged ( ἐκρινόμεθα ) immediately following. Render, as Rev., if we discerned ourselves; i.e., examined and formed a right estimate. [source]
We should not be judged [οὐκ ἀν ἐκρινόμεθα] By God. Here judged is correct. A proper self-examination would save us from the divine judgment. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 11:31
Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 11:31
This condition of the second class, determined as unfulfilled, assumes that they had not been judging themselves discriminatingly, else they would not be judged Note distinction in the two verbs. [source]
An illustration of the confusion in rendering referred to under 1 Corinthians 11:29. This is the same word as discerning in 1 Corinthians 11:29, but the A.V. recognizes no distinction between it, and judged ( ἐκρινόμεθα ) immediately following. Render, as Rev., if we discerned ourselves; i.e., examined and formed a right estimate. [source]
By God. Here judged is correct. A proper self-examination would save us from the divine judgment. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 11:31
Examined and judged. The word implies inquiry rather than sentence. Each inspired speaker, in his heart-searching utterances, shall start questions which shall reveal the hearer to himself. See on discerned, 1 Corinthians 2:14. On the compounds of κρίνω , see on 1 Corinthians 11:29, 1 Corinthians 11:31, 1 Corinthians 11:32. [source]