Matthew Henry

And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved.

“Or, though she might not preach even by inspiration (because teaching is the business of a superior), yet she might pray or utter hymns by inspiration, even in the public assembly.”

For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.

“Others say because of the good angels. Jews and Christians have had an opinion that these ministering spirits are many of them present in their assemblies. Their presence should restrain Christians from all indecencies in the worship of God.”

If anyone is inclined to dispute this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.

“It was the common usage of the churches for women to appear in public assemblies, and join in public worship, veiled; and it was manifestly decent that they should do so.”

And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved.

“For, adds he, there must be heresies also; not only quarrels, but factions, and perhaps such corrupt opinions as strike at the foundation of Christianity, and all sound religion.”

Now then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat.

“They might as well have staid away. Thus to eat the outward elements was not to eat Christ's body.”

For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal. While one remains hungry, another gets drunk.

“This was profaning a sacred institution, and corrupting a divine ordinance, to the last degree. What was appointed to feed the soul was employed to feed their lusts and passions.”

Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?

“Note, Common meals may be managed after a common manner, but religious feasts should be attended religiously. Note, also, It is a heinous evil, and severely to be censured, for Christians to treat their fellow-christians with contempt and insolence, but especially at the Lord's table.”

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,

“Of the author--our Lord Jesus Christ. The king of the church only has power to institute sacraments. The time of the institution: It was the very night wherein he was betrayed; just as he was entering on his sufferings which are therein to be commemorated.”

and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

“The cup is put for what was in it, without once specifying what the liquor was, in the words of the institution. [2.]”

Therefore, 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.

“They act as if they counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith they are sanctified, an unholy thing, Heb. x. They profane the institution, and in a manner crucify their Saviour over again.”

Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

“Such self-examination is necessary to a right attendance at this holy ordinance. Note, Those who, through weakness of understanding, cannot try themselves, are by no means fit to eat of this bread and drink of this cup; nor those who, upon a fair trial, have…”

For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

“They provoke God, and are likely to bring down punishment on themselves. No doubt but they incur great guilt, and so render themselves liable to damnation, to spiritual judgments and eternal misery.”

But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

“Now divine chastening is a sign of divine love: Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth ( Heb. xii. 6 ), especially with so merciful a purpose, to prevent their final condemnation.”

So, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

“Christians may keep Sabbaths, hear sermons, attend at sacraments, and only aggravate guilt, and bring on a heavier doom. O!”

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

“Spiritual gifts are bestowed, that men may with them profit the church and promote Christianity. They are not given for show, but for service; not for pomp and ostentation, but for edification; not to magnify those that have them, but to edify others.”

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

“Shall it hereupon disown relation to the body? Because it is not fixed in the same station, or favoured with the same gifts as others, shall it say, "I do not belong to Christ?"”

But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.

“We may plainly perceive the divine wisdom in the distribution of the members; but it was made according to the counsel of his will; he distinguished and distributed them as he pleased.”

whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,

“So should the members of Christ's body behave towards their fellow-members: instead of despising them, or reproaching them, for their infirmities, they should endeavour to cover and conceal them, and put the best face upon them that they can.”

Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.

“Thus are the members of the natural body, thus should the members of the mystical body be, disposed. Note, Mutual indifference, and much more contempt, and hatred, and envy, and strife, are very unnatural in Christians.”

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

“Only of pride cometh contention. These contests in the church of Corinth sprang from this original. It was a quarrel about precedency (as most quarrels among Christians are, with whatever pretences they are gilded over); and it is no wonder that a quarrel about precedence…”

But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

“But where grace is given it is for the salvation of those who have it. Gifts are bestowed for the advantage and salvation of others.”

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.

“It is the charitable heart, not the voluble tongue, that is acceptable with God. The apostle specifies first this gift because hereupon the Corinthians seemed chiefly to value themselves and despise their brethren. Prophecy, and the understanding of mysteries, and all knowledge.”

If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.

“There may be an open and lavish hand, where there is no liberal and charitable heart. The external act of giving alms may proceed from a very ill principle.”

Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.

“And is not falling into sin the greatest calamity that can befal one? How inconsistent is it with Christian charity, to rejoice at such fall!”

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.

“This living principle of all duty and obedience is the more excellent way of which the apostle speaks, preferable to all gifts. Nay, without this the most glorious gifts are nothing, of no account to us, of no esteem in the sight of God.”