Self-examination and Taking Passover in a Worthy Manner

We are fast approaching Passover and the days of unleavened bread.

At this time, we should be preparing for Passover.

We prepare for Passover physically, and we prepare spiritually by examining ourselves.  We prepare for the days of unleavened bread by de-leavening our homes.

Most of us are familiar with this passage:

"Therefore 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. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.  But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:27-32).

We are taught to take the Passover in a worthy manner.  As I understand it, Mr. Armstrong has taught and the Church of God has long taught that this passage does not refer to our personal righteousness or worthiness.  Notice the word "manner".  We are to take Passover in a worthy manner.  This is not referring to our being worthy to take the Passover, but to taking Passover in a worthy manner. It is talking about the way we take Passover, not our personal character or the sins we may be struggling with.

We should be mindful of the seriousness of Passover and our keeping it.  We should be respectful in the way we keep it.  We should be appreciative of what it represents - the sacrifice of Christ to pay the penalties for our sins so we can be saved.  And we should prepare for Passover by examining ourselves.

That is the context of this passage and the long-term teaching of Herbert W. Armstrong and the Church of God, as I understand and remember it.  If I am wrong, if Mr. Armstrong taught something else, please let me know in the comments.

One of the ways we examine ourselves is by studying and meditating on key passages in the Bible that teach us how we should be living and comparing ourselves against the standard of God's word.

Examining ourselves by comparing our conduct with the Bible standard prepares us to observe Passover in a worthy manner because it teaches us how much we fall short and how much we need the sacrifice of Christ.  It helps us appreciate what God the Father and Christ have done for us.

Three passages I find useful in self-examination are the ten commandments (Exodus 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 5:6-21), the sermon on the mount (Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7, and these points are repeated in various places in the gospels), and the messages to the seven churches in Revelation (Revelation chapters 2 and 3).

For more details on the Passover and days of unleavened bread, including the night to be much observed, see my past posts in this blog around Passover season in previous years.