There is much to be said about this chapter. First of all it should be noticed that Paul is responding in this letter to another letter that had been sent to him. We don't have that letter but we can see some of the issues that were being asked about. Also it should be noted that this is a corrective letter. That is, that Paul is writing to address problems that are happening in the church and telling how to fix them.
In chapter 11 at the beginning (verses 2-16), Paul is discussing the need for women to have their head covered when praying or prophesying. Because prophesying is giving a message from God to others, the praying in this context is also related to praying for others. This is something that we do in our church as well. When a woman is praying for another person, then they put a covering on their heads.
Paul describes at the beginning that this has to do with authority: the head of every man is Christ and the head of every woman is man and the head of Christ is God. So Paul says that because of this authority relationship, as a way of displaying this submission on the part of the woman (to her husband or father), she is to wear a covering on her head. He says that this is also "because of the angels"(v10), indicating the spiritual battles that are taking place that we cannot always see. In this case it is again a protection for the woman from demonic attack when she puts the covering on her head indicating that she is submitted to her spiritual authority.
Then in 17-34 he goes on to discuss the problems in the church around the Lord's Supper or communion. In this case it is likely that there was a larger meal involved but there was at least the bread and the wine. In Luke 22 we read about Jesus celebrating the Passover with his disciples and in that meal Jesus takes the cup and the bread and tells them to "do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19).
Paul's points here reflect the importance and power of the observance that goes beyond mere remembrance. Paul warns that some have been judged for doing this in an "unworthy manner" (1 Cor 11:27) and that the judgement includes sickness and physical death (v 30). With such a large judgement, comes an equally large blessing for those who participate in the observance in a proper way - the very life and blessing of Jesus Christ. The main problem that the people were having in their observance appears to be that they were not considering others and that some were taking too much and leaving others with nothing. This celebration is meant to be a communal experience for all in the body to enjoy together and God is not pleased when some exclude others by their selfishness. There is also the call to "examine" yourself (v 28) before taking the bread and cup. This examination would include making sure that we are in a right relationship with others and treating them properly, (see Matthew 5:24 where Jesus tells us to "leave our gift at the altar" and be reconciled with our brother before bringing a gift to God). This examination would also include the examination described in 2 Corinthians 13:5 where we are to examine ourself in regard to our relationship with God.
Both of these topics are as important today as they were in the time of the Corinthians.Key things for us to recognize here is that in the Kingdom of God there are two key commands: Love God with all your heart, soul and mind; Love your neighbor as yourself. These issues that Paul is dealing with above are some of the practical issues that come out of these commands.
God wants us to follow him and submit to his ways and live the way that he instructs instead of doing things our own ways. That is how we love him and that the key point of the head coverings.
God wants us to love and care for others as we follow him. We are to look out for the needs of others and that is how we love our neighbor as ourself and that is the key point of the second topic.
Let us pray for God's help to love him completely and to love each other with His love.
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