Our Lord, who knew the hearts of men, served the Lord’s Supper to Judas, one in whose heart the devil was already at work. Not only this, but the Lord also took off His outer garments, took a basin, and washed the disciples’ feet, including the feet of Judas – the same feet that were shortly to go out into the night in order to complete his betrayal.
Jesus did this expressly to provide an example for us. The Lord knew, and said, that not all of them were clean. But He washed their feet regardless. This does not mean that someone can never be excluded from the Supper – as Judas eventually was. But it does mean that we ought not to be so scrupulous over the Supper (on the basis of our clear readings of other people’s hearts) that we wind up destroying the meaning of it.
The Corinthians were chided by Paul for dividing up into factions, and for excluding some of their number from the Supper. He said that when you do this, you are not discerning the Lord’s body – the Lord’s body and the Lord’s Supper are coextensive. Why do we say that the Lord’s body extends to every member of that body, but then through selfishness refuse to send the bread and wine that far?
Of course, reapplying this ancient error, we have taken these words as the basis for refusing the Lord’s Supper to certain parts of the body. Children of God, discern the Lord’s body! Look around you. Look down your row. While you are at it, do not look over the heads of some of the humbler members of it.
God is not a cosmic miser of grace. He pours out His grace upon His people. He is doing so now. Are you baptized? Then do not dare hold back.