Reflection on 1 Corinthians 12:27-28: Each Person Has a Vital Part to Play

Commentary

So he is saying, listen, church is not all about you. It’s not an individualistic or a consumer thing, but neither is it made up of people who are all the same. Verse 27, he says, “Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.” The church in the true sense is something organic made up of different parts, perhaps different organs, each one of which has a different job to do, and each one is essential. It is not a hierarchy. It is an interdependent body and each person has a vital part to play. So verse 21, he says, “The eye cannot say to the hand, I don’t need you. And the head cannot say to the feet, I don’t need you.” I don’t know if you have certain parts of your body that you are less comfortable with? In the ancient world, feet were seen as a little bit squeamish and which is why do you remember Jesus washes the disciples’ feet and how significant that is. But in verse 23, he says, “The lesser parts you should treat with greater honour.” It’s this picture of the fact that our diversity is an essential part of who we are.