The Lord's Supper: What the Bible teaches us

Bibliaon Team

Created and reviewed by our editors

The Lord's Supper wasn't created by humans; it originates with Jesus, as a ceremony created by him in the company of his friends at Passover.

⁷Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.⁸Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

⁹“Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

¹⁰He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, ¹¹and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹²He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

¹³They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

Luke 22: 7-13

The place of the first Lord's Supper is not known exactly, but we read from the scriptures that it was in the house of 'a certain man', the text also implies that not even the man himself knew that his house was going to be used. Jesus however knew exactly who the man was, as he knew where he would be, the size of his upstairs room, and even that it would be furnished.

The Disciples then prepared for the Passover, which would have likely involved arranging the space for the meal, setting up the table, preparing the food and wine, and ensuring all other Jewish customs and traditions were being followed.

²⁶While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

²⁷Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.²⁸This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Matthew 26:26-28.

When we read the words of Jesus, his commands are clear: take, eat (this is my body), and Drink from it, all of you (This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.).

Meaning of the Lord's Supper

The Supper symbolizes a memorial, a sacred rite established by Christ Himself for His followers. It serves as a reminder of His sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and instills hope for the future.

²³For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26

As we can see in the above verse, the Lord's Supper is a memorial, a command that Christians should not forget that Jesus gave His body, and His blood for all of us. It serves to remind us of what Christ did for us and that we should be obedient to Him.

Importance of the Lord's Supper

The Bible teaches that the Lord's Supper is a highly significant memorial act. It demonstrates our freedom from sin, and death, providing access to the Lord through Jesus' sacrifice and the promise of eternal life. . We celebrate the Supper until Jesus returns, as He instituted it (1 Corinthians 11:26).

The Jewish Passover was a tradition that existed before The Lord's Supper took place. It exists as a memorial to the people's liberation from slavery in Egypt and their search for the promised land. It has roots in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Jesus chose this special moment to not only institute but also command that the Supper be celebrated until His return, making it a highly important memorial for the believer's life.

6 Reasons to Participate in the Lord's Supper

Having understood the meaning and importance of the Supper, let's now explore some reasons to participate in this memorial.

Obedience to Jesus - "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.'" Matthew 26:26
To remember Jesus' death - Taking bread, He gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'" Luke 22:19
Proclaiming Jesus' return - "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes." 1 Corinthians 11:26
Being one in Christ - "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf." 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
Forgiven by Jesus' blood - "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:28
Thanking the Lord for sacrifice and eternal life - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Elements of the Lord's Supper

In the celebration of the Supper, the elements used are bread and wine. These symbols represent Jesus' body and the shed blood.

The bread symbolizes Jesus' body, which suffered and was wounded on the cross and died for us:

"For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
John 6:33

The blood shed on the cross by Jesus paid for our sins and allowed a new covenant between God and humanity. Therefore, the wine symbolizes Jesus' blood in the new covenant:

In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 11:25

Is there a specific day to celebrate the Supper?

There is no evidence in the Bible of an exact date when the Lord's Supper should be taken or any indication of how often we should participate in it. The Bible teaches us to do it in memory of Christ until His return (1 Corinthians 11:24-26).

Some church denominations observe the Lord's Supper weekly, while others do it monthly or annually. Therefore, the Lord's Supper should be celebrated, regardless of frequency, as a fulfillment of Christ's command.

Who should take the Lord's Supper?

The Bible teaches that those who should partake in the Supper are those who profess their faith in Christ, acknowledging themselves as sinners who have repented. They have also obeyed, believing that baptism is also a command of Jesus. Participants in the Lord's Supper also seek to live in covenant with the Lord and with fellow believers.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20

Although the Bible does not directly indicate baptism as a requirement to participate in the Lord's Supper, there are a few verses that provide a guideline of who should partake:

No one should take the Supper without examining their life (1 Corinthians 11:28).
Anyone who takes the Supper without understanding its meaning, its importance, without recognizing that they are a sinner in need of Jesus, is taking it unworthily and to their condemnation (1 Corinthians 11:29).

Some scholars argue that biblical texts such as these formed the groundwork for the early church (1st century) and formed its understanding of who should participate in the Lord's Supper.

What does it mean to take the Lord's Supper unworthily?

The Bible issues a serious warning regarding partaking in the Lord's Supper unworthily, without understanding what one is doing:

²⁹For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.³⁰That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. ³¹But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.³²Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
1 Corinthians 11:29-32

In reading this passage, we can see just how important it is to recognize the seriousness and consequences of participating in the Supper. Each person needs to examine their life, understand Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, and the implications of grace on themselves. They should also think about whether they have lived according to biblical principles and sought unity and communion with fellow believers.
Remember that the Lord forgives those who repent:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

The Lord's Supper is a special celebration, a time for reflection and joy.