In Matthew 26, Jesus and His disciples observed the Passover meal. Jesus used this time to institute the Lord’s Supper.
He took two elements of the Passover meal – unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine – and assigned meaning to them that have significance to God’s children under the new covenant.
Jesus first took the unleavened “bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body’” (verse 26).
Jesus next “took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to [His disciples], saying, ‘Drink ye all of it’” (verse 27).
While the bread represents Christ’s body, the cup (“fruit of the vine” – verse 29) represents Christ’s blood, which was shed for us (verse 28).
“The Lord’s Supper” (1 Cor. 11:20) is also sometimes called the “breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42) or “communion”
(1 Cor. 10:16). Soon after the church was established, Christians steadfastly observed this memorial (Acts 2:42).
The disciples at Troas “came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7), a phrase which, in this context, refers to the Lord’s Supper. Notice who partook of the Lord’s Supper – “the disciples” at Troas. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial for all Christians to observe.
Christians are to observe this in remembrance of what Christ has done for us (1 Cor. 11:24-25).
The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of the new covenant, which was sealed with Jesus’ blood (1 Cor. 11:25).
The Lord’s Supper is also a proclamation to the world of Christ’s death. Notice 1 Corinthians 11:26: For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come.
The Lord’s Supper is a time of fellowship with Christ and with fellow brethren (cf. 1 Cor. 10:16-17). Jesus promised to (spiritually) be with His disciples when we partake (Matt. 26:29).
Christians should observe this memorial as God instructs. For instance, the New Testament pattern shows the day the Lord’s Supper is to be observed. Notice the phrase “upon the first day of the week” in Acts 20:7. This specifies when early Christians partook of the Lord’s Supper.
The church at Corinth provided an example of not following God’s pattern for this memorial (1 Cor. 11:17). Two key problems brought out in their observance of the Lord’s Supper are (1) a divisive spirit (verse 21), and (2) turning the memorial into a common meal (verse 22). They were exhorted to have a spirit of unity (cf. verse 33), and they were told that the time they assembled to carry out the work of the church was not the time to be eating a common meal (verse 34).
The Corinthians were told to examine how they partook of the Lord’s Supper (verse 28). Christians today should do the same. If one does not partake correctly, he or she may be guilty of partaking “unworthily” (verses 27, 29).
Partaking unworthily leads one to “be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord” (verse 27), showing disrespect toward the One whose body and blood the emblems represent. Partaking unworthily also leads one to bring condemnation on him or herself (verse 29), causing spiritual weakness, spiritual sickness, and spiritual death (verse 30).
Partaking unworthily does not refer to one partaking who is not deserving of Christ’s sacrifice. If this were the case, no one could partake worthily.
Rather, partaking unworthily refers to the manner in which we partake. We must not pervert Christ’s design.
If we follow God’s pattern for why, how, and when we partake, the Lord’s Supper will be a great blessing to Christians.
May we take the Lord’s Supper seriously, follow God’s pattern, and never forget what this memorial is all about.
– Michael Hickox