Communion (the Lord's Supper) remembers Jesus' body and blood given for us. Paul recounts Jesus' words: "This do in remembrance of me" (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The Gospels record the bread and cup at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:19-20). Believers share one bread as one body (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
The Lord's Supper is a meal of remembrance, proclamation, and unity. These King James passages show Jesus instituting it and the apostles explaining what it means.
Jesus institutes the Supper
1. Matthew 26:26-28
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
At Passover Jesus takes bread and the cup as His body and blood of the new testament, shed for many for the remission of sins.
2. Luke 22:19-20
"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."
Luke records "This do in remembrance of me." The cup is the new testament in His blood, poured out for you.
3. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."
Paul passes on what he received from the Lord: eat and drink in remembrance of Jesus, proclaiming His death until He comes.
One bread, one body
4. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."
The cup and bread are communion (sharing) in Christ's blood and body. Many are one body, for we all share one bread.
5. Acts 2:42
"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
The early church continued in the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. The meal was central to community life.
6. 1 Corinthians 10:21
"Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils."
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils. Communion belongs to exclusive loyalty to Christ.
Examine yourself; remember the cross
7. 1 Corinthians 11:27-29
"Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."
Eating and drinking unworthily is serious. Paul calls for self-examination, discerning the Lord's body.
8. John 6:53-56
"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him."
Jesus speaks of eating His flesh and drinking His blood as the way to have life and abide in Him—language many connect to the Supper's meaning.
9. John 6:35
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."
Jesus is the bread of life: whoever comes to Him shall never hunger. The Supper points to living faith in Him.
10. Hebrews 9:22
"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."
Without shedding of blood there is no remission. The cup remembers the costly basis of forgiveness.
A short prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your body broken and Your blood shed for me. As I remember You at the table, unite me with Your people, cleanse my heart, and keep me proclaiming Your death until You come. Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
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Frequently asked questions
What Bible verses are read at communion?
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 and the Gospel accounts in Matthew 26:26-28 and Luke 22:19-20 are the most common.
Where did Jesus say "This do in remembrance of me"?
Luke 22:19 and 1 Corinthians 11:24-25.
What does communion mean in the Bible?
It is sharing in Christ's body and blood (1 Corinthians 10:16), remembering and proclaiming His death until He returns (1 Corinthians 11:26), and unity as one body.
Why does Paul say to examine yourself before communion?
1 Corinthians 11:27-29 warns against eating and drinking unworthily. Self-examination means taking the meal seriously, with repentance and regard for Christ's body.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
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