TCR Number: The Lord’s Supper 761

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

1 Corinthians 11:26

In this very brief study we are going to take a look at the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is one of two ordinances of the New Testament Assembly of believers, the other being Believers Baptism.

The Lord’s Supper also called Communion is an act of remembrance for all Christians. When we partake in the Lord’s Supper we remember and give thanks to God for the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross. We are thanking God for sending His Son to pay the penalty of our sin and for the new life we have in Christ as members of his body. This is why it is important that only born again believers take part in this solemn act of remembrance.

In Matthew 26 we read that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by the Lord himself. In verse 26 we read that the Lord gave a blessing then gave bread to his disciples and said to them, “Take, eat; this is My body.” We then read about the Lord taking a cup and when He had gave thanks the Lord told them, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:27-28). This account of the Lord’s Supper is told again in Mark 14:22-25 and Luke 22:17-20.

We read in Acts 2:42, “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” During the Lord’s Supper a member of the local assembly will normally read 1 Corinthians 11:23-34. Take note of verse 27 which says, “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.”

Turn to 1 Corinthians 10:16-21. The passage teaches us that the Lord’s Supper is sacred as those who partake in it share the blessing of Christ’s blood that was shed for the forgiveness of sins. The Lord’s Supper also draws a parallel to the Passover. The parallels can be found in Exodus 12:17-23.

Study questions

1. What does the Lord’s Supper mean to you?
2. Why is it important for the people of God to observe the Lord’s Supper?
3. What does it mean to be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord?