What is Communion?
Relevant Scriptures
1 Corinthians 11:23–32
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for1 you. Do this in remembrance of me.”2 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.3 31 But if we judged4 ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined5 so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
Footnotes
[1] 11:24
Some manuscripts broken for
[2] 11:24Or as my memorial; also verse 25
[3] 11:30Greek have fallen asleep (as in 15:6, 20)
[4] 11:31Or discerned
[5] 11:32Or when we are judged we are being disciplined by the Lord (ESV)
Matthew 26:26–30
Institution of the Lord’s Supper
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the1 covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Footnotes
[1] 26:28
Some manuscripts insert new (ESV)
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
This sermon is part of the series Big Questions.