Lord’s Supper

How the Lord’s Supper Should be Done (I Corinthians 11:23-26)

Paul mentions again his inspiration. The source of his teachings come directly from Jesus (Galatians 1:11-12). Thus the memorial feast was never the idea of men wanting to commemorate the death of their Savior. This was the command of the Lord to his followers. The importance of the command is also seen in the time frame in which it was given. Jesus instituted his memorial meal on the same night his betrayal led to his death.

The solemness of the occasion is established by Paul’s recounting of the event. It is at odds with the casual manner in which the Corinthians had been treating this memorial. The Lord had emphasized that each time it is eaten we remembering the fact that Jesus died on our behalf. The bread represents the broken body of the Lord and the contents of the cup represent the Lord’s blood. That blood was what sealed the new covenant (Hebrews 9:15-22), thus replacing the old (Hebrews 8:13; Ephesians 2:15-16; Colossians 2:13-14).

The elements of the Lord’s Supper are unleavened bread and grape juice. We use unleavened bread because the Lord established his memorial meal on the night of the Passover, which is during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Matthew 26:17; Luke 22:17). Leavening can represent sin, so the use of unleavened bread emphasizes that the Lord was sinless (Hebrews 4:15; I Corinthians 5:7-8). For similar reasons, grape juice and not wine is used for the drink. Wine is made with yeast (a leavening agent), and such was not allowed in the homes of those celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It should be also noted that unlike almost every other reference to grape products in the New Testament, the content of the cup was called “fruit of the vine,” not the typical Greek word oinos, which is translated as “wine.” It appears it was important not to connect the blood of Christ with an alcoholic beverage even indirectly.

By pointing out that the memorial feast was instituted after supper, Paul further emphasizes that this memorial meal was not connected with the Passover, nor with meals eaten to satisfy hunger. The memorial meal’s purpose is to serve as a reminder of Jesus’ death.

Both here and when the Lord’s Supper was instituted, the frequency of the partaking is not mentioned. It only says as often as it is done. It is from Acts 20:7 that we learn that the disciples partook of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week. This then is the frequency it is to be partaken -- every first day of the week. The duration is given in I Corinthians 11. This memorial is to be done until the Lord returns.

In partaking of the Lord’s Supper, it is not only a reminder of the Lord’s death to the participants, but it is also a declaration of the event to the world around us. It is a public ordinance and not a private celebration.

Partaking in an Unworthy Manner (I Corinthians 11:27-32)

Because of the solemness of the memorial, it is important to partake of the memorial in a manner that is worthy of the event it symbolizes. Paul is not saying that the participants had to be worthy of Christ’s death – in reality, we aren’t truly worthy, but Christ saw in us people worthy of his sacrifice (Romans 5:8-11). What he is pointing out, and had been pointing out, is that the manner in which the Lord’s Supper is observed should be in accordance with what it represents. To not do so makes the participant guilty of the death of Jesus.

The Corinthian’s irreverence during the Lord’s Supper had bled over into their spiritual life. Many were weak and sickly spiritually and some had even died spiritually because they had not kept the memory of Christ’s death. Sleeping is a common idiom in the Bible for death (Job 14:10-15; Daniel 12:2; John 11:11-14). It is used because it emphasizes the fact that someone asleep can be awakened again. To the child of God, death is not permanent – even spiritual death. One can be brought back.

If we kept a proper close watch on ourselves (I Corinthians 11:28) and correct ourselves when wrong, there would be no need for God to chastise us to bring us back into line with His will (Hebrews 12:5-13).

Summary (I Corinthians 11:33-34)

Paul’s conclusion is that when the Lord’s Supper is taken that the brethren are to wait for each other so that it can be taken jointly (I Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:21) and giving equal respect to all participants. Meals are to be taken at home. The Lord’s Supper is not intended to be a meal to fill the stomach. If people insist on mixing common meals with worship, God will bring the people into judgment because it is not treating the Lord’s Supper with proper respect.