The Lord’s Supper

1Corinthians 11:23-27 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 you, as oft as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord’s death till he come. 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. 

‘I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you.’ This was by direct revelation from Jesus Christ to Paul (11:23-34; Gal. 2:2).

‘Betrayed’ [Greek: paradidomi] delivered (11:2, 23; John 18:30; Acts 3:13; Rom. 8:32).

‘This is my body, which is broken for you.’ This is a symbol of Christ’s body. As this bread is broken, so His body was marred and scourged for us (Isa. 52:14; 53:4-5; 1Pet. 2:24). This bread was leavened – for He took our sins upon Him.

‘This do in remembrance of me’ – This is a memorial of Jesus until He comes (11:24-26). After He comes it will be observed in the kingdom (Luke 22:16, 18-20, 30; Matt. 26:29).

‘This cup is the new testament in my blood’ – This is a symbol of Christ’s blood, which is shed for many for the remission of sins (Matt. 26:28; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:20; Acts 20:28; Rev. 1:5; 5:10; 1Jn. 1:7). It symbolizes His blood that seals the new covenant which is based upon better promises (Heb. 8:6; 9:15-22).

‘As oft as you drink this cup, you do show the Lord’s death till he come.’ As oft – daily (Acts 2:46), weekly (Acts 20:7), or anytime you do this you show forth the Lord’s death till He comes again (11:25; Luke 22:19).

‘For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord’s death till he come.’ This is the 10th New Testament prophecy in 1 Corinthians. This again emphasizes that the Lord’s Supper can be taken at any time. Set laws in congregations that it has to be taken every Sunday or only once a year is man-made and without scriptural authority.

‘Unworthily’ [Greek: anaxios] irreverently; unworthy; unfit (11:27, 29).

Eight ways to partake unworthily: By taking the Lord’s Supper in envying and strife (11:18). By taking it to commemorate a mere historical fact, as the Jews celebrated the Passover (11:19). By taking it in gluttony and drunkenness (11:21-22). By taking it in irreverence to God and His congregation (11:22). By taking it in disrespect to the poor and needy (11:22). By taking it in unbelief, not realizing its true significance, and not discerning the Lord’s body and blood to receive the benefits by faith (11:27-30). By taking it as an unsaved man with sin in the life and without making proper confession and acknowledgement of personal needs (11:27-30). By taking it without judging oneself so as to escape chastening from God (11:31-32).