The Lord’s Supper (also known as Communion) is a staple in many churches. The most common way to perform this tradition is to quote the words of our Lord from the Gospels while eating a wafer and drinking a thimble full of grape juice at church.
It is important for all believers to understand traditions and to discern whether they are Biblical. That is what we are going to look at in this study of Communion.
The Lord’s Supper can be found in Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 13. The Bible tells us in Exodus 12:3-10 that the Passover meal consists of:
1) A roasted male lamb
2) Unleavened bread
3) Bitter herbs
Notice that this is a full meal consisting of meat, bread, and vegetables. Also, please notice that Jesus and the Apostles prayed (Lk. 22:19), sang (Matt. 26:30), and had conversations (Lk. 22:21-39). This was a dinner in the truest sense.
There is a deep meaning in remembering the Lord’s Supper. The Apostle Paul spoke about Communion in his letter to the Corinthian church:
“When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 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. 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. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.” – 1 Corinthians 11:20-34
The Apostle started off by telling the Corinthians that they were not correctly observing the Lord’s Supper (v20). These brethren were bringing food for themselves and not sharing while others were getting drunk (v21). Jesus wanted us to have Communion in His honor as a reminder of His finished work on the cross (v25) and that He will come again (v26).
Remembering and rejoicing what God did for us over a meal with our brethren should be a beautiful time of fellowship – not a ritual or a worldly party!
Communion is also only for believers. Verses 26 and 27 state “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”. Those that are found guilty are unbelievers (Rom. 2:16, Rev. 21:8).
Before we partake in the Lord’s Supper, we are to examine our faith and see if we truly are saved through the Gospel (v28 & 29, 2 Cor. 13:5, 1 Cor. 15:1-4).
The Apostle Paul stated that there are repercussions for participating in Communion for the unsaved. By not discerning the Lord’s body and what Jesus Christ did for us, the unsaved participants are physically damning themselves becoming weak and sickly, and even dying (v30). We must remember that God is gracious and slow to anger (Ps. 145:8). He wants us all to come to Him for salvation (2 Peter 3:9). This verse isn’t promising an instant punishment for an unsaved person that partakes in the Lord’s Supper, but rather, is showing the result of what Paul told the Galatians:
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” – Galatians 6:7-8
Paul followed up his warning with encouragement:
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” – 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
God’s patience gives us time to accept His salvation through the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4). If an unbeliever joined believers in Communion and became sick, but later believed the Gospel, then they can rejoice that they will no longer be condemned with the world (v32, Rom. 2:16)!
Paul started his discussion of the Lord’s Supper by talking about people going hungry during these gatherings (v21). Instead of believers bringing food only for themselves, we should all contribute to the meal (v33). In modern terms, Communion should be a potluck. When we look at all of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16), then we see that Communion is a meal shared by Christians that are remembering what Jesus Christ did for us and that He will be coming back.