The Lord's Supper

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: "Take, eat; this is My + body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me."

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: "Drink of it, all of you; this is My + blood of the new testament, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

The Lord's Supper, the Lord's Table, Holy Communion

the Breaking of Bread, the Eucharist

Jesus gave us a great and wonderful gift in this Sacrament.  It is something that we need to treat with great respect and follow His directions, for this is His Supper.  There is a warning with this Sacrament:

Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.  A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.  For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.  (1 Corinthians 11:27-29)

Let's start with the same question with which we began our look at Baptism (the other Sacrament).

WHAT ARE ITS BENEFITS?

The chief blessing of the Sacrament is the forgiveness of sins which Christ's body and blood have won for us on the cross.

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  (Matthew 26:28)

You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  (1 Peter 1:18-19)

He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.  (Colossians 1:22)

... the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  (1 John 1:7)

Together with forgiveness, God gives all other blessings as well, that is, "life and salvation."

"We must never regard the Sacrament as a harmful thing from which we should flee, but as a pure, wholesome, soothing medicine which aids and quickens us in both soul and body.  For where the soul is healed, the body has benefited also" (Large Catechism V 68).

"We are talking about the presence of the living Christ, knowing that 'death no longer has dominion over Him' [Romans 6:9]" (Apology to the Augsburg Confession X 4).

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.  (Romans 6:8-9)

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  (Romans 8:31-32)

In the Sacrament Christ gives us victory over sin and hell and strength for the new life in Him.

But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.  (Romans 8:10)

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.  (1 Peter 2:24)

As Christians partake of this Sacrament together, they make a solemn public confession of Christ and of unity in the truth of His Gospel.

Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.  (1 Corinthians 10:17)

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.  (1 Corinthians 11:26)

WHO NEEDS THE LORD'S SUPPER?

Remember the words from St. Paul, written to the church at Corinth:

A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.  (1 Corinthians 11:28)

We are to examine ourselves to see whether we are sorry for our sins.

Are you a sinner?  Only sinners need come to this meal.  Jesus instituted this Sacrament expressly for "the forgiveness of our sins."  Does your sin bother you?  Jesus gives the cure for our sins in this Sacrament.

I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.  (Psalms 38:18)

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern...  (2 Corinthians 7:10-11)

We are to examine ourselves to see whether we believe in our Savior Jesus Christ and in His words in the Sacrament.

Jesus is the only way for us to be saved!  There is an old saying, "All roads lead to Rome" - not so when it comes to salvation.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  (John 14:6)

[Jesus said:] "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  (John 3:16)

Will we take Him at His word?  Let us cling to His promises, for the are sure and certain!

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."  (Luke 22:19-20)

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.  (2 Corinthians 13:5)

We are to examine ourselves to see whether we plan, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to change our sinful lives.

Attempt to change our sinful life?  Left to our own devices, schemes and strength we would fail miserably!  Our enemies (the devil, the world, our sinful nature) know us far too well.  But remember: "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you (from the moment of your Baptism) is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).  With God's help all things are possible!

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.  (Ephesians 4:22-24)

What if I am weak in faith?  Should I come to the Lord's Table?  Christ instituted the Sacrament for the very purpose of strengthening and increasing our faith!

... "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"  (Mark 9:24)

[Jesus said:] "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."  (John 6:37)

WHO MUST NOT BE GIVEN THE SACRAMENT?

The Sacrament must not be given to those who are openly ungodly and unrepentant, including those who take part in non-Christian religious worship.

If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.  (Matthew 6:15)

You must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. ... "Expel the wicked man from among you."  (1 Corinthians 5:11,13)

The sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons.  (1 Corinthians 10:20-21)

The Sacrament must not be given to those who are unforgiving, refusing to be reconciled.  They show thereby that they do not really believe that God forgives them either.

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  (Matthew 6:12 - the Lord's Prayer)

If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.  (Matthew 6:15)

The Sacrament must not be given to those of a different confession of faith, since the Lord's Supper is a testimony of unity of faith.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  (Acts 2:42)

Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.  (1 Corinthians 10:17)

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.  (1 Corinthians 11:26)

I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.  (Romans 16:17)

The Sacrament must not be given to those who are unable to examine themselves, such as infants, people who have not received proper instruction, or the unconscious.

A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.  (1 Corinthians 11:28)

For further reading on the Lord's Supper:

What About?

Essays and pamphlets explaining Lutheran Beliefs about various subjects, including the Lord's Supper

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society.

Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.