The Lord’s Supper—also called Communion, the Eucharist, or the breaking of bread—stands as one of the central acts of Christian worship. It was instituted by Jesus on the night before His crucifixion and has been practiced continually by the church from the apostolic era onward.
Biblical Foundations
The New Testament provides four primary accounts of the institution of the Lord’s Supper:
Matthew 26:26–29, Mark 14:22–25, Luke 22:14–20 and 1 Corinthians 11:23–26.
These passages agree on the essential elements: bread, cup, thanksgiving, and the command to partake in remembrance of Christ. Paul’s account in 1 Corinthians is the earliest written record (c. AD 55) and emphasizes both the memorial and proclaiming aspects of the Supper.
Paul also warns the Corinthian church against abuses—gluttony, division, and irreverence—and calls believers to self‑examination before partaking (1 Cor. 11:27–29). This corrective shows that the Supper was already a regular and significant practice in the early church.
Matthew 26:26–29 (KJV)
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Mark 14:22–25 (KJV)
“And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Luke 22:19–20 (KJV)
“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
Acts 20:7 (KJV)
“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them…”
Acts 2:42 (KJV)
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
1 Corinthians 10:16–17 (KJV)
“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
1 Corinthians 11:23–29 (KJV)
“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.”
The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper
Across Christian traditions, several core themes consistently emerge:
- Remembrance — Jesus commands, “Do this in remembrance of me.” The Supper recalls His sacrificial death and the inauguration of the New Covenant.
- Communion — Believers share in the benefits of Christ’s body and blood and in fellowship with one another. Paul calls the cup and bread “the communion of the blood… [and] body of Christ” (1 Cor. 10:16).
- Thanksgiving — The term Eucharist comes from the Greek eucharistia, meaning “thanksgiving.”
- Proclamation — “You proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26).
- Anticipation — The Supper looks forward to the future messianic banquet in the kingdom of God.
Old Testament Roots
The Lord’s Supper is deeply connected to the Passover, the covenant meal celebrating Israel’s redemption from Egypt. Jesus instituted the Supper during a Passover meal, transforming its symbols to point to His own redemptive sacrifice.
Early Church Practice
The earliest Christians “continued steadfastly… in breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42) and gathered on the first day of the week to do so (Acts 20:7). Early Christian writings such as the Didachē, Ignatius, and Justin Martyr confirm that the Eucharist quickly became the central act of Christian worship.
Theological Development
While Christians have always agreed on the importance of the Supper, they have differed on how Christ is present in it. The Reformation era saw major debates:
- Roman Catholic: transubstantiation
- Lutheran: sacramental union
- Reformed: spiritual presence
- Zwinglian: memorialism
Despite these differences, all major traditions affirm that the Supper symbolizes Christ’s redemptive work, unites believers, and anticipates His return.
The Lord’s Supper Today
Modern Christians continue to celebrate the Supper with varying frequency—weekly, monthly, or quarterly—but with the same core purpose: to remember Christ, commune with Him, and proclaim His death until He comes.