Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper, is a sacred practice that commemorates the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It represents the spiritual nourishment and unity of believers in Christ.
The Bible offers insights into the significance and meaning of communion, shedding light on the profound spiritual truths it holds. If you’re curious about communion or seeking a deeper understanding of this sacrament, let’s explore some enlightening Bible verses about communion together.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Comparison
Bible Verses About Communion
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
This passage describes the institution of the Communion by Jesus at the Last Supper. It describes how Jesus commanded His followers to remember His sacrificial death on the cross through sharing of bread and wine. This ceremony is meant to be done in a manner that brings Christ’s salvation and sacrifice to the forefront of the believer’s mind when partaking.
John 6:53-56
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.”
These words of Jesus had scandalized some of his followers, who rejected the idea of eating His flesh and drinking His blood. However, Christians view this verse as a clear indication of the Communion service, where they can partake in the body and blood of Christ to gain life and be in communion with Him.
Luke 22:19-20
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Similar to the 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, this passage recounts Jesus’ words at the last supper regarding the bread and wine. The Communion service serves as a sacrament that reminds Christians of this moment when Jesus established this New Covenant with His disciples.
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
This passage describes the early Christian church as devotedly practicing the breaking of bread together, which serves as a reference to the Communion service that was at the very heart of the Christian church.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
Paul explains that the Communion is so much more than just a ceremonial ritual – it signifies a true participation in the body and blood of Christ, and by doing so, believers of different races, ethnicity or backgrounds become one in Christ.
Matthew 26:26-28
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Jesus instituted the Communion in the upper room with His disciples, telling them to eat His flesh and drink His blood in remembrance of His sacrifice. This passage is a clear instruction from the Lord to continue the practice of Communion even after His death, as the means of confessing faith in Him.
Mark 14:22-25
And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”
This passage describes the Lord’s Supper in Mark, which is a parallel passage to Matthew 26. It emphasizes the solemn nature of the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine as a way to assure both the remembrance of Christ and the establishment of the New Covenant.
Hebrews 10:19-25
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
While not specifically addressing the Communion, this passage emphasizes the importance of the fellowship of believers and how as a result of Christ’s sacrifice, believers can boldly enter into the presence of God. This encourages believers to continue in the practice of Communion as a way to stir one another’s hearts to love and good works.
1 Corinthians 11:27-29
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
This passage serves as a reminder that Communion should be taken with reverence, discipleship, and an understanding of its importance. If one partakes of the bread and wine in an unworthy manner, they bring judgement upon themselves. Hence, one must approach the Lord’s table with a repentant and prepared heart.
John 6:35-40
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Though the passage is not specifically about Communion, it is a reminder that believers who have faith in Jesus have access to real life, sustenance, and eternal hope. There is no judgment or rejection in Christ, but only a complete reconciliation that the Communion service preserves for the believer.
Luke 24:30-31
When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.
This passage tells of Jesus’ post-Resurrection appearance to two disciples in Emmaus. Although it does not explicitly refer to the Communion, the act of Jesus taking bread, breaking it, blessing it, and giving it to the disciples is clearly reminiscent of the Lord’s Supper and solidifies the theological importance of the Communion as a means to recognize Christ’s presence and work in the lives of believers.
Acts 20:7
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
Here, we see that the early church gathered together to break bread regularly, with the apostles using it as an opportunity to teach and instruct the congregation.
What does the Bible say About Communion?
In the Bible, Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist, is a sacred act observed by Christians as a symbol of remembrance and unity with Jesus Christ. It was instituted by Jesus Himself during the Last Supper with His disciples, as described in the New Testament. The primary scriptural references for Communion can be found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and the writings of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians.
The act of Communion involves the symbolic use of bread and wine (or grape juice) to represent the body and blood of Jesus Christ. During the Last Supper, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Likewise, He took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and shared it with His disciples, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
The purpose of Communion is multifaceted:
- Remembrance: Communion serves as a remembrance of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, His atonement for sins, and the establishment of a new covenant between God and humanity.
- Spiritual Nourishment: Christians believe that through this symbolic act, they spiritually partake of the body and blood of Christ, signifying a deeper spiritual union with Him.
- Unity and Fellowship: Communion is a communal event, emphasizing the unity of believers as the body of Christ. It fosters fellowship among believers as they partake together.
- Self-Examination: Prior to taking Communion, believers are encouraged to examine themselves and confess their sins, ensuring they approach the sacrament with a repentant and pure heart.
It is important to note that different Christian denominations may interpret the act of Communion slightly differently, and the frequency and specific practices may vary among them. However, the core significance of Communion remains rooted in the biblical account of Jesus’ institution of this sacred practice during the Last Supper.