THE LORD’S SUPPER
1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-29
Introduction:
The Apostle Paul states that he received a direct revelation from the Lord concerning the origin of the Lord’s Supper, v. 1. Luke’s account (Luke 22:17-20) is almost identical with this one. He could easily have read I Corinthians before he wrote his Gospel. First Corinthians is dated about the Spring of AD 55 whereas Luke’s Gospel is dated about AD 60-62.
The Lord’s Supper was instituted on the same night in which Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, v. 1.
I. JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES WERE EATING THE PASSOVER
A. Jesus took the bread of the Passover, v. 2.
1. This bread was unleavened bread, Exodus 12:8, “And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.”
2. The prohibition of leaven in the Passover symbolized the haste of their preparation for departure, Exodus 12:11, “And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover.”
3. However, here the leaven represents corruption, Matthew 16:6, “Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”
a. The example of the corruption of the Pharisees, Mark 3:6, “And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.”
b. Therefore it is prohibited in the Lord’s Supper.
4. The Bread, v. 24.
a. The breaking of the bread represents the suffering of the Lord, Isaiah 53:3-5, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4- Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5- But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
b. The eating of the bread is to remember the Lord’s sacrifice for us.
1) The Old Testament sacrifices brought sins continually to remembrance, Hebrews 10:1, 3, “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 3- But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.”
2) The Lord’s Supper reminds us of what Christ has done for us until He comes, v. 26; Matthew 26:29, “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.”
B. The Cup of the Lord’s Supper, v. 27.
1. The cup speaks of the New Covenant (Testament), Hebrews 9:15-17, “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16- For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17- For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”
2. Jesus was the guarantee of a better covenant, Hebrews 7:22, “By so much was Jesus made a SURETY of a better testament.”
3. His Blood was shed for many, Matthew 20:28, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
a. The Ransom == a price paid for the redemption of captives, 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
b. We were under sins withering dominion, and exposed to eternal death, Psalms 9:17, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
CONCLUSION
Knowing all of this a man should examine himself regarding his fellowship with the Lord (vv. 28-29) and confess his sins to the Lord and ask forgiveness, 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”