Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper, is a sacred practice for believers in Jesus Christ. It is a time to reflect on His sacrifice, remember His love, and renew our commitment to Him. The Bible provides guidance on the significance, purpose, and proper way to partake in this holy act. Below are key relevant Bible verses to deepen our understanding of communion.
Also Read: Bible Verses for First Communion
Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper
On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus established the practice of communion with His disciples. He used bread and wine as symbols of His body and blood, commanding His followers to remember Him through this act. This moment signifies the New Covenant between God and His people, emphasizing the sacrifice Jesus made for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:26-28
“As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take this and eat it, for this is my body.’ And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, ‘Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.'”
Luke 22:19-20
“He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ After supper he took another cup of wine and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.'”
1 Corinthians 11:23-25
“For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.'”
Mark 14:22-24
“As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take it, for this is my body.’ And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he said to them, ‘This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.'”
John 6:53-54
“So Jesus said again, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.'”
Communion as a Remembrance of Christ
Jesus instructed His followers to take communion in remembrance of Him. It is not just a ritual, but a heartfelt act of gratitude and worship. By participating in communion, believers reflect on Christ’s love, sacrifice, and victory over sin and death.
1 Corinthians 11:26
“For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.”
Psalm 103:2-5
“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!”
Isaiah 53:5
“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.”
Hebrews 10:10
“For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.”
Romans 5:8
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Partaking Worthily
The Bible warns against taking communion in an unworthy manner. Believers are called to examine their hearts, confess their sins, and approach the Lord’s Table with reverence and humility. This ensures that communion remains a holy and meaningful experience.
1 Corinthians 11:27-29
“So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.”
Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
James 4:8
“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”
2 Corinthians 13:5
“Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.”
1 John 1:9
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
Communion as a Symbol of Unity
Communion is not just an individual act but a declaration of unity among believers. It signifies that we are one body in Christ, bound together by faith and love. The Lord’s Supper reminds us that we share in Christ’s sacrifice and are called to live in harmony with one another.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
“When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.”
Romans 12:5
“So it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.”
Ephesians 4:4-6
“For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.”
John 17:21
“I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”
Colossians 3:13-14
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Food and Fellowship
Communion as Spiritual Nourishment
Jesus described Himself as the Bread of Life, emphasizing that spiritual sustenance comes from Him alone. Communion is a powerful reminder that we need Jesus to nourish our souls, just as food and drink nourish our physical bodies.
John 6:35
“Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'”
John 6:56-57
“Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.”
Matthew 4:4
“But Jesus told him, ‘No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’'”
Psalm 34:8
“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!”
Isaiah 55:1-2
“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.”
Communion and the New Covenant
Through Communion, believers celebrate the New Covenant established by Jesus. His blood was shed to fulfill God’s promise of salvation and eternal life. The Lord’s Supper reminds us that we live under grace, not the law, and that we have direct access to God through Christ.
Hebrews 9:15
“That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.”
Jeremiah 31:31-33
“‘The day is coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors… But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,’ says the Lord. ‘I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.'”
2 Corinthians 3:6
“He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death, but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.”
Romans 6:14
“Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.”
Hebrews 8:6
“But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.”
Communion and the Return of Christ
Every time we take Communion, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again. It is a reminder of the hope we have in Christ’s return and the promise of eternal life with Him. Communion stirs our anticipation for the day when we will feast with Jesus in His Kingdom.
Matthew 26:29
“Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
1 Corinthians 11:26
“For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.”
Revelation 19:9
“And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’ And he added, ‘These are true words that come from God.'”
John 14:3
“When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”
Titus 2:13
“While we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.”