Communion is one of the foundations of Christianity and the church’s culture. The story of the Last Supper and the bread and drink are vitally important to Christians around the world. Jesus Christ tells us to take communion often, using the bread and the wine in remembrance of Him and His sacrifice. But why is it important, and what do Bible verses say about communion?
In this article, we will explore some of the most meaningful and impactful Bible verses on communion, delving into their meaning and significance in the context of the Christian faith.
By examining these verses, we hope to provide a deeper understanding of the spiritual importance of the practice and inspire believers to approach the communion table with reverence and gratitude.
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Communion in the Bible
The New Testament talks about communion a lot and references the Last Supper. What can we learn from what the Bible says about communion, and how can it change our daily lives? If you are a pastor or leader in the church, it is important to use what the Bible says about communion to foster your congregation in its practice of it.
What is Communion?
Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist, is a sacred practice in Christianity that dates back to the time of Jesus Christ. It is a symbolic ritual that represents the breaking of bread and sharing of wine, which signify the body and blood of Jesus.
The practice of communion is observed in various denominations of Christianity, and its significance of it is often emphasized through Bible verses. These verses not only provide guidance on how to conduct the communion service but also help believers understand the spiritual importance of the practice.
Significant Communion Verses
The Bible contains several verses that reference communion and provide insight into its significance. One of the most well-known verses is found in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, where the apostle Paul recounts the Last Supper and instructs believers to partake in the bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice.
Another important verse is John 6:53-56, where Jesus speaks of eating his flesh and drinking his blood as a way to gain eternal life.
These verses, along with others on this list, help to form the basis of the communion practice and provide a foundation for its continued observance in the Christian faith.
Best Bible Verses About Communion
We have separated the 14 best bible verses about communion into three categories: the last supper, communion in the church, and communion-related scriptures. Each category includes powerful verses from the Word that we can use when we take communion.
Just like these bible verses on leadership, these verses can be great for sermons, teachings, bible studies, or personal use.
The Last Supper Bible Verses
The Last Supper, which is the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples, is a pivotal event in the Christian faith. In this section, we have provided the different recountings of the Last Supper meal from the gospels. Each of the different books gives us a different insight into the Last Supper.
Matthew 26:17-24
“On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ”
So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
Matthew 26:25-30
Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”
Mark 14:12-16
“On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for you?”
So Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem with these instructions: “As you go into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.”
Mark 14:16-26
So the two disciples went into the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there. In the evening Jesus arrived with the Twelve. As they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me.”
Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one?” He replied, “It is one of you twelve who is eating from this bowl with me. For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”
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. I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”
Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.”
Luke 22:7-22
“Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”
“Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.
He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”
They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 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. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!””
Communion in the Church Bible Verses
This collection of scriptures is what the Bible says about communion after the Last Supper. For example, Paul mentioned the act of communion several times in his epistles, and wrote about its significance. We’ve also included verses about how the early church used to practice communion and what it looked like.
1 Corinthians 10:14-17
“Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.”
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus Christ 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.”
Acts 2:42
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
Acts 2:46
“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts…”
Communion-related Bible Verses
Here are Bible verses that reference or are related to communion in some way. They don’t explicitly mention communion or the Last Supper, but convey a similar message. The heart of communion is echoed throughout scripture in many different verses.
John 6:53-53
“Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.”
John 6:35
“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.”
1 John 1:3
“That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 19:9
“And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.””
1 Corinthians 12:13
“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1 Corinthians 11:23-24 is often used for communion: “The Lord Jesus, on the night 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.’” This verse emphasizes Christ’s sacrifice.
The powerful message of communion is the reminder of Christ’s sacrificial love. Through the bread and wine, symbolizing His body and blood, we proclaim His death and await His return (Luke 22:19-20). Communion encourages believers to reflect on Christ’s gift of salvation and renew their faith in His grace.
1 Corinthians 11:23-29 emphasizes the significance of communion, instructing believers to partake in a worthy manner. It highlights Jesus’ institution of the Lord’s Supper, where the bread symbolizes His body and the cup His blood. Paul warns that communion should involve self-examination, honoring Christ’s sacrifice with reverence and gratitude.
Best Bible Verses About Communion
In conclusion, Bible verses about communion provide believers with a deeper understanding of the spiritual significance of the practice.
The Last Supper and the subsequent instruction from the apostle Paul serve as a foundation for the observance of the Lord’s Supper in the Christian faith. Communion represents the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and encourages a sense of unity and fellowship among believers.
Through the observance of communion, we are reminded of our spiritual connection with Christ and with each other, and are encouraged to approach the communion table with reverence and gratitude. May God and the Holy Spirit bless you.
More Bible Verses for Church Services
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Comments 7
Good evening Pastor, I would like to learn more & have an understanding about taking the Holy Communion.
Thank You, for more input; on taking “Communion”on a Daily basis. That I may have a closer walk with our “LORD” and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!
I thank God so much for this revelation that I can partake holy communion daily
Thank you Lord …
For many years i thought only at church am allowed…
Be blessed
This was very helpful 🙂 More wisdom and revelation from our Lord Jesus Christ!
Thank you for doing this for us who hunger for more of Gods word and want to partake of communion with reverence.
Like Pastor John Hagee and Joseph Prince, they encourage us to partake daily. God’s blessings!
A message just popped up and said, “it sounds like I’ve done this before and said this before”. I have never been on this site before and this is the first time I’ve written those words.
Thank you for doing this for us who hunger for more of Gods word and want to partake of communion with reverence.
Like Pastor John Hagee and Joseph Prince, they encourage us to partake daily. God’s blessings!
Please pray for me that I more PERFECTLY take holy Communion per ALL of these scriptures, daily, now ad-infinitum, in Jesus Christ name.
Thank You 😊❤️💙 SHALOM,
Keith-Marcellus Jones