The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper

The institution of the Lord’s Supper is found in Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25 and Luke 22:19ff. The Christians of the first century observed it weekly (Acts 20:7). Knowing its significance and observing it properly are most important (1 Corinthians 11:27). The Lord’s Supper is a dedication (1 Corinthians 11:25), “this cup is the new covenant in My blood.” Further, it is a proclamation (1 Corinthians 11:26a), “you proclaim the Lord’s death.” The Lord’s Supper is also an anticipation (1 Corinthians 11:26b), “you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

The inclination to forget is common to everyone (Deuteronomy 6:12; Jeremiah 2:32; 2 Peter 1:13-15). Forgetting is easy; thus, the admonition to remember appears often in Scripture (Ecclesiastes 12:1). God gave us the Lord’s Supper so we would not forget to dedicate (give God one’s all), proclaim (make known the Christ) and anticipate (long for Jesus’ return).