Looking for a meaningful way to commemorate communion? Look no further than these beautiful Last Supper scripture verses! The Gospels and Early Church Epistles speak frequently of the Last Supper and how Christians should commemorate with a regular ongoing observance of the Lord’s Supper.
Communion Scriptures
- 1 Corinthians 10:16 Paul tells the Early Church the importance of Communion in this Bible verse.
- Acts 20:7 Luke the Evangelist describes how the Early Christians would meet together on Sunday morning to share the Lord’s Supper.
- 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 This Scripture passage describes the Lord’s Supper and how Christians should recieve communion with holy respect.
- John 6:35 This Bible verse about the Lord’s Supper is often written on the communion table or box containing the Eucharist bread.
- Matthew 4:4 Jesus says man shall not live by bread alone in this scripture often connected to the sacramental bread of Communion.
- Mark 14:22-26 In this Bible passage, Mark describes the events of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. This scripture is often read in church services where the Lord’s Supper is observed.
- Acts 2:42 The early church Christians took the Lord’s Supper frequently according to this verse in Acts.
- Matthew 26:26-29 KJV Lord’s Supper Scriptures
- John 6:53-58 Jesus describes eating his flesh and drinking his blood, this teaching points to the Lord’s Supper as essential for Christians.
- FAQ about the Lord’s Supper in the Bible
- More Bible Study Reference on Communion in the Scriptures
1 Corinthians 10:16 Paul tells the Early Church the importance of Communion in this Bible verse.
1 Corinthians 10:16
(ESV) 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?
(KJV) The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
(MSG) When we drink the cup of blessing, aren’t we taking into ourselves the blood, the very life, of Christ? And isn’t it the same with the loaf of bread we break and eat? Don’t we take into ourselves the body, the very life, of Christ?
(NIV) 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?
(NLT) 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?
Acts 20:7 Luke the Evangelist describes how the Early Christians would meet together on Sunday morning to share the Lord’s Supper.
Acts 20:7
(ESV) 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.
(KJV) And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
(MSG) We met on Sunday to worship and celebrate the Master’s Supper. Paul addressed the congregation. Our plan was to leave first thing in the morning, but Paul talked on, way past midnight.
(NIV) On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.
(NLT) On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight.
1 Corinthians 11:23-29 This Scripture passage describes the Lord’s Supper and how Christians should recieve communion with holy respect.
1 Corinthians 11:23
(ESV) 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,
(KJV) For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
(MSG) Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord’s Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread.
(NIV) For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
(NLT) 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
1 Corinthians 11:24
(ESV) 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.”
(KJV) And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
(MSG) Having given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me.
(NIV) 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.”
(NLT) 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.”
1 Corinthians 11:25
(ESV) 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.”
(KJV) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
(MSG) After supper, he did the same thing with the cup: This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you. Each time you drink this cup, remember me.
(NIV) In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
(NLT) 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.”
1 Corinthians 11:26
(ESV) For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
(KJV) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
(MSG) What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.
(NIV) For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
(NLT) For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
1 Corinthians 11:27
(ESV) 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.
(KJV) Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
(MSG) Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of “remembrance” you want to be part of?
(NIV) So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
(NLT) 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.
1 Corinthians 11:28
(ESV) Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
(KJV) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
(MSG) Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.
(NIV) Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.
(NLT) That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.
1 Corinthians 11:29
(ESV) For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
(KJV) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
(MSG) If you give no thought (or worse, don’t care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you’re running the risk of serious consequences.
(NIV) For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
(NLT) 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.
John 6:35 This Bible verse about the Lord’s Supper is often written on the communion table or box containing the Eucharist bread.
John 6:35
(ESV) 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.
(KJV) And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
(MSG) Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever.
(NIV) Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
(NLT) 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.
Matthew 4:4 Jesus says man shall not live by bread alone in this scripture often connected to the sacramental bread of Communion.
Matthew 4:4
(ESV) But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
(KJV) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
(MSG) Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”
(NIV) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
(NLT) 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.’”
Mark 14:22-26 In this Bible passage, Mark describes the events of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. This scripture is often read in church services where the Lord’s Supper is observed.
Mark 14:22
(ESV) 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.”
(KJV) And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
(MSG) In the course of their meal, having taken and blessed the bread, he broke it and gave it to them. Then he said, Take, this is my body.
(NIV) While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”
(NLT) 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.”
Mark 14:23
(ESV) And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.
(KJV) And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
(MSG) Taking the chalice, he gave it to them, thanking God, and they all drank from it.
(NIV) Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
(NLT) 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.
Mark 14:24
(ESV) And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
(KJV) And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
(MSG) He said, This is my blood, God’s new covenant, Poured out for many people.
(NIV) “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.
(NLT) 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.
Mark 14:25
(ESV) Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
(KJV) Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
(MSG) “I’ll not be drinking wine again until the new day when I drink it in the kingdom of God.”
(NIV) “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
(NLT) I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”
Mark 14:26
(ESV) And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
(KJV) And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
(MSG) They sang a hymn and then went directly to Mount Olives.
(NIV) When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
(NLT) Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Acts 2:42 The early church Christians took the Lord’s Supper frequently according to this verse in Acts.
Acts 2:42
(ESV) And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
(KJV) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
(MSG) They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.
(NIV) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
(NLT) All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
Matthew 26:26-29 KJV Lord’s Supper Scriptures
Institution of the Lord’s Supper King James Version
Matthew 26:26-29 KJV And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. (27) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; (28) For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (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.
Luke 22:14-23 KJV And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. (15) And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: (16) For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. (17) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: (18) For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. (19) And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (20) Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (21) But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. (22) And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! (23) And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
John 6:53-58 Jesus describes eating his flesh and drinking his blood, this teaching points to the Lord’s Supper as essential for Christians.
John 6:53
(ESV) 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.
(KJV) Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
(MSG) But Jesus didn’t give an inch. “Only insofar as you eat and drink flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of the Son of Man, do you have life within you.
(NIV) 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.
(NLT) 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.
John 6:54
(ESV) Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
(KJV) Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
(MSG) The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the Final Day.
(NIV) Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
(NLT) But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.
John 6:55
(ESV) For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
(KJV) For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
(MSG) My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
(NIV) For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
(NLT) For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
John 6:56
(ESV) Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
(KJV) He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
(MSG) By eating my flesh and drinking my blood you enter into me and I into you.
(NIV) Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.
(NLT) Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
John 6:57
(ESV) As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.
(KJV) As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
(MSG) In the same way that the fully alive Father sent me here and I live because of him, so the one who makes a meal of me lives because of me.
(NIV) Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
(NLT) I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.
John 6:58
(ESV) This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
(KJV) This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
(MSG) This is the Bread from heaven. Your ancestors ate bread and later died. Whoever eats this Bread will live always.”
(NIV) This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
(NLT) I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”
FAQ about the Lord’s Supper in the Bible
The last meal that Jesus shared with his apostles is described in all four canonical Gospels (Mt. 26:17–30, Mk. 14:12–26, Lk. 22:7–39 and Jn. 13:1–17:26) as having taken place in the week of Passover. This meal later became known as the Last Supper. The Last Supper was likely a retelling of the events of the last meal of Jesus among the early Christian community, and became a ritual which recounted that meal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Supper
The Bible says that taking the Lord’s Supper is a reminder of our redemption through Christ’s death and resurrection (Luke 22:19-20). This means that when we take communion, we are proclaiming Jesus’ death until he returns. We also remember and participate in his sacrifice whereby his body was broken and his blood was shed for us. Consequently, every time we partake of the bread and wine, we renew our covenant with God – affirming our faith in him and our commitment to follow him.
The most famous verse about Holy Communion is from the Gospel of John: “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) Other verses that mention Holy Communion include 1 Corinthians 10:16 and 1 Peter 2:24.
At many churches, the pastor will say a few words before administering communion. These words may vary, but often the pastor will say something to remind communicants of the importance of the sacrament and of their need for repentance. The pastor may also offer a prayer for those receiving communion.
Jesus said, “This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” – Luke 22:19-20
In these verses, Jesus is telling His disciples to remember Him through the ritual of Communion. He instituted this tradition as a way of continuing to be with His followers even after He had died. By partaking in the bread and wine, they would remember His sacrifice and be united with Him once again. One common interpretation of Jesus’ words at the Last Supper is that he was referring to the bread and wine as his “body” and “blood”. This interpretation is based on Jesus’ statement in John 6:53-54, where he says, “I tell you the truth, 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.”
There are a few key differences between the Catholic Eucharist and the Protestant Lord’s Supper. Firstly, in the Catholic tradition, the Eucharist is seen as a re-enactment of Christ’s Last Supper with his disciples, and is thus considered to be a sacrament. This means that the bread and wine used during Mass are believed to actually become the body and blood of Christ, a doctrine known as transubstantiation. Protestants, on the other hand, believe that the bread and wine merely represent Christ’s body and blood, and do not believe in transubstantiation.
The phrase κλάσις τοῦ ἄρτου (klasis tou artou ‘breaking of the bread’; in later liturgical Greek also ἀρτοκλασία artoklasia) appears in various related forms five times in the New Testament in contexts which, according to some, may refer to the celebration of the Eucharist, in either closer or symbolically more distant reference to the Last Supper. The phrase “breaking of bread” can be found in the Bible in both the Old and New Testament. In the Old Testament, it is mentioned specifically in regards to the Passover meal that was eaten by the Israelites as they fled from Egypt. And in the New Testament, it is part of both Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples and also at Emmaus after His resurrection.
In each case, it refers to taking communion – or sharing a meal together as a sign of fellowship. And so when we break bread together as Christians, we are reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and how through Him we have been forgiven and brought into fellowship with God.
According to Catholic theology there are There are seven sacraments in the Christian faith: baptism, confirmation, communion, penance, anointing of the sick, marriage, and ordination. Each sacrament is a fierce and wonderful way God works in our lives to sanctify us and draw us closer to Him.
The Christian sacraments for Protestants are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the sacrament of initiation into the Christian faith, and it is through baptism that we become members of the body of Christ. The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross, and it is through this sacrament that we receive forgiveness and salvation. They are often called ordinance instead of sacrament.
The agape feast is a Christian celebration of love. It is based on the story of the Last Supper, in which Jesus shared a meal with his disciples and told them that one day they would celebrate this meal together in his name. The agape feast is a time when Christians gather to share food and fellowship. They may also take this opportunity to express their love for one another through prayer, song, or spoken word. The agape feast is often held on or near Valentine’s Day, as a way of celebrating the love that God has shown us through Jesus Christ.
All Christians commemorate the Last Supper because it is an important event in salvation history. The Last Supper was a meal that Jesus shared with his disciples shortly before he was betrayed and crucified. At the meal, Jesus institutes the Eucharist, which is central to Christian liturgy and worship. The Eucharist is a sacrament in which bread and wine are consecrated and become the body and blood of Christ. This sacrament is a key part of Christian life and our participation in it helps us to remember what Jesus has done for us and enter into a deeper relationship with him.
The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. The original version was written in 1646 by a group of English and Scottish theologians. In communion, the members of the church partake of bread and wine, which signifies and seals to them the benefits of Christ’s death. The confession states that “the Lord Jesus, by His Spirit, makes Himself real to our spiritual senses” in communion (Westminster Confession of Faith, 27.3). In other words, when we take communion, we have a supernatural encounter with Christ Himself. This is why communion is such an important part of our worship; it is an opportunity to commune with the living Lord.
More Bible Study Reference on Communion in the Scriptures
Want to know more about communion in the scriptures? These Christian websites can help. With concise and easy-to-understand information about communion, the lord’s supper, in the bible and more, this reference guide is a must-have for anyone interested in learning more about this important topic.