What Is the Scriptural Teaching on the Lord's Supper or Communion?
1) Direct answer
The Lord’s Supper is a simple, holy ordinance given by Jesus for born‑again believers to remember His death until He comes. It is not a saving act, not a ritual that changes the elements, but a memorial and a fellowship of the Body. It is to be observed with unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, in self‑examination, with feet‑washing as a companion ordinance of humility and cleansing.
2) Scriptural explanation
- Instituted by the Lord: “This do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23‑26). We “show the Lord’s death till He come.”
- The elements: bread and the cup—“the bread…His body,” “the cup…New Testament in His blood” (Matthew 26:26‑29; 1 Corinthians 10:16‑17; 11:23‑25). Leaven typifies sin, so the figure is unleavened—“Purge out therefore the old leaven…let us keep the feast…with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:7‑8).
- Who may partake: believers who judge themselves in the light of the Word (1 Corinthians 11:27‑32). The pattern is: repent, believe, be baptized, then continue in the apostles’ fellowship and breaking of bread (Acts 2:41‑42).
- How to approach: in unity and discernment of the Body—making wrongs right first (Matthew 5:23‑24; 1 Corinthians 10:17; 11:29).
- Feet‑washing: joined to the Supper as an example and command—“Ye also ought to wash one another’s feet… I have given you an example… If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:14‑17).
3) Simple clarifying logic
- It’s a memorial, not a re‑sacrifice. The Bible says, “Do this in remembrance.” He died once for all; we do not repeat His sacrifice—we remember it.
- The bread remains bread and the cup remains the fruit of the vine. The Bible says they are “symbols” or “communion” of His body and blood (1 Corinthians 10:16). If it literally became His body, why would we still be “remembering” instead of re‑crucifying? The Scripture never says it turns into His flesh.
- Unleavened bread fits the symbol because Jesus was sinless. Leaven marks corruption; Christ had none. You see, the type must match the antitype.
- The table belongs to the Lord, not to a denomination. “Let a man examine himself” (1 Corinthians 11:28). The door is not “closed” by men; it is guarded by the Word in each conscience—walk in the light, judge yourself, and come reverently.
- Frequency is “as oft as ye do it” (1 Corinthians 11:25‑26). The Bible sets no fixed schedule; it sets a right heart.
- Feet‑washing is not optional tradition but a commanded example tied to the Supper. It keeps us small, cleansed, and in brotherly equality.
4) Reinforcing statement
Now notice: the Lord’s Supper is the Gospel in simple tokens—His body broken for us, His blood shed for us—and our lives must match what we take. Come clean, come believing, come discerning the Body, and “show the Lord’s death till He come.”
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What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
The Key to the door
62-1007 §53
This communion that we're fixing to take, has been the greatest dispute of any doctrine in the Bible. That was one of their first disputes in the early church. And today the Protestant, of Episcopalian and Methodist, and many of the Protestant churches, would gladly accept Catholic, Roman Catholic doctrine, if they could get over the little hump of communion. But they will agree that the priest should be married and be ministers, the Catholic church agreed on that several times in their conferences and meetings. Th...
Questions and Answers
59-0628E §32
That was a doctrine of the apostles and of the early church, that every time they came together they taken communion. Every time! Now, I know you Christian people who go to the Christian church (the Campbellite Church, as we know it, because there's two of them; one's the Church of Christ, and the other one the Campbellite Church.), you say, "We take it every Sunday morning. We got the Scriptures on it." You have a better Scripture on it than the Branham Tabernacle does. The Branham Tabernacle takes it once a month...
Desperations
63-0901E §19
Now, tonight we're going to pray for the sick. I think they have communion. (You going to have baptism? Baptism? Baptismal service? Just communion---communion.) And we want you to stay for communion, and within thirty-five or forty minutes we aim to be finished and ready for the communion. And now, tomorrow is the time of Labor day, so you can kind of rest up. Now, I said that was our intentions. You see? We don't know what ... I want to be sure to make that right.
Communion
63-0707E §5
Now, let us read the Scripture just as Saint Paul exhorts us here in the book of Saint John the... I beg your pardon, in book of I Corinthians, the a--the 11th chapter, beginning with the 23rd verse. For I have received of the Lord... which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night... which he was betrayed took bread: Wished I had time to--to speak that a little bit. The same night that He was betrayed (You see?), He took bread. And when he had give thanks, he brake it, ... said, Take and eat: t...
Jubilee Year
54-1003E §78
My beloved brothers and sisters, whatever there is, if there's anything in your life, contrary to Christ, let's confess it, come up here now and take the Lord's supper; joining our hearts together as one unit of Christian faith, to let our Lord Jesus know that we love Him with all of our heart. Will you do it now, while we play? And, Teddy, if you will... I think they come by sections. Is that right, brethren? Now if the elders will come forward now to help us, and stand here. And where do you start, what side, Bro...