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 §72
Now, if you walk upright and claim yourself to be a Christian, we invite you tonight to the table of the Lord. Today, no doubt, the communion has been taken across the nation, some of them in one way and some in another. But I think the best way to do it is follow the Scriptures, just the way they did it in the Scriptures. I think that would be sufficient. Do you have your Bible, Brother Neville? Brother Neville will now read the Scriptures. [Brother Neville says, "In the 11th chapter of I Corinthians, beginning at...
The Comforter
61-1001E §80
Now we're coming to the communion table, to take those parcels that was left us, an order, "This do until He returns." We're thankful for these things, Father. And we pray that in Jesus' name, that if there be a feeble person among us tonight, that comes to this communion table... Lord, I can just see that shaking old mother of mine walking up the aisle there, the last time she was in here to take that communion, how her little old trembling hands shook over that plate. I stood here and watched her, with tears drop...
Who is this Melchisedec?
65-0221E §46
Jacob wrestled all night, and wouldn't turn Him loose until He blessed him. That's right. Battled for life! And after the battle is over, then God gives you of Himself. That is the true communion. The little bread and wafer just represents it. You shouldn't take it 'less you've wrestled it out and become part of God. Remember, at this time, the communion had never been instituted, not until before the death of Jesus Christ, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years later. But Melchisedec, after His child Abraham...
Do you now believe?
54-0725 §6
Now, in the Scripture, the second chapter of Luke. And before I read this, though, I'd forgot to make mention of these other ministering brother. Brother Huckstra here, he's been a bosom friend of mine for years. I remember the first time I met Brother Huckstra. In Indianapolis, Indiana, there was a boy dying with polio in the iron lung. And I went into the upper room of the man's house and prayed. The Lord came down and give a vision and said what was the matter with the boy: to take him the communion, because one...
A Wedding Supper
56-1006 §15
Now, he said, the first thing, if the supper was set, no persons are allowed to come to this supper unless they are invited. You have to be invited first before you go to any dinner of that type. Now, I don't like to call it "dinner." I'm just old-fashioned enough to believe it's still "supper." We don't take the Lord's Dinner, we take the Lord's Supper. And this here dinner stuff, it always make me get hungry; I missed a meal somewhere. So I like dinner, breakfast, and supper. And so I still believe it's the Lord'...