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.
Communion
62-0204 §32
Now, the thing is, that, on this communing, we find out that there was a foot washing and things associated with that, also, to wash our feet, as a symbol of the cleanliness of the Holy Spirit. Now, then there must be a mutual feeling. If you are at edge with your host, then you cannot commune. No, you can't do it, because you're disagreeing with him. But if you are in agreement, then you can commune. So that's the way it is when we come to the Lord's table, we've got to be in agreement with His Word, see. We must...
Questions and Answers
59-0628E §30
...ter of the Acts, and we will begin, as I said, with the 42nd verse. Now remember, I do not believe that I could say just exactly where the Scripture says that Paul took the communion, and Peter then reached over and taken it; but when they're talking of the congregation, that was in whole, everybody. And I do not believe that Paul would preach something and tell others to do that he would not do. So in the Acts we find this: And they continually steadfast in the apostles' doctrine ... fellowship. Watch! They contin...
Questions and Answers
59-0628E §35
Now, to back that up, I got a writing here of Josephus, where he claimed that the early Christians after the death of Jesus, that they were considered cannibals, because they took the body of the Lord and ate it. And they thought they had dug it up, and had took it out, and was cutting it up by pieces, and eating it. Which they were taking the communion, see. Now, watch, why this Scripture ... how Paul says here. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread,... Eat of the bread. Now, I know Jesus...
Communion
65-1212 §19
Then, when we come to the Lord's table, we must come in reverence, love, and respect, of "Look where we would have been if it hadn't been for Him," see. Look where we would've... Therefore, Paul, I think, in saying this, "Wherefore, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for the other," that is, other words, just wait a few minutes, pray, check yourself out. And if you know a brother is in there, just about to do something that's wrong, or something, you pray for him, too. See, "Tarry one ... the other," wait just...
Hebrews, Chapter 7, part 1
57-0915E §39
When we pull up... On certain nights, when we come together and take communion from the hands of the ministers, representing that we believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus (that that veil, His body that He was enveiled in, God), we take it as a representative we are dead to the things of the world, and been born anew of the Spirit. And we walk with the body of Christ, all the believers together. When the great battle is finished, and we come up again with Christ, we will take the communion...