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
65-1212 §5
Now, we're fixing to observe something here that's really sacred. I was called on a few days ago to some very fine Christian gentlemen that's never had this, and he understood that we taken communion literally. They take it what they call "spiritual communion." And which, as far as communion, I'd say all right, because communicate is "to talk to," see. And the brother give me this scripture, said, "Brother Branham, don't you think now...?" Now, reason I'm saying this... It's all right, Brother Pearry? See, that ......
The Key to the door
62-1007 §55
But, "communion," it's called "the Lord's supper." Now, a lot of people, they want to take it in the morning. Didn't say in the Bible it was His breakfast. And how these people today, how they can still say "Lord's supper," and they don't... They've cut out "supper," and omitted it, and called it "dinner," nonsense. It's supper! Now, always a dispute in the Bible times, it was a dispute then. The people misunderstood the Lord's supper, when they come to the table. Paul told those Corinthians. They were coming and g...
The Communion
57-0418 §6
Over in the book of St. Matthew's Gospel, in the twenty-sixth chapter, the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth verse, for a text, I wish to read. And he took the cup, and when he had gave thanks, and he gave it to them, and said, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom. And now we're going to speak on: The...
Communion
65-1212 §7
Now, we only have three physical divine orders left to us: one of them is communion; feet-washing; water baptism. That's the only three things. That's the perfection of the three, see. That's the only three orders we have. We realize that that was the issue given by St. Paul in the New Testament. Now, if we would say the communion should just be taking the Word... I don't believe anyone has a right to take the Lord's supper until he has taken the Word of the Lord into his heart, see, because... I'll read something...
Communion
62-0204 §26
May the Lord bless His Word. I want to, just for a few minutes, speak on: "Communion." What does the word communion mean? Commune means to talk. To have communion really means to have fellowship, talk with each other. If you talk on the phone to someone, you carry a conversation there, you are communing one with another. And if we should come aside and stand back in the back of the building, any individual and the pastor, or any two people, they are communing one with the other.