1 Corinthians 11:23-25 (WEL) 23 For I have received from the Lord that which I also passed on to you—that the Lord Jesus on the very same night while he was being betrayed took bread, 24 And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat, for this is my body which is being broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he also [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.”
V23 For I have received from the Lord that which I also passed on to you—that the Lord Jesus on the very same night while he was being betrayed took bread,
At the very moment Jesus was being betrayed.
Vincent writes: “Imperfect tense, and very graphic. He was being betrayed. He instituted the Eucharist while His betrayal was going on.”
Alford writes: “παρεδίδετο the imperf.: He was being betrayed. “There is an appearance of fixed order, especially in these opening words, which indicates that this had already become a familiar formula.”
This is the initiation of the New Covenant. The Old Covenant required adherence to Mosaic Law to be right with God, but it could not clear the conscience nor procure eternal salvation.
God’s plan then was to have a New Covenant with Israel (Jeremiah 31:31-40), which is this covenant (Matthew 26:28). See 2 Corinthians 3:6, Hebrews 8:8, and Hebrews 13:20 (an eternal covenant). It is a covenant of believing the Gospel of Jesus (Hebrews 5:9). To enter the Old Covenant, one must be born into it or join themselves later (Gentiles). The Old Covenant was ratified by Israel at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 24:3). The Old Covenant had an agreement, a king (God), a law, a commitment, etc. The New Covenant had an agreement, a king (God the Son), a law (the Law of Christ), a commitment, etc. To enter the New Covenant, one needs the New Birth (John 3:1-18), which is because of our faith (1 John 5:4-5) in Jesus alone (Acts 4:12).
V24 And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat, for this is my body which is being broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
This is a quote from Luke 22:19. Believers are to take, eat, and be thankful. We remind ourselves of the New Covenant, the ministry of Jesus, His Gospel, which we believed, and His resurrection.
Wilbur Pickering PhD writes: “The eclectic Greek text currently in vogue omits ‘take, eat’ (following 8.3% of the Greek manuscripts) and ‘broken’ (following some 2% of the manuscripts); and so NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc. do the same.”
This meal is a memorial. Jesus broke the bread, distributed the bread, and all ate together. For the Corinthians, it was first come, first served.
V25 In the same way, he also [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.”
This is a quote from Luke 22:20
We learn:
- The purpose of the Lord’s Supper.
- The proper way to partake.
Questions:
- Do you partake of the Lord’s Supper as a memorial?
- Do you partake in a worthy or selfish manner?