What is the Lord's supper?

The Lord’s supper is a sacrament of the New Testament,[1] wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine according to the appointment of Jesus Christ, his death is showed forth; and they that worthily communicate feed upon his body and blood, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace;[2] have their union and communion with him confirmed;[3] testify and renew their thankfulness,[4] and engagement to God,[5] and their mutual love and fellowship each with other, as members of the same mystical body.[6]

1. Luke 22:20

   And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying,>“This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

2. Matt. 26:26-28

   Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said,“Take, eat; this is my body.”And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying,“Drink of it, all of you,for this is my blood of thecovenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

   I Cor. 11:13-26

   Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

   But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

   For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said,“This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he 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.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

3. I Cor. 10:16

   The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?

4. I Cor. 11:24

   …and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said,“This is my body which is for[1]you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

5. I Cor. 10:14-16, 21

   Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.15I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.16The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
   

   21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

6. I Cor. 10:17

   Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

Question 168, Westminster Larger Catechism