What does the Bible say about holy communion?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that Holy Communion is Christ’s appointed meal in which believers remember His saving death, proclaim it together, and by faith spiritually feed on Him. At the Last Supper, Jesus gave bread and the cup as signs of His body given and His blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins, commanding His disciples to do this in remembrance of Him (Luke 22:19-20; Matthew 26:26-28). Paul says the church proclaims the Lord’s death until He comes whenever it shares this meal (1 Corinthians 11:26). Communion therefore calls for reverence, self-examination, repentance, and trust in Christ rather than careless participation (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). John 6 points believers to Christ Himself as the true bread of life, received through faith.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- John 6:53-58 9 votes
Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have life in yourselves. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on me will also live because of me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven—not as our fathers ate the manna and died. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:26 8 votes
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
- 1 Corinthians 11:24-27 8 votes
When he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.” 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, in memory of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
- Luke 22:19-20 7 votes
He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
- 1 Corinthians 11:28 5 votes
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
- Matthew 26:26-28 4 votes
As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, “All of you drink it, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.
- John 6:53 4 votes
Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have life in yourselves.
- Acts 2:42 3 votes
They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
- 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 3 votes
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy way eats and drinks judgment to himself if he doesn’t discern the Lord’s body.
- John 6:51 3 votes
I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
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