Matthew 26:26-30 The Lord's Supper

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. [Matthew 26:26-30 NASB]

Most commentaries say that Jesus instituted the Communion or Eucharist at this meal. I don't agree with that. It is my contention that Jesus never intended to start a religion. Rather, He did everything to establish a relationship.

Jesus said, "Take, eat; this is My body," and "This is My blood." Some have taken that to mean that the bread and wine literally transform into His body and blood when it is blessed. It seems to me that Jesus was using a metaphor. He also said, "I am the vine," and "I am the door". He refers to Himself as the "Good Shepherd" although He didn't tend sheep. Jesus often used metaphors.

I think when we focus too much on the ritual of communion, we fail to see the most impacting statement that Jesus made; "for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins." 

Ever since Moses, Israel has been living under a covenant of commandments and rituals. Jesus has just announced that His blood is ushering in a New Covenant. When Jesus shed His blood on the cross, He became the sacrifice that paid for our sins once and for all, so that we no longer need to offer sacrifices to receive forgiveness. We only have to accept it by faith.

The New Covenant is not like the Old, based on rituals and religious practice and doctrine.

"Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah....“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  “None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.  “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." [Hebrews 8:8-13 NKJV]

He said, "I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts." This is not a religion based on a set of written laws or rules. We are to rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us into righteousness as He dwells within us.

"I will be their God, and they shall be My people." The purpose of rituals is to give us a means to enter into the presence of God and be cleansed from our sins. We don't need rituals to know God, or to enter His presence or to worship Him. We have already been received into His presence.

“None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them." We don't need a priesthood or clergy to mediate between us and God. The Holy Spirit lives in each one of us. If we allow Him, He will teach each one of us who God is and who we are in Him. Jesus is our Lord. He sent His Spirit to teach and guide us. The rest of us live on an equal level, none are greater, and none are less in His eyes.

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Our sins are forgiven. Paid for by the blood of Jesus.

Under this New Covenant, there is no act or ritual that we must perform to become closer to God. And we cannot become more forgiven than we already are. We do not find forgiveness in the Eucharist. We do not require "Communion" in order to commune with God.

The Gospel of Luke adds the phrase, "Do this in remembrance of Me." The Lord's supper is a reminder of what Jesus did for us. It is a remembrance of His atonement. It is not the atonement itself.

In the first century church, they would gather together for a meal, and they would share what they had with each other - just like a pot-luck - in honor of Jesus sacrifice. Paul called these meals the Lord's Supper, and Jude called them "Love feasts". The point of these feasts was for a group of Christians to gather around a table and eat and drink, and have fellowship with one another, in honor of Jesus. It was never a ritual with "elements" being passed around and blessed by an elder. There were no greater religious overtones besides loving Christ and loving one another.

When you take communion, keep in mind what it really is: a remembrance. Then when you go to lunch after church with fellow believers, consider that this is the true communion.