30 Powerful bible verses about the holy communion (Full Commentary)

Pastor David

bible study for you

Today we will talk about bible verses about the holy communion. Many Christians gather around this simple meal and sometimes wonder what it truly means. As we sit together and remember Jesus, we want to learn gently and clearly from God’s Word. Let us be in a quiet, meditative mood, opening our hearts to what the Lord teaches us. We will read passages that show how Jesus gave the bread and the cup, why we remember Him, and how the supper calls us to reflect, to be thankful, and to live in unity. These bible verses about the holy communion help us see the promise, the picture, and the power of Christ’s sacrifice. We will walk through passages that speak of the body, the blood, the new covenant, and the hope of His return. As we read, let us listen with soft hearts and let the Bible shape us. We do not need to rush. We will take our time, read slowly, and allow God’s words to settle. May these scriptures strengthen our faith, guide our practice, and draw us closer to Jesus, who gave Himself for us.

bible verses about the holy communion

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper — bible verses about the holy communion

In this section we look at the moment when Jesus set the pattern for what we now call the holy communion. We join together to see how the Lord Himself took bread and the cup and gave them with clear words. As we study these bible verses about the holy communion, we remind ourselves that this meal began with Jesus’ intentional act on the night He was betrayed. We, as a community, read these verses not only to learn history but to feel the meaning behind each gesture. When Jesus took the bread and blessed it, He tied His body to the bread. When He took the cup, He spoke of His blood and the new covenant. We will see that the Lord asked us to keep doing this as a way to remember Him. So we approach these scriptures in a gentle way — asking how the practice shapes our faith, our love for one another, and our awareness of Christ’s sacrifice. As we reflect on these verses, we grow in gratitude and obedience, following the pattern He gave us in simple bread and wine or juice.

1 Corinthians 11:23

“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:” – 1 Corinthians 11:23

1 Corinthians 11:24

“And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” – 1 Corinthians 11:24

Luke 22:19

“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” – Luke 22:19

Matthew 26:26

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.” – Matthew 26:26

Mark 14:22

“And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.” – Mark 14:22

Bread as the Body of Christ — bible verses about the holy communion

When we study the bread in the holy communion, we discover deep spiritual meaning. We read the bible verses about the holy communion that point to Jesus as the bread of life. In these texts, Jesus tells us that He is the living bread who came down from heaven. We, together, consider what it means to feed on Christ. It is not merely about a piece of bread. The Lord wants us to understand that He gives life, real life, to those who come to Him. As we read, we picture Jesus offering Himself, and we think about what it means to receive His life each day. These passages help us see that the bread stands for Jesus’ body — given for us, sustaining us, and inviting us into full trust. We read slowly and allow these words to shape our hunger for Jesus. In the supper, the bread calls us to remember, to believe, and to live by Him.

John 6:35

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” – John 6:35

John 6:48

“I am that bread of life.” – John 6:48

John 6:51

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” – John 6:51

John 6:53

“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” – John 6:53

John 6:54

“Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” – John 6:54

The Cup and the New Covenant — bible verses about the holy communion

These bible verses about the holy communion show us the cup as a sign of the new covenant. When Jesus shared the cup, He spoke about His blood and a covenant that brings forgiveness. We read and we remember that covenants are promises between God and His people. The blood pictures how seriously God took the cost of our rescue. As we study these verses, we think about how the new covenant replaces the old and invites us into a closer relationship with God. We, collectively, are called into this promise. The cup reminds us of sacrifice, of mercy, and of a future hope. We learn that the Lord’s supper connects what Jesus did for our sins with the promise of new life. These passages help us to see a clear line from the Old Testament signs of covenant to the full meaning found in Christ’s sacrifice. In taking the cup, we accept that promise and the mercy it brings.

Matthew 26:28

“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” – Matthew 26:28

Mark 14:24

“And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.” – Mark 14:24

Luke 22:20

“Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” – Luke 22:20

Exodus 24:8

“And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these things.” – Exodus 24:8

Jeremiah 31:31

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:” – Jeremiah 31:31

Remembrance and Proclamation — bible verses about the holy communion

When we gather for the holy communion, we remember Jesus and we tell His story. The bible verses about the holy communion teach us that the bread and cup are reminders. They shape our memory of the cross and our hope in resurrection. We, as a people, use the supper to speak the gospel out loud. The Apostle Paul said that every time we eat and drink, we show the Lord’s death until He comes. This act is both private and public. It is private because our hearts are examined. It is public because the church together proclaims the gospel. These verses help us see that remembrance is not passive. It moves us to grateful witness. We proclaim Jesus’ death, and we look forward to His coming. The supper is a living sermon. When we do it, we honor Christ and tell others what God has done for us.

1 Corinthians 11:26

“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” – 1 Corinthians 11:26

Acts 20:7

“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” – Acts 20:7

1 Corinthians 10:16

“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” – 1 Corinthians 10:16

1 Corinthians 10:17

“For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.” – 1 Corinthians 10:17

1 Corinthians 11:25

“After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” – 1 Corinthians 11:25

Self-Examination and Worthy Partaking — bible verses about the holy communion

These bible verses about the holy communion call us to look inward. We learn from Scripture that taking the Lord’s supper rightly means examining ourselves first. We, together, are asked to check our hearts, to remember sin, and to seek forgiveness. Paul warns that to eat and drink unworthily is dangerous. This is not to frighten us so much as to lead us to honesty and repentance. When we examine ourselves, we ask God to search our motives and to make us humble. We read the verses and then we pray. We admit the things that separate us from God and from one another. Then we come to the table with a renewed heart. The aim is healing and right standing with the Lord. The supper is tender; it calls us to be faithful and sincere in our devotion and in our life together.

1 Corinthians 11:27

“Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 11:27

1 Corinthians 11:28

“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” – 1 Corinthians 11:28

1 Corinthians 11:29

“For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” – 1 Corinthians 11:29

1 Corinthians 11:31

“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” – 1 Corinthians 11:31

1 Corinthians 11:32

“But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” – 1 Corinthians 11:32

Unity and Communion of Believers — bible verses about the holy communion

We take the holy communion not only as individuals but as a body. These bible verses about the holy communion teach us that the supper binds us together. We are many, yet we become one bread and one body. As we read, we see the table is a place where differences fade and common life grows. We, in our churches, meet, break bread, and share the cup. That simple act tells the world we belong to Christ and to one another. The early church practiced this regularly; it deepened their love and mutual care. These scriptures encourage us to seek peace, to forgive quickly, and to bring unity to our gatherings. The bread and cup remind us that we are connected by Christ’s life — we are joined in hope, mission, and love. As we celebrate the supper, let our hearts aim for unity and for lives that reflect our shared calling.

Acts 2:42

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” – Acts 2:42

Acts 2:46

“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,” – Acts 2:46

Romans 12:4

“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:” – Romans 12:4

Ephesians 4:4

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;” – Ephesians 4:4

1 Corinthians 10:17

“For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.” – 1 Corinthians 10:17

Sacrifice, Atonement, and Redemption — bible verses about the holy communion

These bible verses about the holy communion point us to the heart of the gospel: Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. The supper remembers His body given and His blood shed. We, together, see that this is not merely a symbol but a teaching about how we are rescued. The Old Testament hinted at sacrifice; the New Testament shows the final act. As we read these verses, we feel the tenderness of a Savior who gave Himself once for all. These texts tell us that His offering purges our consciences and makes us holy. We learn that the supper points to the cross and to our new life. When we take part, we honor that sacrifice and we receive cleansing and strength. These verses lead us to worship and to a life shaped by gratitude and obedience.

Hebrews 9:14

“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” – Hebrews 9:14

Hebrews 9:26

“For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” – Hebrews 9:26

Hebrews 10:10

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” – Hebrews 10:10

Isaiah 53:5

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:5

1 Peter 2:24

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24

Thanksgiving, Praise, and Blessing — bible verses about the holy communion

The Lord’s Supper is also a time of thankfulness. These bible verses about the holy communion remind us that Jesus gave thanks before He shared the bread and the cup. We join in that thankful heart. We, as a community, give thanks for God’s goodness, for mercy, and for the gift of Jesus. The scriptures teach us to offer praise and to bless the Lord in all we do. In the communion, thanksgiving lifts our eyes from ourselves to God. We remember that every blessing comes from Him and that the supper itself is a sign of grace. As we read these verses, we learn to speak thanks with our mouths and to live in grateful hearts. The act of blessing the bread and cup models a life that includes continual praise.

Colossians 3:17

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” – Colossians 3:17

Psalm 107:1

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” – Psalm 107:1

1 Thessalonians 5:18

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Psalm 116:12

“What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?” – Psalm 116:12

Matthew 26:27

“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;” – Matthew 26:27

Ordinance, Tradition, and Practice — bible verses about the holy communion

Some parts of church life are called ordinances because Jesus commanded them. These bible verses about the holy communion show how the supper became a regular practice. We, together, uphold this tradition as an act Jesus taught. It matters that the early church remembered and kept the pattern. The scriptures record the command, the practice, and the ongoing habit of breaking bread together. We read these verses and think about how our family of faith passes on the practice to new believers. The supper is not an empty ritual. It is an ordinance rooted in Christ’s last instructions. As we keep it, we obey, remember, and teach others the meaning of His death and promise. We honor the Lord when we celebrate it with care and faithfulness.

Luke 22:19

“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” – Luke 22:19

1 Corinthians 11:24

“And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” – 1 Corinthians 11:24

1 Corinthians 11:2

“Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.” – 1 Corinthians 11:2

Acts 2:42

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” – Acts 2:42

Matthew 26:26

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.” – Matthew 26:26

Hope, Future Meal, and the Lord’s Return — bible verses about the holy communion

The supper points us forward. These bible verses about the holy communion tell us to remember until He comes. In the meal we look back to the cross and forward to the feast in God’s kingdom. We read that Jesus will eat and drink anew with us in the Father’s kingdom. This hopeful promise steadies our hearts. We, as believers, cling to that coming day when sorrow ends and joy is full. The supper is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. It teaches patience and hope while we wait for Christ’s return. The scriptures also remind us that Jesus promised to come again, and that someday we will celebrate fully with Him. As we take the bread and cup, we renew our longing for His coming and our commitment to live for that future.

1 Corinthians 11:26

“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” – 1 Corinthians 11:26

Matthew 26:29

“But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” – Matthew 26:29

Revelation 22:20

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” – Revelation 22:20

Acts 1:11

“Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” – Acts 1:11

Titus 2:13

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” – Titus 2:13

Final Thoughts

I have enjoyed walking through these bible verses about the holy communion with you. We have seen how the supper points to Jesus’ body and blood, teaches us to remember, and calls us to live in unity and gratitude. As we read, we reminded ourselves of the cost of love and the hope of the coming feast.

We learned from many parts of Scripture that the Lord’s Supper is a tender blend of memory, teaching, and promise. We are encouraged to examine our hearts, to give thanks, to care for one another, and to hold fast to the hope of Christ’s return. In all this, we find comfort and strength.

Let us continue to practice the supper with reverence and joy, telling the story of Jesus until He comes. May we be a people marked by gratitude, unity, and faith as we gather at His table.

Further Reading

30 Bible Verses About Getting Closer To God (With Commentary)

30 Bible Verses About Removing People From Your Life (With Commentary)

30 Bible Verses About Israel (With Explanation)

30 Bible Verses About Being Lukewarm (With Explanation)

4 Ways to Encounter Grace and Truth: A Study on John, Chapter 4

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