The Lord's Supper, an essential ordinance, has been obscured by erroneous tradition, yet we are called to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Jesus first instituted this sacred observance on the eve of His death, during the final Passover supper, as recorded in Luke 22:14, 19-20 and Matthew 26:26. When the hour had come, He sat with His twelve apostles, took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying it represented His body given for them, commanding them to do this in remembrance of Him. Likewise, He took the cup after supper, declaring it the new testament in His blood, shed for them. It was a memorial of His death, set as an example for us to follow at a definite time. This ordinance was introduced as they were eating the Passover, on the night of the 14th of Abib, connecting the New Testament Lord's Supper to the Old Testament Passover. Jesus, our Passover sacrificed for us, changed the manner of observance from killing and eating a lamb to taking bread and wine as symbols of His broken body and shed blood, to be done in memory of His death. According to Exodus 13:10, this ordinance is to be kept once a year, at night, after the sun has set on the 14th of Abib, as Jesus set the example. In John 13, during the last Passover, Jesus also instituted the ordinance of humility by washing His disciples' feet, teaching them to do likewise as an example of service to one another. He emphasized that if He, their Lord and Master, washed their feet, they ought to wash one another's feet as well. The apostolic church observed this ordinance annually on the set date, as seen in I Corinthians 5:7-8, where Paul instructs to keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, affirming Christ as our Passover. In I Corinthians 11, Paul clarifies that observing the Lord's Supper is to show the Lord's death until He comes, doing so in remembrance of Him as often as it is observed, which aligns with an annual memorial on the anniversary of His crucifixion. To partake unworthily, in a wrong manner or at a wrong time, risks condemnation, emphasizing the importance of observing it at the scriptural hour after sundown on the 14th of Abib. The first-century church continued this practice, as evidenced by references to the Days of Unleavened Bread in Acts, showing the ordinance was kept at the appointed time. The term "break bread" does not always refer to the Lord's Supper but often indicates eating a common meal, as seen in various scriptures. Thus, we are to observe this solemn ordinance as commanded, at the biblically set time, after sunset on the 14th of Abib, according to the sacred Hebrew calendar, on the evening before the Jewish feast of the 15th of Abib.

In addressing the Corinthian believers, the apostle Paul highlights a grave concern regarding their congregational meals. He warns that eating and drinking in an unworthy manner brings judgment upon oneself for not discerning the body, as stated in I Corinthians 11:29. Some members in Corinth were confused about whether these meals constituted the Lord's Supper. By observing it on just any occasion, the significance of the bread and wine becomes muddled through familiarity and repetition. For the symbol to remain meaningful, the unleavened bread eaten during Passover must be distinguished from common, daily bread, ensuring that His sacrifice is seen as distinct and set apart. Additionally, not discerning the body can refer to failing to seriously acknowledge our sins, which necessitated the excruciating sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Without a conscious recognition of our sin and the punishment we have earned, His sacrifice loses its significance in our minds. Furthermore, the body may also signify the spiritual Body of believers, the church. When we partake of the bread symbolizing His body, we become part of this spiritual Body, united with those who have the Father and the Son dwelling in them. Failing to discern this Body means not distinguishing it from the rest of humanity and not showing partiality to the Body as a whole. The Corinthians were making distinctions within the Body, esteeming some members while despising others, thus risking judgment by not treating all brethren, for whom Christ died, with the highest respect during the observance of Passover.

In Paul's instructions to the Corinthian church, he emphasizes the gravity of our approach to the Lord's Supper during Passover. When we partake of the cup of blessing and the bread, we become one with Jesus Christ, unified spiritually with Him. Since the whole church partakes of these symbols, everyone becomes one with Him, forming the Lord's body as a collective noun of those in fellowship with Christ through symbolically sharing in His blood and His body. Paul addresses a situation in Corinth where the congregation gathered for meals, which were not the Passover, though he mentions it amidst his admonition. He clarifies that when they came together, it was not to eat the Lord's Supper, correcting their confusion about commemorating Passover at every church gathering. He provides a refresher on the significance of Passover and uses it as a teaching tool to highlight their shortcomings, such as self-centeredness and despising others within the church. Paul warns that whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. This warning relates to their behavior in the congregation, where some looked out only for their own interests while others were shamed. Observing the Passover in such an unworthy way makes one guilty of Christ's body and blood. Therefore, he instructs church members to examine themselves and evaluate their spiritual state before partaking of the bread and the cup, as God will not look favorably on those who mistreat the ones for whom Christ died.

In the New Covenant church, as revealed in Scripture, there are few rituals, yet those that exist hold profound significance. Among these, the Lord's Supper, also referred to as Communion, stands out as a vital practice. Though some may call it by different names to avoid associations with Jewish traditions, the symbols of bread and wine are so evident in Scripture that even those opposed to ritual observe them. God has instituted this practice not merely for contemplation but as an active teaching instrument, emphasizing its importance through physical participation. The Apostle Paul addresses the observance of the Lord's Supper in I Corinthians 11:27-30, warning against partaking in an unworthy manner. He stresses that such an approach renders one guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, urging self-examination before eating the bread and drinking the cup. Failure to discern the Lord's body results in judgment, with Paul noting that many in Corinth suffered weakness, sickness, and even death due to their improper observance. This underscores God's serious regard for this service, highlighting that while it does not justify or save, it remains critically important. Further, in I Corinthians 10:16-21, Paul describes the cup of blessing and the bread as communion with the blood and body of Christ, uniting believers as one body through partaking of the one bread. He contrasts this with pagan sacrifices, warning against fellowship with demons by participating in idolatrous practices. The Lord's Supper, as a sacrificial meal, unites believers with God and each other, reinforcing the choice to align with Him rather than false gods. The Lord's Supper centers on a meal, with a focus on eating, reminiscent of a peace offering that symbolizes fellowship and thankfulness among the offeror, priest, and God. It reflects a state of peace and well-being, not an attempt to atone for sins, but an occasion of gratitude for God's acceptance and provision. Jesus Himself expressed fervent desire to eat this meal with His disciples before His suffering, valuing the fellowship and peace it represented, as seen in Luke 22:14-16. He also pointed to its future fulfillment in the Kingdom of God, indicating forward-looking aspects beyond a mere memorial. The bread and wine, central to the Lord's Supper, carry deep symbolic meaning. In Matthew 26:26, Jesus identifies the bread as His body, a symbol rooted in ancient cultures where bread represented life and sustenance, essential for survival and tied to divine provision. As the bread of life, Jesus offers spiritual sustenance and eternal life, uniting believers in fellowship as they partake, as elaborated in John 6:27-51. The wine, symbolizing His blood, represents the New Covenant, sealed not for atonement alone but for a broader relationship of knowing God, as seen in Matthew 26:27-29 and I Corinthians 11:25. This covenant, reinforced by Christ's blood, pledges God's faithfulness to perfect believers, promising a quality of life that transcends physical circumstances. Thus, the Lord's Supper is a solemn yet joyful celebration of peace, well-being, and acceptance by God through Jesus Christ. It serves as a memorial of His death that sealed the covenant, a grateful observance of spiritual abundance, and a hopeful anticipation of future fulfillment in the Kingdom. The manner of observance reflects the value placed on this covenantal relationship, urging believers to approach it with mindfulness and reverence to avoid rendering it empty of the meaning and effect God intends.