
THE COMMAND TO REMEMBER
Text: Mat. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-34
Matthew 26:26-29
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.
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
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.
1 Corinthians 11:23-34
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:
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.
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.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
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.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
1. Remembering brings
(Vv. 23-25)
- The Lord’s Table causes us to reflect upon the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary.
It causes us to reflect upon the broken body (life) and shed blood (death) of Jesus.
The Lord’s Supper is a memorial ordinance observed by believers to remember the death, burial and resurrection of our Savior.
Why do we need to remember? If we don’t reflect (remember) the sacrifice of Christ for us, we will forget.
- We may never forget the reality of Christ’s sacrifice, but we can do it practically.
2. Remembering brings
(cf. Mt. 26:26, 27)
- In the instituting of the supper Jesus blessed the bread and gave thanks for the cup.
- When we partake of the supper we bring a heart of appreciation to the table. We give thanks (appreciation) to Jesus for what he has done.
3. Remembering brings communion (1 Cor. 11:29; 10:16-17; 6:17, 20)
1] The Lord’s Table brings communion with
- The Lord’s Table brings us to remember our oneness with Jesus. (1 Cor. 11:29; 10:16-17; 6:17, 20)
2] The Lord’s Table brings communion with
- The Lord’s Table causes us to remember our oneness with each other. (1 Cor. 10:17)
4. Remembering brings
(1 Cor. 11:26; 10:20-22)
- The Lord’s Table brings us to worship Jesus in holiness.
- We remember what Jesus did for us on the cross. We look back, but we also look up. We look up because Jesus is alive. He is our living, Great High Priest.
- The Lord’s Supper gives us eyes to see Jesus as our Great High Priest and worship Him by faith and adore Him in holiness. (cf. Ex. 28:38; Ps. 29:2)
5. Remembering brings
(1 Cor. 11:26)
The Lord’s Table brings two proclamations:
1] The proclamation that Jesus
- The Lord’s Table causes us to proclaim the gospel. It causes us to be evangelistic.
2] The proclamation that Jesus
6. Remembering brings
(1 Cor. 11:27-32)
- The Lord’s Table brings us to confess our sin and see our need for continual cleansing.
- Paul was saying to the Corinthians, “The Supper is pointing out the fact that many of you have unconfessed and unforgiven sin in your life. You are under the chastening hand of God. Some of you are weak, some are sick, and some have even been called home.”
Application:
- Participate faithfully in following the command to remember and be blessed, revived, stirred, and proclaim the truth of the gospel and Christ’s second coming.