1 Corinthians 11:24-26
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Jesus doesn't just offer his body to us; he offers it for us, an active sacrifice for our benefit. This "for you" transforms the bread from a mere symbol into a profound declaration of his complete giving. It's a powerful reminder that his love is not passive but deeply involved in our redemption.
and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing a significant problem in the Corinthian church: their communion meals had become chaotic and divisive, reflecting social and economic inequality rather than unity in Christ. He's guiding them back to the sacred, communal meaning of the Lord's Supper, reminding them of Jesus' selfless sacrifice as the true foundation of their fellowship. This instruction immediately precedes Paul's explanation of the bread and wine symbolizing Christ's body broken and blood shed for believers.
Before Jesus even spoke the profound words about his body, he paused. What does this moment of thanks reveal?
Jesus' action of giving thanks before breaking the bread isn't just a polite gesture; it's deeply significant. It frames the entire meal, especially the Lord's Supper, as an act of worship and gratitude, even in the face of impending suffering.
A Sacred Pause
This pause highlights that even in the darkest hour, Jesus’ focus was on God’s goodness and provision. He wasn't just a victim of circumstance; he was offering himself willingly. Thanksgiving acknowledges God's sovereignty and purpose in the sacrifice.
More Than a Meal
It turns the simple act of eating into a spiritual one. It’s a reminder that our own lives, and especially our participation in this sacred meal, should be infused with thankfulness for God’s ultimate plan of redemption.
Jesus holds up the bread and says, 'This is my body.' What makes this bread so extraordinary?
The simple loaf of bread becomes a profound symbol of Jesus’ physical body, offered for us. It’s not just a representation; it’s a sacrament that points to the reality of his sacrificial love.
Breaking for You
The act of breaking the bread mirrors how Jesus’ body would be broken on the cross. This wasn't a painless or easy death; it was a brutal, physical reality endured for the sake of humanity’s sin. The bread symbolizes that complete, physical offering.
Ask a follow-up
Identity in the Sacrifice
When Jesus says, 'which is for you,' he personalizes the sacrifice. It wasn't a distant, abstract event, but a deliberate act of love intended for them, and by extension, for all who would believe. This bread calls us to remember the cost of our redemption.
Jesus gives a direct command: 'Do this in remembrance of me.' What kind of remembrance is this?
The command 'Do this in remembrance of me' is not just about a passive memory recall. It’s an active, participatory remembrance that has transformative power.
Not Just Historical
This isn't like remembering your birthday or a historical date. It’s a living remembrance that brings the reality and significance of Christ’s sacrifice into the present moment. It engages our hearts, minds, and spirits.
A Sacred Duty and Privilege
Jesus institutes this practice so that his followers would continually recall the central act of their faith. It serves as a constant reminder of God’s covenant love, the forgiveness of sins, and the promise of new life through his death and resurrection. It’s both a duty and an incredible privilege to participate.
Fueling Faith and Community
By doing this together, believers are strengthened in their faith, united in their love for Christ, and reminded of their shared identity in him. It fuels our ongoing commitment to follow him.
Understand the original words
sōma · Greek Noun
The physical flesh and blood nature of Christ, offered as a sacrifice for the atonement of sins; the bread in the ordinance represents this sacrificial gift.
anamnēsin · Greek Noun
A memorial or calling to mind; in a biblical sense, it is an active, ongoing engagement with the past saving work of God so that its significance is present in the current life of the believer.
diathēkē · Greek Noun
A solemn agreement or relationship established by God with His people, ratified by the shedding of blood; it signifies a new relationship based on grace and the finished work of Christ.
haima · Greek Noun
The vital, life-giving essence of a living being; in the context of the New Covenant, it represents the life of Christ poured out in His atoning death for the forgiveness of sins.
katangellō · Greek Verb
To announce, declare, or publish, often used in the New Testament to describe the public preaching of the Gospel or the testimony of the life and work of Christ.
The Lord's Supper, as described by Paul, is rooted in Jesus' final meal with his disciples and was intended to be a central, ongoing practice for the early church, fostering unity and remembrance.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Final Passover Meal
Jesus shared a Passover meal with his disciples in Jerusalem, the last one before his crucifixion.
c. AD 30
Institution of the Lord's Supper
During the meal, Jesus instituted a new ritual, using bread and wine to symbolize his body and blood.
c. AD 48-50
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
The Apostle Paul spent about 18 months in Corinth, establishing a church and teaching the believers.
c. AD 53-55
Writing of 1 Corinthians
Paul wrote this letter from Ephesus to the church in Corinth to address issues of division, immorality, and doctrinal confusion.
This Gospel account directly parallels Paul's words, showing Jesus instituting the bread at the Last Supper and identifying it with his body given for them.
Mark 14:22Another Gospel witness to the Last Supper, this passage highlights Jesus' declaration over the bread, echoing the same profound meaning Paul conveys.
Luke 22:19Luke's Gospel provides the command, 'Do this in remembrance of me,' directly linking the action of eating the bread to remembering Jesus' sacrifice, just as Paul emphasizes.
1 Corinthians 10:16Paul connects the cup of blessing and the bread broken to our participation in the body and blood of Christ, reinforcing the communal and sacrificial nature of the Lord's Supper.
John 6:51Jesus speaks of his 'bread' being his flesh given for the life of the world, a foundational teaching that underpins the symbolic yet real connection between Jesus' body and the bread shared in remembrance.
Jesus doesn't just offer his body to us; he offers it for us, an active sacrifice for our benefit. This "for you" transforms the bread from a mere symbol into a profound declaration of his complete giving. It's a powerful reminder that his love is not passive but deeply involved in our redemption.
Paul is addressing a significant problem in the Corinthian church: their communion meals had become chaotic and divisive, reflecting social and economic inequality rather than unity in Christ. He's guiding them back to the sacred, communal meaning of the Lord's Supper, reminding them of Jesus' selfless sacrifice as the true foundation of their fellowship. This instruction immediately precedes Paul's explanation of the bread and wine symbolizing Christ's body broken and blood shed for believers.
Paul is addressing a significant problem in the Corinthian church: their communion meals had become chaotic and divisive, reflecting social and economic inequality rather than unity in Christ. He's guiding them back to the sacred, communal meaning of the Lord's Supper, reminding them of Jesus' selfless sacrifice as the true foundation of their fellowship. This instruction immediately precedes Paul's explanation of the bread and wine symbolizing Christ's body broken and blood shed for believers.
"and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as ofte…" — Jesus doesn't just offer his body to us; he offers it for us, an active sacrifice for our benefit. This "for you" transforms the bread from a mere symbol into a profound declaration of his comple…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
