Reference: Eucharist
Hastings
This is the earliest title for the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ. It is found in Ignatius and the Didache, and is based upon the eucharistia or giving of thanks with which our Lord set apart the bread and wine at the Last Supper as memorials of Himself (Mt 26:27; Lu 22:17,19; 1Co 11:24). The name Lord's Supper, though legitimately derived from 1Co 11:20, is not there applied to the sacrament itself, but to the Love-feast or Agape, a meal commemorating the Last Supper, and not yet separated from the Eucharist when St. Paul wrote. The irregularities rebuked by the Apostle (1Co 11:21,29) are such as could only have accompanied the wider celebration, and doubtless contributed to the speedy separation of the essential rite from the unnecessary accessories. The title Communion comes from 1Co 10:16, where, however, the word is a predicate not used technically. The breaking of (the) bread (Ac 2:42,46) probably refers to the Eucharist (cf. Ac 20:7; Lu 24:35?), but until modern times does not seem to have been adopted as a title.
1. The institution is recorded by each of the Synoptic Gospels, but not by St. John. A fourth account appears in 1 Corinthians.
As they were eating, he took bread, and when he had blessed, he brake it, and gave to them, and said. Take ye: this is my body. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is shed for many unto remission of sins. 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.
Lu 22:14-20.
When the hour was come, he sat down, and the apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: for I say unto you, I will not eat it, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: for I say unto you, I will not drink from henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body [which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. And the cup in like manner after supper, saying. This cup is the new covenant in my blood, even that which is poured out for you].
I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, how that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said. This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
A comparison shows variations of minor importance between Mark and Matthew. But the most remarkable differences are those of Luke, which mentions what is apparently a second cup. It seems scarcely credible that at a supreme moment, like that in which a sacred rite was being established, our Lord should have created the possibility of confusion by solemnly delivering two of the Paschal cups, dividing between them the words which, according to the other Synoptics, belong, as it would seem appropriately, to one. Nor, if He were about to ballow a succeeding cup as Eucharistic, is it likely that He would have spoken of the fulfilment of the Paschal wine in relation to another (Lu 22:17). In spite, therefore, of the fact that the majority of MSS and Versions favour its inclusion, Westcott and Hort are probably right in regarding the passage inclosed in brackets above as an interpolation. With this omitted, the narrative is assimilated to the other Synoptics. The inversion of bread and cup, which now becomes apparent and which probably belongs not to Luke but to his source, is perhaps due to the fact that the writer, dwelling on the Lord's intention that the Passover should be fulfilled in a Messianic rite, records at the opening of his narrative a declaration similar to that which Matthew and Mark assign to a later stage, the delivery of the cup (Mt 26:29; Mr 14:25). These words, though referring more particularly to the Eucharistic bread, yet, as extending to the whole meal ('this passover'), require no mention of the action that would accompany them; whereas the companion statement concerning the fruit of the vine (Lu 22:18) necessitates the mention of the cup (Lu 22:17). The first half of Lu 22:19 (the consecration of the bread), which, if the account were symmetrical, would appear (as arranged in Rush-brooke's Synopticon) before Lu 22:15, is then added to complete the institution. A copyist, assuming a part of the narrative to be wanting, would then introduce, probably from a contemporary liturgical formula, the second half of Lu 22:19 and Lu 22:20, which bear a striking resemblance to the Pauline account, of which Luke is otherwise independent. A similar inversion is found in the sub-Apostolic Teaching of the Apostles.
2. From the Synoptic record the following inferences may be drawn: (1) The words of institution cannot themselves determine the meaning of the rite. Luke (unless v. 20 be genuine) omits 'This is my blood of the covenant.' [Notice also that the other traditional form varies the phrase
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And as they were eating Jesus took the bread, and having blessed, broke and gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And taking the cup, and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink you all of it;
And taking the cup, and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink you all of it; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. And I tell you that I will not drink henceforth of this product of the vine, till that day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.
And I tell you that I will not drink henceforth of this product of the vine, till that day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.
And he appointed twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them out to preach,
And when it was evening he came, with the twelve,
And as they eat he took the bread, and having blessed, broke and, gave to them, and said, Take, this is my body. And he took the cup, and having given thanks gave them, and they all drank of it. read more. And he said to them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. I tell you truly, that I will drink of the product of the vine no more till that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
I tell you truly, that I will drink of the product of the vine no more till that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
And when the hour had come, he sat down, and the apostles with him; and he said to them, I have greatly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer;
and he said to them, I have greatly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer;
and he said to them, I have greatly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you that I will eat it no more till it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. read more. And taking a cup, he gave thanks, and said, Take this and divide it among you;
And taking a cup, he gave thanks, and said, Take this and divide it among you;
And taking a cup, he gave thanks, and said, Take this and divide it among you;
And taking a cup, he gave thanks, and said, Take this and divide it among you; for I tell you that I will not drink of the product of the vine, till the kingdom of God has come.
for I tell you that I will not drink of the product of the vine, till the kingdom of God has come. And taking bread, and giving thanks, he broke and gave them, saying, This is my body given for you; this do in remembrance of me.
And taking bread, and giving thanks, he broke and gave them, saying, This is my body given for you; this do in remembrance of me.
And taking bread, and giving thanks, he broke and gave them, saying, This is my body given for you; this do in remembrance of me.
And taking bread, and giving thanks, he broke and gave them, saying, This is my body given for you; this do in remembrance of me. And the cup in like manner, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant [sealed] with my blood, which is poured out for you.
And the cup in like manner, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant [sealed] with my blood, which is poured out for you. But behold, the hand of the traitor is with me on the table;
And there was a contention among them as to which of them should be the greatest. And he said to them, The kings of the nations exercise lordship over them; and those having power are called their benefactors. read more. But you shall not be so. But let the greater among you be as the younger, and the chief as he that serves. For which is greater, he that reclines, or he that serves? Is not he that reclines? But I am with you as he that serves. And you have continued with me in my trials, and I appoint you, as my Father has appointed me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table, in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired you, to sift like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not entirely fail; and when you recover yourself, confirm your brothers. And he said to him, Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death. And he said, I tell you, Peter, a cock shall not crow today, before you shall deny thrice that you know me.
And they related the things on the way, and how he was known to them by the breaking of bread.
Then the Jews contended one with another, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said to them, I tell you most truly, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. read more. He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is the true food, and my blood is the true drink. He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood continues in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me and I live by the Father, so he that eats me shall live by me. This is the bread which came down from heaven; not as your fathers eat and died, he that eats this bread shall live forever.
The Spirit is that which makes alive; the flesh profits nothing; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
For these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Not a bone of him shall be broken;
For these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Not a bone of him shall be broken;
and they attended constantly to the teaching and companionship of the apostles, the breaking of bread and the prayers.
and continuing day by day with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they partook of food with gladness and simplicity of mind,
And on the first day of the week, we being assembled to break bread, Paul preached to them, being about to depart on the next day, and continued his discourse till midnight;
Remove the old leaven, that you may be a new mass, as you are unleavened; for Christ our passover was also sacrificed for us.
So also the Lord has appointed to those who preach the gospel to live by the gospel.
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation of the body of Christ?
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation of the body of Christ?
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation of the body of Christ?
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation of the body of Christ? For we, being many, are one bread, one body; for we all partake of the one bread. read more. Consider Israel after the flesh; are not those who eat the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
But what the gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not wish you to be partakers with demons. You cannot drink the Lord's cup and the cup of demons; you cannot partake at the Lord's table and the table of demons.
You cannot drink the Lord's cup and the cup of demons; you cannot partake at the Lord's table and the table of demons.
But I tell you this, not to praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first, when you come together in an assembly, I hear that there are divisions among you, and some part of it I believe. read more. For it is necessary that there should be heresies among you, that the approved may be manifest among you. When you come together therefore, it is not to eat the Lord's supper,
When you come together therefore, it is not to eat the Lord's supper, for each one in eating takes his supper before the rest, and one is hungry and another drunk.
for each one in eating takes his supper before the rest, and one is hungry and another drunk.
for each one in eating takes his supper before the rest, and one is hungry and another drunk. Have you not [food] to eat and drink at your houses? or do you despise the church of God, and shame those who have not [houses]? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you? In this I commend you not.
Have you not [food] to eat and drink at your houses? or do you despise the church of God, and shame those who have not [houses]? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you? In this I commend you not. For I received of the Lord, what I also delivered to you; that on the night in which he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread
For I received of the Lord, what I also delivered to you; that on the night in which he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread and giving thanks broke, and said, This is my body, which is for you; this do in remembrance of me.
and giving thanks broke, and said, This is my body, which is for you; this do in remembrance of me.
and giving thanks broke, and said, This is my body, which is for you; this do in remembrance of me. In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant [sealed] with my blood; this do, as often as you drink, in remembrance of me.
In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant [sealed] with my blood; this do, as often as you drink, in remembrance of me.
In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant [sealed] with my blood; this do, as often as you drink, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you declare the Lord's death till he comes.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you declare the Lord's death till he comes.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you declare the Lord's death till he comes.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you declare the Lord's death till he comes. So that whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
So that whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
So that whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup; read more. for he eats and drinks judgment to himself, who eats and drinks not discerning the body.
for he eats and drinks judgment to himself, who eats and drinks not discerning the body.
for he eats and drinks judgment to himself, who eats and drinks not discerning the body.
for he eats and drinks judgment to himself, who eats and drinks not discerning the body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you and some sleep. read more. For if we judged ourselves we should not be judged;
For if we judged ourselves we should not be judged; but being judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. read more. Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait one for another. If any one is hungry let him eat at home, that you come not together for judgment. The other things I will arrange when I come.
For I delivered to you at first, what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
I wonder that you have so quickly turned away from him that called you in the grace of Christ to another gospel, which is not another; but there are some who disturb you and wish to subvert the gospel of Christ. read more. But if we or an angel from heaven preach you another gospel contrary to what we have preached you let him be accursed. As we said before I now also say again, If any one preaches you a gospel contrary to what you have received let him be accursed.
BUT the chief thing in addition to what has been said is, that we have such a chief priest who sat on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens,
by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all.
For by one offering he has perfected forever the sanctified.
HAVING therefore, brothers, confidence in respect to the entrance into the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, which [entrance] he consecrated for us a new and living way through the vail, that is his flesh, read more. and [having] a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in a full assurance of faith, sprinkled in heart from an evil conscience, and washed in body with pure water,
and the living, and I was dead, and behold, I am living forever and ever; and I have the keys of death and of hades.
And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four cherubs and in the midst of the elders, a lamb standing as if killed, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth.
Morish
See LORD'S SUPPER.
Watsons
EUCHARIST, the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. The word, in its original Greek, ??????????, properly signifies giving thanks; from the hymns and thanksgivings which accompanied that holy service in the primitive church. See LORD'S SUPPER.