The Lord’s Supper - Part 1

A Study Message in Preparation for Partaking of the Lord’s Supper

Matthew 26:17-30

 

I.      Introduction

 

A.    I want to preach this morning on one of the hardest subjects I have ever preached. Hard because of all the confusion that has been put out by religious organizations and churches all over the world. Consubstantiation, Transubstantiation - What is right? Get out notes!

B.    Dealing with what the Bible simply calls “our Lord’s Last Supper”

 

II.    Message - The Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:17-30)

 

A.    The Lord’s Supper is a Passover Meal (Mt 26:17-19)

 

1.     The Feast (celebration) of unleavened bread - from Exodus 12

 

a.     The Israelites were on their last day in Egypt

b.     God had put Egypt through NINE plagues (judgments) so far

c.     There remained one plague to go - the death of the firstborn

d.     There was only one hope - a lamb - Passover Lamb (12:3-6)

e.     Every family was to get a lamb and let it die in their place

f.      Then, place the blood on the doorposts of their home (12:7)

g.     Then eat that Passover lamb as part of a meal (12:8)

h.     It included:

 

1)        Unleavened bread - they would not have time to wait for the bread to rise, so God said forget the yeast (leaven)

2)        Bitter herbs also to remind them of the bad taste Egypt was to leave in their mouths

 

i.      As God saw the blood of the lamb, He passed over (12:11-13)

 

2.        Every Jew repeated a memorial of that event in Mar/Apr called Passover (12:14). That memorial would continue to remind the Jews of their exodus from Egypt, and salvation from judgment!

3.        Jesus now has come to Jerusalem with disciples for the Passover meal - this would turn out to be His Last Supper - most important!

 

B.    The Lord’s Supper is a Serious Meal (Mt 26:20-25)

 

1.        Should have been a very happy meal - rejoicing in the blood of the lambs that would be slain throughout Jerusalem in remembrance!

2.     But Jesus here says that a greater Lamb is about to be slain:

 

a.     HE is to be the FINAL Lamb (John 1:29)

b.     HE is to be the FINAL sacrifice (John 19:30; Heb 10:11,12,14,26)

 

3.     His death would be brought about by one of His own followers!

4.        Who would it be? There is the potential for any one to sin - even Christians (Rom 3:23) - Better learn to be honest with yourself!!

5.     The Lord knew who it would be - but nobody else did - because Satan is a deceiver, and a liar!

6.     The anti-christ turned out to be right in their midst (John 6:67)

7.        Principle: The life and death of Jesus Christ is serious business - people need to wake up to the fact that Satan was counting on defeating Christ at the cross, and that God was counting on winning your salvation at the cross! Same in your life today!

 

C.    The Lord’s Supper is a Symbolic Meal (Mt 26:26-29)

 

1.     “As they were eating”: lamb, bitter herbs, unleavened bread

2.        Jesus took the BREAD - not the lamb meat

 

a.     Unleavened bread - leaven turns out to be a picture of sin (1Cor 5:6-8; Mt 16:6,12)

b.     Broken bread - Broken by the punishment of God for sin!

c.     Given bread - given freely- didn’t cost disciples- cost God!

d.     Eaten bread - no good if people don’t take it themselves

e.     Symbolic bread - “this is my body” - a PICTURE

 

1)        Jesus is eating this bread too (26:23) not eating His body

2)        Not a “sacrament” - not a “sacred means of salvation” - but only a picture of the type of death He was about to die

3)        Revealed His sinlessness - unleavened

4)        Revealed the type of death He would die - being broken

5)        Revealed that God was GIVING His life for ours

6)        Revealed that everyone has to personally receive Christ to have eternal life! Reject it and you will die in your sins!

 

3.        Jesus next takes the CUP (Mt 26:27-29) - Does 3 things:

 

a.     He gave thanks. Why? Thankful to give His blood in death so that we can live! What a Saviour! He is not angry or upset!

b.     He gave the cup to all - “all are to drink of it”

c.     He gave understanding:

 

1)        This cup only represents (pictures) His blood shed for sin

 

a)                Note: He had not shed (spilled-out) His blood yet

b)                The Bible forbids us from ever drinking blood (Lev 17:10-12; Acts 15:28,29)

 

2)        This cup represents the change that was taking place at the cross - the beginning of the New Testament! The bringing in of eternal life - salvation!

3)        This cup is only the fruit of the vine - NEW WINE - not fermented/alcoholic (leavened) wine. No sin in His blood

 

4.     All this symbolism is there so that we as Christians can keep fresh in our hearts, what Christ did for us to be saved! (Luke 22:19)

 

D.    The Lord’s Supper is an Eager Meal (Mt 26:29)

 

1.     This was to be the Lord’s Last Supper..., until He returns!

2.        There is coming a day, when Jesus Christ does return!

3.     He will set up His kingdom, and every Christian will be there!

4.     We look forward to that day (1 Cor 11:26)! No guesswork!

 

How about you? Have you accepted Christ?  Not some piece of bread!

 

III.   Conclusion - The Lord’s Supper

 

A.    The Lord’s Supper is a Passover Meal - A memorial of what God had done before

B.    The Lord’s Supper is a Serious Meal - A presentation of what God is about to do now, at the cross! Jesus being THE final Lamb!

C.    The Lord’s Supper is a Symbolic Meal - Not a Sacrament!

 

1.        Jesus took the BREAD

 

a.     Unleavened bread - leaven turns out to be a picture of sin

b.     Broken bread - Broken by the punishment of God for sin!

c.     Given bread - given freely- didn’t cost disciples- cost God!

d.     Eaten bread - no good if people don’t take it themselves

e.     Symbolic bread - “this is my body” - a serious PICTURE

 

3.        Jesus next takes the CUP - Does 3 things:

 

a.     He gave thanks.

b.     He gave the cup to all - “all are to drink of it”

c.     He gave understanding:

 

1)        This cup only represents (pictures) His blood shed for sin

2)        This cup represents the change that was taking place at the cross - the beginning of the New Testament! The bringing in of eternal life - salvation!

3)        This cup is only the fruit of the vine - NEW WINE - not fermented/alcoholic (leavened) wine.

 

4.     All this symbolism is there so that we as Christians can keep fresh in our hearts, what Christ did for us to be saved! (Luke 22:19) – to look back!

 

D.    The Lord’s Supper is an Eager Meal (Mt 26:29)

 

Are you eager for the Lord to come back? Have you trusted Christ for yourself? As we prepare for the Lord’s Supper tonight, examine your heart!

 

Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church Blarney

29 Westcourt Heights

Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland

biblebc@gmail.com