1 Corinthians 11:24
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.
1 Corinthians 11:24 (KJV)
Context
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to address problems in the Corinthian church, including the way believers observed the Lord’s Supper. In 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, he corrects their practices and reminds them of the meaning of this sacred meal. The immediate setting is the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, during the Passover meal, when Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples.
Meaning
Jesus’ words, “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you,” point directly to His sacrificial death. The bread represents His body, given up on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. The breaking of the bread symbolizes the breaking of His body, and the command “this do in remembrance of me” establishes the Supper as a memorial ordinance. Believers are to repeat this act to remember Christ’s atoning work until He returns.
Before breaking the bread, Jesus gave thanks to the Father. This act reflects His gratitude for the plan of salvation and models the attitude believers should bring to Communion—thankfulness for the sacrifice of Christ.
Biblical connections
The parallel account in Luke 22:19 records Jesus saying the bread is “given for you,” directly connecting the bread to His body given in sacrifice. The Greek text of 1 Corinthians 11:24 reads, “This is my body which is for you,” and the command “do this in remembrance of me” underscores the memorial nature of the Supper. The KJV rendering “broken for you” emphasizes the sacrificial character of Christ’s death.
Application
This verse calls believers to approach the Lord’s Supper with reverence and gratitude. Partaking of the bread is a communal act of remembrance, proclaiming the death and resurrection of Jesus until He comes again. It also encourages self-examination and unity within the church, as Paul urges in the surrounding passage.
Overall: 1 Corinthians 11:24 highlights the symbolic and memorial nature of the bread in the Lord’s Supper, representing the broken body of Christ. It invites believers to remember His sacrifice with thankfulness and to proclaim His death until He returns.
