1 Corinthians 11:25
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.
1 Corinthians 11:25 (KJV)
Context
The Apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to address divisions and disorders in the Corinthian church, including the misuse of the Lord’s Supper. In this passage, Paul reminds the believers of the words Jesus spoke at the Last Supper, correcting their practice and calling them back to the meaning of the meal.
Meaning
Jesus took the cup “after supper,” distinguishing this act from the bread, which He had taken during the meal. The cup represents the “new testament in my blood”—the new covenant that God established through Jesus’ sacrificial death. In the Old Testament, covenants were sealed with the blood of animal sacrifices. Jesus’ blood, offered once as the perfect and ultimate sacrifice, establishes a new and better covenant, bringing forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation between God and humanity.
The command “this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me” makes the Lord’s Supper a perpetual practice for believers. This remembrance is not merely mental recollection but a deliberate, repeated proclamation of the Lord’s death until He comes. Each time believers share the cup, they declare their dependence on Christ’s sacrifice and their participation in the blessings of the new covenant.
Biblical connections
The new covenant fulfills and replaces the old covenant, which was sealed with the blood of animal sacrifices. The prophet Jeremiah foretold a new covenant in which God would write His law on hearts and forgive iniquity (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Jesus’ blood is the pledge of this promised covenant, securing its blessings for all who believe. The Lord’s Supper thus stands as a tangible sign of God’s faithfulness to His promises.
Application
Partake of the Lord’s Supper with reverence and gratitude, reflecting on the cost of your redemption.
Let the Supper remind you of your unity with other believers, as you share in the one cup and the one body of Christ.
Use the Supper as a moment to examine your heart, confess sin, and renew your commitment to live in the freedom and grace of the new covenant.
As you drink the cup, remember that Jesus’ blood has secured your forgiveness and brought you into a lasting relationship with God. Let this observance deepen your love for Christ and your hope in His return.
Reflection
How does the new covenant in Jesus’ blood change the way you approach God? Take time this week to thank Him for the sacrifice that made this covenant possible, and consider how you can live as a faithful member of His people.
