Why is the breaking of bread so important? Who is worthy and who is unworthy to take part in it? Also, what should we examine before taking part in the breaking of bread? What will happen if we don’t take part in it?
The importance of the ‘breaking of bread’ or partaking in communion is found in the simple words of the Lord Jesus in Luke 22:19, “…this do in remembrance of me.” It is a request from the One who died for our sins so that we might be saved and have eternal life. There is only one way of salvation, and that is through the Lord Jesus. We read the words of the Lord in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” To save us, the Lord Jesus took our sins upon Himself and received God’s judgment for our sins. There on the cross, the very Son of God, gave Himself as a sacrifice to God as the payment for our sin debt. What incredible, immeasurable love the Lord has for us, that He should die for us. His desire is that we ‘remember’ Him. That, being gathered together with like-minded believers, we spend time in contemplation of Him, His love for us, and His death on the cross for us. To everyone who truly loves the Lord, His request to be remembered will become very, very important to us.
Who is worthy to take part in this remembrance feast? Every believer who is not living in sin and is not under the discipline of a local church should remember the Lord. Let’s read 1 Corinthians 11:27, “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” This verse doesn’t really address the worthiness of those who partake of the emblems of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus in remembrance of Him. The key word here is ‘unworthily’, or ‘in an unworthy manner.’ It speaks of those who partake of the Lord’s Supper, but do not have their hearts and minds of the Lord Jesus. They eat of the bread and drink of the cup, with no thought of what they represent.
We read in verses 28-29, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” To participate ‘unworthily’ is a serious matter. A person, before participating in the Lord’s Supper each week, should examine his own heart to make sure he is participating in a worthy manner. Notice what we are to do after examining ourselves. We are to “eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” If our minds and hearts are not on the Lord, we should fix ourselves upon the Lord Jesus and then go ahead and partake of this remembrance feast.
What will happen to us if we do not participate in the Lord’s Supper? First of all, to refuse is an act of disobedience and heartlessness towards our savior. We just read in verse 28, “so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” This is the Lord’s desire, so why would we want to refuse the Lord this small request. The fact that it is so important to the Lord, should make it important to us. To refuse to do this indicates a cold heart towards the Lord. It indicates a seriously low spiritual condition. Will the Lord punish us for not participating? For sure, we will lose out on the precious blessings that come from sitting at the feet of the Lord Jesus and having our hearts filled with Himself as we think about Him. It causes the heart to overflow with praise and worship of our Lord Jesus. Doesn’t the Lord Jesus deserve our praise and worship? Indeed, He does. (212.8)