1 Corinthians 11:24 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
1 Corinthians 11:24 kjv
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 nkjv
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
1 Corinthians 11:24 niv
and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 11:24 esv
and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 11:24 nlt
and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 11 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 26:26 | As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples... | Institution of the Lord's Supper, giving of bread |
| Mk 14:22 | While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks... | Institution of the Lord's Supper, giving of bread |
| Lk 22:19 | And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it... | Institution of the Lord's Supper, giving of bread |
| Lk 22:19 | "This is My body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." | Identical command and statement |
| Jn 6:51 | "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever... | Christ as the "Bread of Life" |
| Isa 53:5 | But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities... | Prophecy of the Suffering Servant, Christ's body broken for us |
| Isa 53:10 | ...He makes Himself an offering for sin... | Christ's sacrificial death |
| Heb 10:10 | And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. | Christ's one-time body sacrifice |
| Heb 10:14 | For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. | Perfection through Christ's sacrifice |
| 1 Cor 10:16 | Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? | Participation in Christ's body |
| 1 Cor 10:17 | Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. | Unity of believers through sharing in Christ's body |
| Rom 12:5 | so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. | Body of Christ, spiritual unity |
| Eph 5:2 | ...Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. | Christ's sacrificial love for the Church |
| Gal 3:1 | Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. | Visual proclamation of Christ crucified |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | "He Himself bore our sins" in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness... | Christ's body bearing sins |
| Ex 12:14 | "This day is to be a lasting memorial for you and your descendants..." | Command for ongoing remembrance (Passover) |
| Josh 4:7 | ...so these stones will be a memorial to the people of Israel forever." | Memorial acts in OT |
| Lk 1:68 | "...because he has come to his people and redeemed them." | Remembrance of God's redemptive act |
| Ps 111:4 | He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. | Remembering God's works |
| 1 Jn 2:2 | He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. | Christ as propitiation |
| Phil 2:8 | And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! | Christ's humility and sacrificial obedience |
| Rom 6:3-4 | Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him... | Identification with Christ's death |
1 Corinthians 11 verses
1 Corinthians 11 24 meaning
This verse details the institution of the Lord's Supper, specifically Christ's words concerning the bread. It reveals that Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread, and declared it to be His body, given sacrificially "for you" (for the benefit and salvation of believers). He then commanded His followers to repeat this action as a perpetual act of remembrance of Him. It establishes the sacred meal as a continuous memorial of His atoning sacrifice.
1 Corinthians 11 24 Context
First Corinthians 11 focuses on the proper conduct of the church during corporate worship. Paul addresses several issues, starting with head coverings and then moving to the celebration of the Lord's Supper. In the Corinthian church, divisions, social distinctions, and a lack of respect were prevalent, leading to abuses during the communal meal (Agape Feast preceding the Eucharist). Paul's recounting of the institution of the Supper, as he received it from the Lord, serves as a divine standard to correct their irreverent practices. This specific verse, therefore, grounds the communal meal in the very words and actions of Jesus, emphasizing its sacred origin, sacrificial meaning, and mandatory nature as a memorial. Historically, the Lord's Supper was instituted during the Jewish Passover, and Paul's reference to it connects to Jewish blessing practices while establishing a new covenant meal.
1 Corinthians 11 24 Word analysis
- and (καί, kai): Connects Paul's prior instructions to the core narrative he received "from the Lord" regarding the Supper's institution. It introduces the specific actions and words of Jesus.
- when He had given thanks (εὐχαριστήσας, eucharistēsas): The aorist participle indicates a completed action preceding "He broke." This word is the origin of "Eucharist." It implies not mere gratitude, but a formal prayer of blessing and consecration, similar to Jewish blessings (berakoth) over meals, which sets aside the element for a sacred purpose.
- He broke (ἔκλασεν, eklasen): Refers to the physical breaking of the bread. This was a common practice at Jewish meals to prepare portions for distribution, but here it gains profound symbolic significance, pointing to the breaking of Christ's body—His suffering and death on the cross. It is an act laden with meaning of self-sacrifice and surrender.
- it: Refers to the bread, implicitly linking the physical bread to Christ's body.
- and said (καὶ εἶπεν, kai eipen): Emphasizes Jesus' authoritative declaration, giving meaning to the actions. These are direct, divinely-revealed words.
- This (τοῦτο, touto): Demonstrative pronoun, pointing directly to the broken bread. It ties the visible, tangible element to the invisible reality.
- is (ἐστιν, estin): The copulative verb connecting "This" to "My body." It asserts a profound identity or representation. This has been a focal point of much theological debate (e.g., actual presence, symbolic presence, spiritual presence), but fundamentally, it affirms the bread’s direct connection to Christ Himself and His sacrifice.
- My body (μου τὸ σῶμά, mou to sōma): Refers to Jesus' incarnate, physical body. This is the body that suffered, was crucified, and raised from the dead. It points to the whole person of Christ given sacrificially. The broken bread is the visible sign of His broken, suffering body.
- which is for you (τὸ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, to hyper hymōn): "On behalf of you," "for your sake." This crucial phrase indicates the substitutionary and propitiatory nature of Christ's sacrifice. His body was broken, His life given, not for Himself, but for humanity, specifically for the benefit, forgiveness, and salvation of those who believe.
- do this (τοῦτο ποιεῖτε, touto poieite): A direct imperative, a command for ongoing, repeated action. It is not an option but a perpetual ordinance for the Christian community. "This" refers to the entire act of taking the bread, giving thanks, breaking it, and declaring its significance.
- in remembrance of Me (εἰς τὴν ἐμὴν ἀνάμνησιν, eis tēn emēn anamnēsin): "For my remembrance" or "unto my memorial." The Greek word anamnēsis is much richer than mere mental recollection. It implies making the past event present and effective, engaging with its redemptive power. It is an act of covenantal memorial, re-presenting and actively participating in the benefits of Christ's atoning work, while also looking forward to His return.
1 Corinthians 11 24 Bonus section
The phrase "This is My body" has been a significant point of theological discussion throughout church history. It implicitly introduces the concept of the "real presence" of Christ in the Supper, albeit understood in various ways (transubstantiation, consubstantiation, spiritual presence). Paul's repetition of these words directly from Christ, along with the command "do this in remembrance of Me," not only validates the divine institution but also emphasizes the performative and theological weight of the sacrament. The very act of the church gathering to share in this meal testifies to Christ's sacrifice as central to its identity and purpose, reinforcing unity (as hinted in 1 Cor 10:17) and proclaiming eschatological hope (1 Cor 11:26).
1 Corinthians 11 24 Commentary
1 Cor 11:24 encapsulates the heart of the Lord's Supper. It is not merely a symbolic meal but a profound participation in Christ's historical, saving work. Jesus' act of "giving thanks" elevates the ordinary bread to a sacred emblem. The "breaking" of the bread directly points to His body offered "for you," emphasizing the substitutionary and redemptive purpose of His suffering. The command "do this" ensures the continuity of this practice in the church until His return. Critically, "in remembrance of Me" signifies a dynamic, active memorial (anamnesis), where the past event of Christ's sacrifice is brought into the present experience of the believer and the community, thereby reaffirming the New Covenant established through His blood and strengthening the bond with the Redeemer. It also proclaims the Lord's death until He comes.