Who Should Partake of the Memorial Emblems?

🔊 Listen to this

Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “This means my body, which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” Also, he did the same with the cup after they had the evening meal, saying: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf. -Luke 22:19, 20.

Certainly all true Christians would take very seriously and would want to obey these instructions of Jesus their Lord and Master. Yet as time progressed this would become a challenge. The March 1, 2004 issue of the Watchtower states:

“Paul wrote to his fellow overseer Timothy: “There will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories.”

Would all Christians be misled? No. Paul continued:

“You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.” -2 Timothy 4:3-5; Luke 21:8; Acts 20:29, 30; 2 Peter 2:1-3. Timothy and other faithful Christians lived by that inspired counsel.

Like Timothy, true Christians today are keeping their senses by rejecting human reasoning and by accepting only Scriptural authority for their doctrinal beliefs.” -The Watchtower March 1, 2004 page 6.

This most certainly is what should be looked for in anyone claiming to be a true Christian today. But, is the way Jehovah’s Witnesses celebrate the Memorial based on scriptural authority or on human reasoning?

The apostle Paul explains why Christians are to celebrate the Memorial:

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night on which he was going to be betrayed took a loaf, and after giving thanks, he broke it and said: “This means my body, which is in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” He did the same with the cup also, after they had the evening meal, saying: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood. Keep doing this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this loaf and drink this cup, you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

It is important to note that there is only one place in scripture where anyone is told not to partake of the emblems. Right in the context, this warning is stated:

Therefore, whoever eats the loaf or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty respecting the body and the blood of the Lord. First let a man approve himself after scrutiny, and only then let him eat of the loaf and drink of the cup. For the one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment against himself. (1 Corinthians 11:27-29)

What is meant by this? Does Paul have in mind those of an earthly class that should not partake?

The January 2016 Watchtower answers:

“Those who partake of the emblems at the Memorial should carefully consider the warning found at 1 Corinthians 11:27-29. What point is the apostle Paul here making? An anointed Christian would partake unworthily if he did not maintain a good relationship with Jehovah. -Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26-29. Such a warning helps anointed Christians to remember that they have not yet taken hold of the reward. They need to continue to press on “toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God by means of Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 3:13-16. -The Watchtower January 2016 page 23 par 5.[1]

So, according to the Watchtower, this verse is not a warning to those with an earthly hope not to partake. In Paul’s day there is no mention of a group of Christians with an earthly hope. So there was no need to distinguish between anointed and non-anointed Christians in the first century. All Christians partook of the bread and wine at the Memorial.

Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses come together once a year to celebrate the Memorial? According to Paul, “you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord.” And until when do you proclaim the death of the Lord? “Until he arrives.”

Paul’s explanation is very simple and easy to understand.  Yet notice the slight change in application that is made by the society. The Watchtower, March 15, 2010, explains things this way:

“Who Should Partake?

Those in the new covenant “have boldness for the way of entry into the holy place.” -Hebrews 10:15-20. These are the ones who are “to receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken.” -Hebrews 12:28. So, then, only those who will be kings and priests in heaven with Jesus Christ should drink from the “cup” that represents the new covenant. These participants in the new covenant are the ones promised in marriage to the Lamb. -2 Corinthians 11:2; Rev. 21:2, 9. All others who attend the annual Memorial are respectful observers, who do not partake of the emblems.

Paul also helps us to understand that those with an earthly hope do not partake of the Memorial emblems. He said to anointed Christians: “For as often as you eat this loaf and drink this cup, you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives.” -1 Corinthians 11:26. When does the Lord ‘arrive’? When he comes to take the last of his anointed bride class to their heavenly home. -John 14:2- 3. Clearly, the annual observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal is not to continue endlessly. “The remaining ones” of the woman’s seed yet on earth will continue to partake of this meal until all of them have received their heavenly reward. -Revelation 12:17. If, though, those who will live forever on earth were entitled to partake of the emblems, then this Memorial meal would need to continue forever. -The Watchtower March 15, 2010 page 27 paragraphs 15-16.

 But where does “Paul say that those with an earthly hope do not partake of the Memorial emblems”? Paul makes no mention of “an earthly hope,” or of two separate classes of Christians. Neither does he forbid anyone from partaking of the evening meal. Nor does he say anything about “all others who attend the annual Memorial being respectful observers, who do not partake of the emblems.” To say: “if those who will live forever on earth were entitled to partake of the emblems, then this Memorial meal would need to continue forever”, is creating a false dilemma. Even if there were such an earthly class, why could they not simply stop partaking when the Lord arrives? Paul said: “keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives” not until you die. Some might argue that Paul was talking to anointed ones who expect to be taken to heaven when the Lord arrives. But again, nowhere does the Bible mention such an earthly class. When Paul gave his instructions, all were partakers. Hence, where did this understanding of Christians with an earthly hope come from? If not from the Bible, it must have come from human reasoning.

What is the purpose of the celebration?

According to Paul, it is to “proclaim the death of the Lord.” That is a compelling reason to be present. And the occasion is not meant to be a mere ritual. Jesus’ death has great meaning for all of us who exercise faith in him. He suffered and died to make possible the forgiveness of our sins, and to reconcile us to God, whereby we become God’s sons and daughters and he our heavenly Father. -Romans 5:6-11; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18.

Peter states:

“He himself bore our sins in his own body upon the stake, in order that we might be done with sins and live to righteousness.” -1 Peter 2:24. 

And the apostle John further explains:

“My little children, I am writing you these things that you may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one. And he is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s. And by this we have the knowledge that we have come to know him, namely, if we continue observing his commandments. He that says: ‘I have come to know him,’ and yet is not observing his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in this [person]. But whoever does observe his word, truthfully in this [person] the love of God has been made perfect. By this we have the knowledge that we are in union with him. He that says he remains in union with him is under obligation himself also to go on walking just as that one walked.” -1 John 2:1-6. 

Jesus suffered and died to buy back what Adam lost for us in his rebellion against God. -Romans 5:1-2, 6-10; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18. We need to meditate on what that means for us personally. Therefore, in obedience to Jesus’ command, Christians should gather together on the evening of the Memorial to reflect with deep appreciation on God’s loving provision of the ransom; and that it has opened for us the way to everlasting life. -John 3:16.

But should we do this by merely passing the bread and the wine? When Jesus said: “Keep doing this in remembrance of me” did he mean for them to pass the bread and wine to one another as respectful observers? Obviously not. The command from the Lord was to eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

Jesus said:

“Take, eat. This means my body.” And taking a cup, he offered thanks and gave it to them, saying: “Drink out of it, all of you, (Matthew 26:26, 27)

On an earlier occasion Jesus said:

“He that exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; he that disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.” -John 3:36. 

To observe the Memorial and yet fail to obey Jesus is missing the purpose of the occasion!

Jesus said:

“If you observe my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have observed the commandments of the Father and remain in his love. You are my friends if you do what I am commanding you.” -John 15:10, 14. 

As already noted, since there is no Scriptural prohibition against partaking, no one has the authority to teach otherwise. The bread and the wine symbolize the flesh and the blood of Jesus given in our behalf.

On the other hand, in John chapter 6 Jesus emphasized the importance of his sacrifice:

“So Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I will resurrect him on the last day; -John 6:53, 54.

In the New World Translation, the study note on John 6:54 states:

“Jesus made this statement in 32 C.E., so he was not discussing the Lord’s Evening Meal, which he would institute a year later. He made this declaration just prior to “the Passover, the festival of the Jews” -John 6:4, so his listeners would likely have been reminded of the impending festival and the significance of the lamb’s blood in saving lives on the night that Israel left Egypt -Exodus 12:24-27.”

 This study note exemplifies how making such definite claims when there is not sufficient evidence leaves one open to criticism. We have to be careful about going beyond what is written. -1 Corinthians 4:6.

It is true he wasn’t specifically discussing the Lord’s Evening Meal as he didn’t specifically mention it and it had not yet occurred.[2] His words were in the present tense: “Whoever feeds on [presently] my flesh and drinks [presently] my blood has [presently] everlasting life.” They also have a future aspect: “and I will resurrect him in the last day.” More than likely this was a reference to his teachings. (John 6:68)

Nonetheless he was discussing the principles and importance of that upcoming special meal. (John 6:51) It simply cannot be said with any certainty that Jesus did not have in mind what he would do on a future night with his disciples. Noteworthy is the statement in the beginning of the chapter: “He made this declaration just prior to “the Passover, the festival of the Jews” (John 6:4) Why does John add this bit of information?

The Passover is a significant event in Israelite history. On that occasion, the lamb’s blood was instrumental in saving the lives of all, Jews and non-Jews alike that put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts, on the night that Israel left Egypt (Exodus 12:24-27) We must ask, of what was the Passover typical of?

Something else that should be noted is the fact that this discussion of eating Jesus flesh is connected with the Israelites eating the manna in the wilderness.

“Our forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”  Jesus then said to them: “Most truly I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” -John 6:31-33.

So, not only the Passover lamb but also the manna is pictorial of eating Christ’s flesh.

John the Baptist identified Jesus as ‘the lamb that takes away the sin of the world.” -John 1:29. The apostle Paul later revealed that for Christians the Lords Evening Meal replaced the Passover. -1 Corinthians 5:7. It is also important to remember that there is never a distinction made in the scriptures between anointed and non-anointed Christians. All Christians were anointed, all had one hope. -Ephesians 4:5-6. Hence, all Christians, not just the twelve disciples partook of the memorial emblems. Later, on the following Passover, when Jesus actually broke the bread and passed the wine after the meal, it is possible they remembered what Jesus said a year earlier enabling them to understand better the significance of what he was doing. Would they have thought that if they did not eat the bread he passed to them and drink the wine, but merely passed it to the next disciple, that they would have life anyway? That would have been disobeying Jesus command.

“The one who exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; the one who disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him. -John 3:36.

Partake Figuratively

The Watchtower of June 15, 1987, noted that in the previous year (1986) “It was appreciated that both the remnant and the “great crowd” must figuratively partake of Jesus’ flesh and blood by accepting his sacrifice in order to be in harmony with him.—John 6:53-56.” -The Watchtower June 15, 1987 page 19 paragraph 13. 

How do both, the remnant and the great crowd, figuratively partake of Jesus’ flesh and blood?

Here’s what the Watchtower says:

“Consequently, it was for “the life of the world”—the entire world of redeemable mankind—that Jesus gave his flesh. And “anyone” of the world of mankind who eats symbolically of that “bread,” by showing faith in the redeeming power of Jesus’ sacrifice, may enter onto the way to everlasting life. Here, the “vast mixed company” that shared with the Israelites in eating the manna in the wilderness foreshadow the great crowd of Jesus’ “other sheep” who, along with the anointed remnant of “the Israel of God,” are now eating Jesus’ flesh in a figurative sense. This they do by exercising faith in his sacrifice.—Galatians 6:16; Romans 10:9, 10.

Back in Galilee, many of Jesus’ listeners are shocked by his talk. So while still on the topic of his flesh, he even goes a step further, telling them: “Most truly I say to you, Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves. He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I shall resurrect him at the last day; for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” -John 6:53-55. Shocking indeed! Not only is the idea of cannibalism repulsive to those Jews but the Law at Leviticus 17:14 positively forbade eating “the blood of any sort of flesh.”

Of course, Jesus is here emphasizing that anyone who is to attain to everlasting life must do so on the basis of exercising faith in the sacrifice that Jesus later made in offering up his perfect human body and pouring out his lifeblood. -Hebrews 10:5, 10; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; 2:24. This provision is not restricted to Jesus’ joint heirs. It must also include the “great crowd,” who survive “the great tribulation,” for these “have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Their having faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, as demonstrated also by their rendering God “sacred service,” results in their preservation through earth’s greatest time of distress. Similarly, Rahab was declared righteous and survived when Joshua devoted Jericho to destruction.—Revelation 7:9, 10, 14, 15; Joshua 6:16, 17; James 2:25. -The Watchtower February 15, 1986 page18 paragraphs 10-12.

In the same year, the newly released book, Worldwide Security Under the “Prince of Peace,” explained how those who are in the new covenant partake at the Lord’s evening meal merely in a figurative way, saying:

“The sacrificial death of the Mediator of the new covenant, Jesus Christ, is remembered every year by Jehovah’s Witnesses on the anniversary of ‘the Lord’s evening meal.’ The unleavened bread partaken of by those in the new covenant during that ‘evening meal’ symbolizes the perfect flesh of the Mediator, and the wine symbolizes the pure, uncontaminated blood that, according to the Scriptures, contained the very life value of the Mediator. -1 Corinthians 11:20-26; Leviticus 17:11. When those in the new covenant partake of the Memorial cup of wine at ‘the Lord’s evening meal,’ it is only in a figurative way that they are drinking blood, that of the Mediator of the new covenant. It is also in a symbolic way that they eat his flesh when they partake of the Memorial loaf of unleavened bread. By doing this, symbolically speaking, they demonstrate their faith in the ransom sacrifice of the Son of God, the Redeemer of all mankind.”-Worldwide Security page 104, paragraphs 13-14.

It is just as repulsive for Jehovah’s Witnesses today to think of literally eating Jesus flesh and drinking his blood as it was for many of the Jewish disciples listening to Jesus in the first century. -John 6:60. But Jesus later explained that his words were not meant to be taken literally. -John 6:63. Jehovah’s Witnesses understand this. But Jesus makes no distinction between those he encouraged to figuratively eat his flesh and drink his blood and those to whom he later gave bread and wine to. All were to figuratively eat his flesh and drink his blood by exercising faith. It appears that this was reinforced on Passover night with his disciples by passing to them the memorial emblems. Later, these instructions were passed on to all Christians. -1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Hence, all Christians ended up figuratively eating his flesh and drinking his blood.

Since it was acknowledged that both the remnant and the great crowd “must figuratively partake of Jesus’ flesh and blood” by exercising faith in the ransom sacrifice of the Son of God, why is the great crowd not encouraged to demonstrate that faith by partaking of the emblems each year at the Lord’s evening meal? Jesus commanded his followers to “keep doing this in remembrance of me”! -Luke 22:19-20. Our Father Jehovah tells us to listen to him. -Mark 9:7. Whom should we obey? -Acts 5:29. As the apostle Paul explains, the Memorial is not about who has what hope—whether in heaven or on earth—but about “proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives.” -1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Ephesians 4:4-6. Partaking of the bread and wine at the Memorial has nothing to do with whether one looks forward to receiving everlasting life on a paradise earth, or is chosen by God to rule with Christ in his heavenly kingdom. -John 3:16; 17:3; Revelation 5:9-10; 20:6. We all benefit equally from the ransom Jesus paid, as he said in regards to the cup which he passed to his disciples at the time he introduced the Memorial:

“Drink out of it, all of you; for this means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins.” -Matt. 26:27-28. 

Jesus’ death made the forgiveness of sins possible for everyone equally. The Scriptures tell us:

“For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive.” -1 Corinthians 15:22; Romans 5:6-12.

The Memorial is about Jesus and remembering him, as he himself said:

“Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” -Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. 

This directive to remember Jesus in this way was meant for all his disciples.

---

[1] See also The Watchtower January 2020 study edition page. 27 paragraph 4

[2] F. F. Bruce writes: “Our Lord in this discourse is not indeed speaking directly of the Lord’s Supper, but he does expound the truth which the Lord’s Supper conveys. That truth is well summed up in the words which accompany the handing of the bread to the communicant in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer: “Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving.” (The Gospel & Epistles of John page 161)