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For this is My blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Matthew 26:28
This week we want to consider the "new covenant" mentioned in Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, and I Corinthians 11:23-32. It was put into place (instituted) by our Lord and mentioned in four different passages of Scripture. Is there a sign of the new covenant and a penalty for violating the new covenant as there was with the Abrahamic and the Mosaic covenants? Finding all three things concerning the "new covenant" will help us understand the seriousness of the experience we call the Lord's supper.
We will try to answer the first question; what was the sign of the new covenant? We have already seen how the covenant was introduced to the disciples. Jesus told them in Matthew 26:26, "take, eat; this is My body. Then in verses 27-28 it says, "Drink from it (the cup), all of you. "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many."
Our Lord put into place the new covenant and also gave the sign of the covenant, the Lord's supper. The apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, makes this clear. He not only gives us the directives, "take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you, verse 24. In verse 25 he says, "This is the new covenant in My blood. This do as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.
Then Paul goes on to explain in verse 26, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He come." How long should Christians celebrate the Lord's supper? Until He comes; that is a long time. The sign of the covenant should be an encouragement to us as Christians, and it is a witness to the unbelievers around us or in our midst. By observing the Lord's supper, we are preaching, teaching, and heralding the gospel to those around us.
Now we want to go on to our second question; what is the penalty for those who violate the covenant? Judgment came down on Moses when he violated the covenant of circumcision, and when the man violated the Sabbath day, he was stoned to death. Paul says in I Corinthians 11:29, "For he who eats or drinks in an unworthy manner, eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep (die). In this verse we see the violation and also the penalty of breaking the covenant.
To help us remember our study today, I have made a little illustration of a few of the covenants.
•The covenant made with Abraham in Genesis 17:11.
•The sign of the covenant was circumcision.
•The penalty for violating the covenant was judgment that could lead to death.
•God's directive concerning the covenant - Genesis 17:9, "As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.
•The covenant made with Moses and the Israelites in Exodus 19:5.
•The sign of the covenant was the Sabbath day.
•The penalty for violating the covenant could end in death.
•God's directive concerning the covenant - Exodus 20:8, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy."
•The covenant made with the disciples and all New Testament believers.
•The sign of the covenant is the Lord's supper.
•The penalty for violating the covenant is weakness, sickness, and death.
•God's directive concerning the covenant - I Corinthians 11:24, "Do this in remembrance of Me." Verse 25, "This do as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
Being a partaker of the Lord's supper is a very serious matter. It is not to be taken lightly.
Contact the author at thoughtsonword@gmail.com if you have any comments or questions.
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Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years. He has self-published four books, Common Thoughts on The Word in 2016, Eye of a Needle in 2017, Common Thoughts on The Word II in 2019 and A Bridge Between in 2023. He has also had articles published in The Coming Home Journal and local newspapers and has written a children's book.