Topical Encyclopedia In the Christian tradition, bread holds profound symbolic significance, particularly when broken, as it represents the death of Jesus Christ. This symbolism is deeply rooted in the events of the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted the practice of Communion, also known as the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist.During the Last Supper, as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels and 1 Corinthians, Jesus broke bread and shared it with His disciples, saying, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me" (1 Corinthians 11:24). This act of breaking bread is a poignant representation of Christ's impending sacrifice on the cross. The breaking of the bread symbolizes the breaking of His body, which would soon be offered up for the sins of humanity. The Gospel of Matthew recounts this moment: "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, 'Take and eat; this is My body'" (Matthew 26:26). Here, the bread is not merely a physical sustenance but a spiritual emblem of Christ's body, broken for the redemption of mankind. In the context of the Passover meal, the breaking of bread also connects to the Jewish tradition of the unleavened bread, which commemorates the Israelites' hasty departure from Egypt. Jesus, by identifying the bread with His body, transforms this symbol of deliverance into a new covenant, signifying spiritual liberation from sin through His sacrificial death. The Apostle Paul further elucidates this symbolism in his first letter to the Corinthians, emphasizing the communal and commemorative aspects of the act: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26). The breaking of bread thus becomes a perpetual reminder of Christ's atoning death and a proclamation of faith in His eventual return. In Christian liturgy, the breaking of bread during Communion serves as a tangible expression of unity with Christ and among believers. It is a moment of reflection on the cost of salvation and a call to live in accordance with the sacrificial love exemplified by Jesus. The broken bread, therefore, is not only a symbol of Christ's death but also a testament to the hope and promise of eternal life through His resurrection. It invites believers to partake in the mystery of faith, acknowledging the profound truth that through His brokenness, humanity is made whole. Torrey's Topical Textbook Matthew 26:26And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. Torrey's Topical Textbook 1 Corinthians 11:23,24 Library Where Has Christ Promised that He Will as Certainly Feed and ... Bread and Wine Swooning and Reviving Christ's Feet. Bread from Heaven What the Historic Christ Taught About his Death The Remembrance of Christ Barriers Broken Down On the Words of the Gospel, John vi. 9, Where the Miracle of the ... "In Remembrance of Me" Christ among the Common Things of Life Resources What is the meaning of “Cast your bread upon the waters” in Ecclesiastes 11:1? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of unleavened bread? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean to pray for our daily bread? | GotQuestions.org Bread: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Bread in Times of Scarcity, Sold by Weight Bread was Baked: On Coals of Fire Bread with Water, the Food of Prisons Bread: (Eating Without Scarceness) of Plenty Bread: (Fulness of) of Abundance Bread: (Of Adversity) Heavy Affliction Bread: (Of Deceit) Unlawful Gain Bread: (Of Wickedness) Oppression Bread: (Partaking of) Communion of Saints Bread: (Seeking of Begging) Extreme Poverty Bread: (Want of) Extreme Poverty Bread: (When Broken) the Death of Christ Bread: Called the Staff of Life Bread: Crumb of, Used to Wipe the Fingers, Thrown Under the Table Bread: First Fruit of, offered to God Bread: How Prepared: Baked in Ovens Bread: How Prepared: Cracknels Bread: How Prepared: Made Into Loaves Bread: How Prepared: Mixed With Oil Bread: How Prepared: On Coals of Dung Bread: How Prepared: On Hearths Bread: Kinds of Bread of Affliction Bread: Kinds of Leavened (Made With Yeast) Bread: Kinds of Unleavened (Made Without Yeast) Bread: Made of Manna (In the Wilderness) Bread: Multitudes Miraculously Fed by Christ With Bread: Nutritious and Strengthening Bread: Offered With Sacrifices Bread: Often Given As a Present Bread: Often Put for the Whole Substance of Man Bread: Ordinary, Called Common Bread Bread: Placed on Table of Shew Bread Bread: Plenty of, Promised to the Obedient Bread: Sacred, Called Hallowed Bread Bread: Scarceness of, Sent As a Punishment Bread: Served Round After Funerals Bread: Symbolical of the Body of Christ Bread: The Principal Food Used by the Ancients Bread: Troughs Used for Kneading Bread: when Old, Dry and Mouldy Related Terms |
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