Regulations: Passover vs. Communion

We have seen that the Passover is a picture of the salvation by the blood of Christ. Just as the firstborn of each home was saved by the blood sprinkled on the doorposts of wood, we are saved by God's firstborn's blood sprinkled on the cross of wood. The Passover Feast was done in remembrance of the saving grace of God by the shedding of sacrificial blood. Just as the Jews kept the Passover feast in remembrance we are old to take “Communion” in the same manner: 1 Corinthians 11:25”After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” This applies for the bread as well.

.

Just as we have regulations for the “Passover Meal” we have regulations for the “Last Supper” (Communion). Exodus spells out the regulations for the passover:

.

Exodus 12:43And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: 44But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. 45A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. 46In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. 47All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. 49One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.”

.

1. Passover Feast to be done as a reminder.
2. No stranger to partake of the feast.
3. A man's household may eat at the feast.
4. A foreigner shall not eat of the feast.
5. The feast shall be eaten in one house (together).
6. The meat of the passover shall have no bone broken.
7. All Israelites shall keep the passover.
8. The feast is for the circumsized. The uncircumcised shall not take of it. The stranger in the hose must become circumcised.
9. There is one law for all.

.

Now for commemoration of the last supper (numbered according to the Passover Regulations):

.

1. 1 Cor 11:25 “After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. “ (To be done to remember Christ and his sacrifice).
2. 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (Must not be a stranger to Christ).
3. Ephesians 2:19 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God...” (A man and his household can be saved and become part of the household of God with salvation. Those who are of the household of God can take Communion).
4. (Same reasoning as 3).
5. 1 Corinthians 11:20 “ “When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. 21For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God“ “ (Christians are to gather in one place to eat in remembrance and rightly so, but the caution here is to not come to fill oneself, but to honor God. Instead of being a feast where one eats until full, this was to be parteken as a memorial).
6. 1 Corinthians 11:24 “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.” (Unlike the meat which could not be broken because Jesus had not yet died, the bread is to be broken signifying Christ's death).
7. 1 Corinthians 1:1 “(All men) Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.” (Communion is for ALL believer's, unlike the Passover which was specifically for the Israelites).
8. 1 Cor 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.” (Unworthily are those with an uncircumcised heart; those who are not saved. Before a stranger [unsaved] takes communion he must become a friend [saved] and is no longer a stranger).
9. Romans 3:27 “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.” Ephesians 4:4 “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism...” (There is a law, that law is faith and there is one faith. Communion is for all who have the faith and one must be faithful to observe Communion).

.

So I repeat... “Look for Christ in the “Old Testament”. He's there. You just have to think a little! When God ordained the Passover Feast he was drawing a picture of Communion, the celebration of “The Last Supper”. Why do we have to be hit on the head by a rock to understand this after the fact when by faith our church father's understood before the fact? Isn't God all knowing!