In this lesson we will contrast the Passover meal in Israel with communion (the Lord's Supper) among Christians. The Passover meal commemorates the deliverance of Israel from the physical slavery in Egypt. Communion commemorates the deliverance of Christians from the slavery in evil. Jesus began communion at the conclusion of eating the Passover meal (Luke 22:14-23).

Israel's Passover meal

Exodus 12: the institution of the Passover

1. What is the connection between Israel's deliverance from Egypt and Israel's calendar (verse 2)?

2. What was to occur on the tenth day of that month (verses 3,4)?

3. What instructions were given about the sacrifice (verses 5,6)?

4. What was done with the blood (verse 7)?

5. They were to eat the sacrifice.
   1. What instructions were given concerning the meal (verses 8-10)?

   2. How were they to dress (verse 11)?

6. What would happen that night (verses 12,13)?

7. How important was this memorial (verse 14)?

8. Why was this holy day called "Passover" (verse 27)?

Deuteronomy 16: continuing observance of the Passover

1. Where was the lamb to be killed (verses 1,2,5,6)?

2. Why did they eat the meal with unleavened bread (verses 3,4)?

3. When was the lamb to be killed (verse 6)?

4. Where was it to be cooked (verse 7)?

Numbers 9:1-14: continuing observance of the Passover

1. Could an Israelite who was "unclean" or on a journey on the proper day for the Passover meal still observe the Passover (verses 10,11)? When?

Communion (the Lord's Supper)

Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-23: the institution of communion.

1. What did the bread represent?

2. What did the grape juice represent?

3. What was the purpose for a person taking communion?

1 Corinthians 11:23-24: continuing observance of communion.

1. Where did Paul receive his information (verse 23)?

2. What did Jesus do and say with the bread on the betrayal night (verses 24,25)?

3. What did Jesus do with the grape juice at that time (verse 25)?

4. Why was the bread eaten and the grape juice drank?

5. In doing this, Christians proclaimed what (verse 26)?

6. Is taking communion a serious matter? Why (verses 27-30)?

7. Was the purpose of communion to provide Christians a meal (verse 34)?

A comparison between Passover and communion: which of these were

1. Calendar date "dependent"--Passover?         communion?
2. Involved a prescribed ritual--Passover?         communion?
3. Was a memorial--Passover?         communion?
4. Existed to remember a deliverance--Passover?         communion?
5. Involved eating--Passover?         communion?
6. Was given to a "member of the community" only if he/she meet specific qualifications--Passover?         communion?

Were the requirements involving the Passover or communion the most restrictive? Which were more complex? Which were simple?

David Chadwell

God's Contrasting Approaches Study Guide (lesson 2)
Wednesday evening Bible class, Spring Quarter 1999
West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR

Copyright © 1999
Permission is granted to freely copy and distribute with text unchanged, including author's name.

next lesson

 Link to other Writings of David Chadwell

  Link to West-Ark's Online Library

West-Ark Church of Christ