Note 1 at Lk. 22:20: There have been many battles fought over the proper elements to use in observing the Lord's supper. It was clearly a command under the Old Testament to use unleavened bread in the passover meal (Ex. 12:15) so it is certain that this unleavened bread was what Jesus broke and said symbolized His body. It is equally clear that the Jews used wine during the passover meal and this is what Jesus used to symbolize His blood. Both unleavened bread and wine have symbolism uniquely suiting them to the Lord's supper. Leaven in the scriptures symbolized sin (see note 1 at Mt. 13:33, p. 143) and when we partake of communion, we are admonished to "examine ourselves" so we will not partake of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus "unworthily" (1 Cor. 11:27-29). Wine is produced by crushing the grape. The grape is destroyed to obtain the wine just as Jesus suffered death to shed His life-giving blood.

Although this symbolism is not to be ignored, it is entirely wrong to place more importance on the elements themselves than on what they represent. Jesus repeatedly rebuked the Pharisees for this same error in other areas (see note 16 at Mt. 23:19, p. 389; see note 21 at Mt. 23:26, p. 391). Jesus made a point of saying that this supper was for the purpose of remembering Him (Lk. 22:19). A person who uses a hamburger and a soft drink for the elements of the Lord's supper and yet really communes with the Lord about His death would honor the Lord much more than someone who had the correct elements and yet missed their meaning.